Career Advice
Given the new years, and all the resolution speak and life/work improvements people are looking for. I need to get inspired!
I live in a cubicle farm, here in Richardson TX, for the last 10 years. I am allowed to telecommute 2-3 days/week, and even take telecommute "vacations" several times/year, when the need/want arises.
I have 28 paid days of vacation on top of that (used to be 33 until a few years ago). That makes for some great flexibility.
I'm paid quite well, in my opinion. TX is cheap to live in, even cheaper with no state income taxes.
Now, that might not sound so bad (and truly, it's not). But let me share something with you...I'm BORED! 
I've been in the exact same role for 8 years, with dwindling activity as things have stabilized and I've improved processes, etc, exponentially.
After college, after a year traveling the country working for my national fraternity, and after another 1.5-ish years of working for (what is now) Verizon in retail, I started with Pacific Bell Mobile Services in NorCal, back in 97. Then SBC, then Cingular, and now AT&T. Been thru numerous Ms&As to get here. 15 years later. Crazy long time!
I feel as though I'm completely underutilized. Worse yet, the company is barely hiring, especially if you want to move around to other departments and/or divisions.
The only way to move up in my current position is if one of the long-entrenched completely-happy-with-their-lifelong-postion old folks croaks.
I've applied for seemingly countless jobs internally, and I don't even get anything more than a "we've received your resume" email that's automatically generated.
I had Monster.com update my resumes and cover letters last year. I've received even less replies, automatic or otherwise, when applying externally.
I cannot imagine HAVING to look for a job in this economy, so for that I'm grateful.
A full quarter of my department was laid off (some were forcefully 'reassigned' to an external vendor) just a few months ago. Doesn't bode well for morale around here.
This year, I'll move into the next major age group (tri speak for turning the big 4-0). I want to do something else. I want to be challenged intellectually. I don't like the cubicle farm. Problem is, I can't seem to quite hammer down what that "next thing" is.
I'm leaning towards the tri/cycling space, but I just don't know what it should be, or even how to narrow down what I should be shooting for. I'm not opposed to moving, but have limited choices (picky, I know).
I have a marketing degree and an MBA - both from Univ of Pacific, in lovely Stockton CA.
At work, technically, I'm a Senior Business Manager/Consultant. That's corporate-speak for a project manager and firefighter. I work on our wireless billing systems (no, sorry, I cannot help you with your bill), trying to prevent new functionality from breaking existing functionality; as well as managing some corporate-wide processes and databases.
I've been doing race coordination/directing with a local tri company for several years. I've been USAT-certified (coaching) since 2009, but haven't had a bunch of clients. I'll be a formal "beginner" coach with that same local tri company shortly, where I'll hopefully be getting more clients.
Since this time last year, I've been doing some business development with a small local sports/travel company, but it hasn't panned out as much I had hoped (due to various reasons).
Anyone have any advice on how to proceed? Thanks in advance!
Sincerely,
Lost in the cubicle farm (aka Scott)
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