If you rather quit than take on a busy/complex level 12 then it sounds more like a lack of ability/confidence than anything else. I’m a gen X guy, and I may be wired differently, but for me failure was never an option. Like I mentioned before, for me the career was more important than the location. I’ll admit I don’t understand too much today’s generations with a sense of entitlement that need everything handed in a platter.
Another Gen X/Boomer bashing on the younger generations...shocker. If I had a dollar every time I heard something along those lines I'd be making level 12 pay.
I don't totally disagree with you, some people in our generation are not cut out for the job and get pushed through for one reason or another. And I'm sure that happened back in your day, too. Let's not even begin to talk about how many deals/unsafe situations were swept under the rug back in your day. Like you, this
is my dream job. I'm still very early in my career, but it will
always be my dream job.
I think part of the problem is ex-controllers at the academy have such an outdated idea of the transfer process. They tell AGs they'll be able to move within a year or two of certifying and it doesn't happen. So when a CPC isn't out of their lower level up-down within 5 years, they start to panic and look for jobs they would've never thought of (sup, contract, etc.). I think it also happens with previous experience controllers - they come in thinking it'll be a quick jump and it's just not. And don't get me wrong, having to listen to people bitch about being stuck 24/7 is a lot to deal with at times when someone like myself waited years for this job. But it's important to see where they're coming from.
Don't knock someone for having to do what they have to do to be happy. Not everyone is ok being 2,000 miles away from their families. Not everyone is ok working 10-hr, 6 day work weeks. Not everyone is ok working level 12 traffic. Not everyone in today's generation expect things to be handed to us on a platter, but we sure as hell need to (and hopefully are going to) fight for what's right.