If it is a good place to work, you'll be permitted (possibly encouraged!) to expand your role over time and to take on challenges that will advance your career -- and it doesn't sound like that's happening at all where you are. It's kind of exciting to be going into a job knowing that you will get to learn and do new things

It's so disappointing to be in a place where you know that you can do XYZ, you have time to do those things... and they just don't want you to, for whatever reason. I have encountered employers who like the idea of change and improvement during the interview, but in reality it's a bit too much for them.

I did hear back from my friend, finally. She asked me if I had met with this guy or decided not to. She's meeting with senior management tomorrow to discuss the state of this position and how she thinks these things need to be handled completely differently.

There are a couple of things I've found helpful in terms of thinking about my career:
Book « Escape From Cubicle Nation There's a link to a life-plan worksheet at the bottom of the page.

The other idea is to write a description of the worst job in the world, with all the reasons why it's bad... and then use that as the basis for writing out a description of an ideal job.

I'll add the disclaimer that I've learned things doing both of those exercises, but I still haven't figured out what I want to do I think I kind of know what I want, actually, but I'm afraid to admit it to myself.

Oh wow, just got another email from my friend - she wants to know what it would take for me to be interested. I am so not sure what to say. Right or wrong, I am really just not interested. I do not want to work for this guy and I have the feeling he wouldn't take kindly to me if the position is pulled from his department. I don't want to be in the middle of a political battle, which is where I feel I am.