Stress at work versus decent money

[TheGoddessBlossom]

Hi all,

I earn a decent wage, and commission. Even with a childminder 4 days a week and nursery fees also 4 days a week for DS2 it is still well worth me working. I pay half the bills and mortgage, and for all my boys clothes, activities, parties, Christmas, run my own car, and pay for all my own things as well, plus all the family holidays.

But work is so stressful I am starting to wonder if I really need this in my life. I am in IT sales, but it's not the selling bit that is the issue, I do that well, it's the account management/delivery crap I get bogged down into.

It's not always like this, but I can't see it changing for the foreseeable. I want to work, but does it really have to be this stressful? It's affecting my sleep, I work each evening, and weekends, and my "day off" and can't switch off from it.

Anyone else in a similar situation? When do you decide it's better to be less well off than deal with this on a daily basis?

Bloss

[compo]

Could you look for anything else? Is there anyway to ease the stress or cut hours?
I'd be very reluctant to give up work completely at the moment as it's so hard to get work at the moment and benefits etc all changing

[moondog]

A hard one.
I earn a good wage and have a very stressful job but I love it, even though a lot of it is really shitty (paperwork, bureaucracy, pointless target chasing).

If I did something less stressful I would miss the challenge.
Would you?

[compo]

Having said all that I'm currently working in a lower paid job than I'm qualified for because the job I am qualified for is more stressful
we could use the extra cash but just manage on what we've got
is that an option rather than quitting?

[TheGoddessBlossom]

Hi Compo, Moondog..

Lower paid job not really an option...don't think I can do anything else to be honest!

I do enjoy the challenge of the sell Moondog, and I have never really felt so swamped before, in similar roles - I think it's being compounded by there seeming to be no solution, I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall, asking for what is needed and not getting it, and being unable to defend our position to the client becuase I agree with them!! I wonder if I would fare better in a company that can mobilise when needed, or would it just be more of the same and I am being naive?

I also need to factor in the flexibility, because I snuck in when they still had contracts allowing people to work from hom, I can take my kids to school/nursery everyday, and manage my own diary, and where possible be at home (not an option at the moment though!!)

It is difficult, I don't know what to do really.

[maxpower]

I think you have to work out what's most important to you - the money or your job satisfaction (for want of a better term).

[EndangeredSpecies]

sounds like your job has too many pros just to let it go. If you've addressed the problem with your bosses and they're just burying their heads in the sand perhaps you need to address it again? Get customer feedback and show it to them?

[moondog]

I don't think any challenging job comes without its headaches.
Being available for your children as well as working from home is a huge positive.

I struggle from day to day sometimes,compounded by the fact my dh is abroad and we have two young children but I know I'd feel bored doing something less demanding.

[TheGoddessBlossom]

Yes I think you are all right - I know I am incredibly lucky, lots of women work harder for less money and never get to see their children, let alone drop them at school everyday.

Just have to keep my head down and keep bashing away I guess.

[AllarmBells]

Hi Bloss

Have you investigated the terms other companies might offer? Sounds as though the part you enjoy, namely the actual sales, is something you could do anywhere, whereas the account management/admin could be different from company to company.

If you are hitting all your targets etc., perhaps your employer's main competitor would be interested in employing you? I work in IT but not in sales and IME successful sales people are worth their weight in gold, and are highly sought after, particularly with direct experience in the same sector.

You could look on jobsites for jobs from that company, then approach the recruitment agent who's working with them and say "I'm looking to move to a sales role with x, I need flexibility to work from home, and not too much admin" and see what they say? (I'm thinking approaching the competition directly would be a bad idea, but going through an agency who could sound them out and see if they are interested, and keep things anonymous in the first instance, might work. It would need to be a reputable agency obviously.)

As a working mum (boak - I hate playing that card!)you might also tick some diversity boxes which could make a large co even keener, assuming your area is pretty much male dominated (like mine)!