To Leave my job with nothing else to go to

[Feelingdesperatetoleave]

I cant stand my job, well thats not actually true the problem really is the hours. They are incredibly long..think leaving the house at 06.30 and getting home at 10pm four times a week. Plus throughout this the work load can be very stressful and involve a lot of unpaid overtime.

By the sounds of it you would think I worked in a high powered lucrative industry. I dont, very far from it.

I am desperate to leave, so desperate that I feel anxious and depressed about going in. Im putting on weight and using food and wine to deal with my resentment and stress. I have plenty of qualifications but due to a nervous breakdown some years ago Im having to work in an unskilled, very low paid position. I cant afford to retrain as would need to pay course fees etc. I just dont know what to do. I feel stuck.

We need my income but how on earth to get out of this trap? AIBU just to hand my notice in tomorrow and think something else will come along?

[Believeitornot]

Have you started job hunting?

Do you have enough to get by if something does come along?

Can you take temp work in the meantime?

[Feelingdesperatetoleave]

yes im job hunting and have applied for what ever I can.

I have no skills for temping sadly.

[mummymeister]

you have much more chance of landing a new job if you are currently already employed. don't give this job up until you have found a new one.

put all of your spare energy into getting a good cv and getting it out there to see what is available.

get someone else to look at your cv and suggest jobs to apply for. apply for anything and everything don't just say no because you might have a transferable skill from your previous work that someone is looking for.

[fizzybootlace]

Mummymeister, do you work in recruitment?

I disagree, I don't think you are at a disadvantage if you leave without a job to go to, it's often an advantage to be immediately available in my experience. I don't know if there is some flexibility in your hours but giving in your notice is a great conversation starter if you want to make some changes to your current position.

Also if you are looking for unskilled work you may be better registering with suitable agencies. Your cv doesn't need to be top notch and they will change it as they see fit anyway. And I wouldn't apply for anything and everything, non targeted applications rarely successful and you will get demoralised very quickly.

The trouble with looking for a new job while you are working is finding the time for looking, applying and meeting agencies/interviewing!
Good luck!

[MichaelSheensNextDW]

Are you working in healthcare?
Or another large industry?
If so, you have access to occupational health services and employee assistance schemes which would help you. Have you talked to your line manager about how you're feeling?
There may be scope for you to be redeployed into a different role? Or reduce your hours temporarily or permanently?

[PatMullins]

RE: retraining- have you looked to see if you qualify for any funding?

[icy121]

What is your notice period? If it's unskilled I'd presume quite short, in which case stick with current job and then find another.

What industry are you in?

[ArchNotImpudent]

leaving the house at 06.30 and getting home at 10pm four times a week.

Do you work a 'compressed week' i.e. full time hours over four days? Your days sound awfully long.

Might there be room for negotiation with your hours in your present job? Could you go part-time whilst looking for a new job - then you'd still have some money coming in, and the possible advantage of being seen to be currently in employment by prospective new employers?

[Feelingdesperatetoleave]

Thank you to everyone who has replied.

My notice period is only two weeks.

I already have a degree so no other funding is available for training.

I just dont know where to turn. My days off are spent exhausted due to the long hours but also as I deal with stress so badly. The industry I work in is notorious for being low paid due to it being unskilled (in terms of qualification but actually you have to have a certain skill set to do it)

I never thought things would turn out like this. I had a career path in mind and was working hard but then what seemed like out of the blue I had a mental breakdown and spent years trying to get back some kind of normality. I

I will feel like ive failed if I leave but then I feel like im already failing if I stay. I just never thought I would be at this point of feeling so stuck with not a clue about how to fix it.

[Believeitornot]

What is your job?

[Bigfluffybear]

Are you a carer? I find alot of agencies treat staff like dirt

[MipMipMip]

Please please don't just leave. I've been looking since September - there is a lot of competition. And if you quit you won't be eligible for benefits.

Don't get me wrong, I think you should get another job. But just leaving can really leave you up the creek. Learn from my stupidity.