Looking for advice/sympathy:
Does anyone else feel they made all the 'correct' career decisions along the way, but somehow ended up in career they don't enjoy?
I did very well and school and uni and qualified into a profession that is very difficult and competitive. But I've spent the last 8+ years working very long hours in London feeling very stressed which and left me with some health issues. I have recently moved to a similar job but in house rather than consultancy, in the hope it will give me a better balance.
I feel a bit lost and unsure what to do next. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Part of me wants to retrain in something entirely different. However the other part of me knows that will be incredibly difficult and what if it's just me being over my negative about my current situation. I just feel disappointed with where my career has ended up. Added to this, id like to start TTC in the next year or so which makes me feel trapped.
AIBU?
AIBU to wish my career had turned out better
Summerdays2017 · 08/04/2017 00:12
Having spent every penny I've ever earnt over 10 years on academia to be in my current career, which I hate, I do sometimes wonder at my own sanity....
I did find some solace in the third sector, where the work is more rewarding and the salaries quite good/flexible hours, but most positions are funded so it's a bit of a risky biscuit - as a result I hold three different jobs. Quite interesting though because it's quite obvious to me recently that my DP has literally no idea what I do for a living 
ChopsticksandChilliCrab I left teaching four years ago and not taking work home is still the biggest novelty.
Sometimes I'll be relaxing at home of an evening and still have a niggling feeling that I'm procrastinating something' - and then realise there is nothing I should be doing
I've changed to HR but am still in the point of that career where I can achieve everything within work hours or by staying the odd half hour/hour late if needed. Home is home and work is work now.
I still find it hard to believe that teaching is set up like it is. Yes many careers are overworked and have to take work home in various amounts, but I can't think of any other career where your contracted hours literally only cover half of your job description (I.e. teaching) and you are expected to do the other 50% at home. No wonder resignations are through the roof and yet all they do is recruit, recruit, recruit to fill the gaps.
Good luck in your new life wherever it may take you 
Yes! I am currently working in a job I like on paper but hate in practice as the management structure is challenging shall we say.
Not sure if this is a popular view but I feel that I was lied to all through school (and we are still doing it to school children now) that you could have it all. Actually what happened is I am qualified in a professional job that if I did in it's pure form is very non-family friendly. So I work in a similar field but it will never be exactly what I want. The hours are better but not perfect. I would like to train to a different speciality but cannot afford the fees or the study time.
The trouble is, if somebody had sat me down at 16 and said, don't do that, pick a family friendly career with flexibility that fits around childcare and school holidays, I would have laughed in their face. I had no concept of the juggling involved.
I'm not actually sure things are much better if you are a parent who doesn't have to juggle (e.g. if your partner does all drop offs etc) as then you are often under huge pressure to stay in your own job.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.