Thanks very much for the feedback.
Mark, although your three questions were mostly rhetorical, here are some response to them
1) Are there other opportunities in the company? Unfortunately my company, like so many these days, are laying people off left & right - mostly in other departments. By all indications, my job is (and should be for some time) safe (based on our contracts with clients, etc). There are few programming positions within the company.
2) Have you spoken with your manager about career development opportunities? What have they said? I have talked to him repeatedly. While he
tries to be helpful, it is minimal and mostly company rhetoric. He does spring for the purchasing a book from time to time, but the company has eliminated nearly all training budgets. And even though my job
function is that of a programmer, my job
code is that of a network engineer, so the corporate office considers programming classes as extraneous and not directly job related. (Who ever said anything about common sense in corporate America). The company line is "that I should take an online CBT"; the company subscribes to an online CBT site and we can take classes there. Unfortunately they are "How to do Mail Merge in Word" type of classes. The few programming classes they do have are elementary to say the least.
3) So if you take one class, you have to stay for 5 years? Yup - the company tends to pay on the low end (or below) industry averages. From my understanding, during the IT job wave, they use to have a large problem of people coming in, using the Tuition Assistance program to get a degree and then immediately leaving the company for greener pastures. They therefore introduced the 2 years of service eligibility requirement and the post-benefit 5-year commitment. Repayment is prorated by 15% a year. So if I left one year after taking a class, I would have to pay back 85% of the benefit. I�m still trying to find out if that repayment is COD (Cash on Departure

) or if you are given some time to repay it.
How about if you get laid off? Then you are free from having to pay it back. However, if you are terminated with cause, you�re suppose to repay it.
Personally, I'd be hesitant to be locked in to a company for 5 years. My concerns exactly. They were good to me to give me a job with no experience and I am grateful for that, but not permanently indebted to them for it. And 5 years is a hefty �thank you� for assisting with a degree.
I know a number of employers who have either a lockout period (not eligible before 2-3 years), but then ask for no obligation, or have much shorter commitments. True. Then again comes the frustration of having to wait another 2-3 years. But if I can get into an environment with some decent in-house training and mentoring (and more "meaningful" (for the lack of a better
word) experience), it would probably be worth it.
Why not try discretely floating your resume and see how you stand right now. Maybe you can find other companies with less of a commitment. That is the direction I am leaning. I just worry that with the way the current job market is and my minimal experience, doing such will be a big uphill battle. But I guess it can�t hurt to try. I think you mentioned the key word though:
discretely.
From Tony:
Why don't do a distance learning course in your spare time, with the OU, or American equivalent, there very good. I�ve looked at that option. Unfortunately any classes worth taking (i.e. ones with real substance) are costly enough that it would be difficult foe me to undertake given my current finances. I do, however, continue to explore that option.
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So far I�m hearing the opinion that my current 2 years experience is worth more then I am aware. And that it may be enough to get me into a different company where I can continue to gain experience, and then perhaps eventually get the technical degree as well. Other opinions?
I appreciate the feedback thus far as well as any further opinions. Obviously career decisions must be made with care and thoughtfulness rather than via rash choices. The counsel that I have received so far speaks volumes about the professionalism and caring nature of the members of this community. I am sincerely grateful. Regards,
Mark