my career in August 381

Sorry I don't have any effective strategic advice, just observations from my years in large governmental and quasi-governmental organizations (which may or may not be applicable to any organizations I have not been in). Keep in mind I'm looking at the workings largely as a black box, since I've seldom been included in the higher councils which make decisions.

You will get the job they want you to have. If you make it clear what kind of job you want and they want to keep you, they will find a way to get you that job if it is possible. If they don't care whether or not you stay (that is they'd like to have you stay because you provide some useful work, but wouldn't be too upset if you didn't because they can get another cog to replace you in their machine) they will have you do what they want done, and even if you apply for other jobs that you are well qualified for, they will give those jobs to the people they really want to keep (or get). If they don't want you, they will do what they can to get rid of you. Once your status is set in the organization, barring some major success on your part (either professionally or politically, e.g.sucking up well to a new boss) you are defined for all time in that organization and the only way to advance signifcantly is to move, and that will be hard because your opportunities to expand and-or prove your abilities will be restricted by your present job.

This may not describe your organization. I hope not. Or maybe you are one of the people they really want. As I wrote, it has been what I have observed, both in my case and that of my coworkers, even though I have worked at places that are generally well run and not stocked with overtly psychotic managers (unlike some really toxic work places of which I've heard). I think it is just the nature of large organizations, which is only overcome in rare cases.

Cheers, Russell