Fastbird
01-28-2012, 01:36 PM
the first of which was all training, and I was offered a promotion yesterday. I'm going to the "supervisor" level of my job, which is a direct step towards management among other things. I'm really excited because this new position where be where I will have a large amount of control and the ability to take ownership of the issue to see it fixed through to the end, rather than simply handing off to the next person up at my starting position. I'll be able to help clients more easily, completely, and quickly than before. Ok, so the 27.5% pay raise isn't bad either. But my motivating factor, as it had been from the beginning, was to move upwards as fast as possible, and it looks like that is starting.
Some of the things I've been learning during these few months of civilian life I've had have been truly eye opening. I knew about the military, 14 years in you adjust and get used to the system. But what I didn't see until outside looking in is how flawed that system can be. People sitting in positions they're not qualified for or haven't earned, simply because they were next in line by rank or a body was needed to fill a position. Enlisted folks sitting in positions converted from the O4-O5 level, doing jobs far beyond their scope and not being rewarded for what they're doing. The expectation that you have to be spending all your extra time volunteering, etc, to be considered a good airman, soldier, etc. I was used to all this, but wow have my eyes been opened. At the company I'm with now, there's LOTS of similarities to the military in terms of organization, focus, etc. But, of the things listed above, NONE are true here on the civilian side. People get into the positions they're in by EARNING them. Good hard work with positive results gets you recognized and rewarded, and you don't have to be part of the in crowd or good old boy club to have that happen. Talent is recognized and built upon. People are passed over for positions and promotions if they aren't fit for the job. It's truly amazing to me at this point still. I remember I used to give a friend to left the Air Force at the end of his first enlistment a hard time when he was working a menial civilian job after he commented how much better it is on the outside. I think I need to go tell him "You were right".
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bad talking the military, but the differences in the quality of supervisors and leadership between the military to civilian side I can see at this point is night and day, and that can make all the difference in the world.
Some of the things I've been learning during these few months of civilian life I've had have been truly eye opening. I knew about the military, 14 years in you adjust and get used to the system. But what I didn't see until outside looking in is how flawed that system can be. People sitting in positions they're not qualified for or haven't earned, simply because they were next in line by rank or a body was needed to fill a position. Enlisted folks sitting in positions converted from the O4-O5 level, doing jobs far beyond their scope and not being rewarded for what they're doing. The expectation that you have to be spending all your extra time volunteering, etc, to be considered a good airman, soldier, etc. I was used to all this, but wow have my eyes been opened. At the company I'm with now, there's LOTS of similarities to the military in terms of organization, focus, etc. But, of the things listed above, NONE are true here on the civilian side. People get into the positions they're in by EARNING them. Good hard work with positive results gets you recognized and rewarded, and you don't have to be part of the in crowd or good old boy club to have that happen. Talent is recognized and built upon. People are passed over for positions and promotions if they aren't fit for the job. It's truly amazing to me at this point still. I remember I used to give a friend to left the Air Force at the end of his first enlistment a hard time when he was working a menial civilian job after he commented how much better it is on the outside. I think I need to go tell him "You were right".
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bad talking the military, but the differences in the quality of supervisors and leadership between the military to civilian side I can see at this point is night and day, and that can make all the difference in the world.