What to do?

[sr71blackbird]

Currently I work in the marketing department of a large utility company. There use to be 2 marketing departments, one in Hicksville where I worked, and another in Brooklyn. The company decided to merge the two departments and gave some of us the option to go to Brooklyn or leave the department. Because I have low senority, the only department I could have opted to go to was what my first job in the company was; Meter Reading (boooo hissss)..it sucked, thats why I went for anything inside, so I took Marketing. I really like it, its very interesting. I opted to go to Brooklyn. It costs more to go there and takes more time and Im not crazy about the human element in the neighborhood (congested) but I adapted to it. Im making $20 an hour, so it's a lot more than the $12 an hour I was making as a meter reader and considering I only came into the company 3 years ago, I consider myself lucky. I see postings for other jobs on their posting board and I saw this job in a power plant posted, so I applied for it. The prequalifications for it involved me going to a metal shop in the training center and crafting a series of objects out of metal (thank God for industrial arts in high school) and I passed the test. The job at the power plant will be whats called ACO, which is short for assistant to the control operator. Basically, I'd be the eyes, ears and hands of the guy in the control booth who is running the plant. I'd be sent to adjust valves, turn wheels, lube equipment, check for things and baby sit a 500 foot high boiler that is powering a turbine that generates the electricity thats powering your computer right now. I went on an interview and basically am the most over qualified person they have seen so far. There are other duties that are associated with the position that I am not all that crazy about. The pwer plant sits on shore of a bay or inlet and they use the ocean water to help keep cool the boiler. The building draws in water and it gets filtered and returns to the bay after passing around the boiler, it leaves the building far cleaner than it enters it, however, the area where the water comes in needs to be cleaned periodically. Imagine a baseball field size "room" that is open to the bay that can be shut by way of large metal doors and the water pumped out. When the waters gone, me and a few other guys would have to enter this area and shovel out muscles and debris that are attracted to the inrushing water and warmth. Piles of muscles and clams waist deep. For days and days Id be down there shoveling. Then, when its all cleaned out, I return to the plant and continue with maintenece. Its at least 140 degrees around the boiler, so its hot, loud, dirty and there is the potential for serious burns or worse if there was ever a leak. I'd be on shift work too, so I'd have to work overnights, holidays, Christmas, New Years, whenever. Oh, and I cant leave if Im on duity, even if there was an emergecy at home. Id be that vital. But, the pay is very good. Starting at $23 an hour and capping out within 4 years at $33 an hour.
My question to all of you is...
Would you do it?

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[Mike Teacher]

Meter Reading (boooo hissss)..it sucked,


"I am here to terminate you Gas services forewith and if..."

"Cut The Bullshit, Squeak."

"My Name isn't Squeak, OK?!"

"Yeah, but you are a Little Bitch"

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[JPMNICK]

If you do not take this new job, you will still be able to be in the marketing department right? Meaning you would not have to go back to meter reading? I don't think I would take it, but then again, I am desk jockey and love it. I would not want to work in an hot, un controlled enviornment.

It is nice to have the extra money, but its not a huge amount more. Do you get stock options and have insurance now?

I say stick with your current job, it sounds good and the hours are much better. For the pay, the boiler job just does not seem worth it, from a quality of life standpoint.

BTW, Mizzle. no idea what the hell you were talking about above.


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Thanks to Monsterone for my first sig.

[sr71blackbird]

Yes, I can still stay where I am. In fact, they dont want me to leave and management keeps coming over and dropping hints how bad a job the power plant would be. I have gotten used to the nice office environment. But part of me worries that if the consolidated us into Brooklyn, it might only be a matter of time before they decide to skuttle the whole department. They are about to impliment a web based sales software version of what we currently use because they dont want to pay for the tech support (so they say) but I have a feeling it is the beginning of an outsourcing strategy. My gut tells me to stay where I am, and because I have been behind a desk for a few years, I dont know if I can readjust to physical labor without hurting myself. Plus I figure my progression in pay will get me up to $24 an hour within 2 years, and if I get my associates in marketing, I can shoot up to $26 or so. The bad thing is that because of the unusual nature of this transfer of the department to Brooklyn (home base of a different union than I am in), anyone that leave the department who came over in the merge will be replaced by a member of the other union, so ordinarily if you take a new job and dont like it, you can opt back to your old job, but in my case, I dont think I would be able to get back, and that is scaring me because if it didnt work out, I might be out of a job!

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[grlNIN]

"I am here to terminate you Gas services forewith and if..."

"Cut The Bullshit, Squeak."

"My Name isn't Squeak, OK?!"

"Yeah, but you are a Little Bitch"






hahahahahhahaha!!



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[JohnnyCash]

There needs to be more Baseketball quotes in life...

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[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

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Would you still be a member of the union? (Get your tool out, man!)

If the question of that is yes, then I'd go for it. It looks good that you're a "go getter" after 3 years. Besides, you passed the test and you have the skills.

It's one thing that they believe in you. YOU have to believe in you.

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It's a cat house! A CAT HOUSE! Thanks M1!

This message was edited by Alice S. Fuzzybutt on 5-9-04 @ 6:43 PM

[high fly]

Get a copy of Fritz Lang's Metropolis and watch it over and over and over.

" and they ask me why I drink"
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