AIBU to consider leaving an easy remote job for a complete career change?

You are bored. WFH full time is great in many ways when children are young but it is SO lonely you could scream, year in year out.

Sounds like you are ready for a change. And there's no hard sell in property. It's much more subtle - getting people to see positives and potential.

But before you go for it, think it through in practical terms. Who picks up DC from school if you are not around? How much would a childminder or after school club cost? When would you get to do housework, laundry, physical exercise?

It could be that you just need more structured contact-time in the real world to off-set the isolation and boredom of the very cushy job you have. Could you have a project on the go, so instead of sloping off to bed when there's no work to do, you can get stuck into an online course, writing a book, a craft project etc.

In reality, no one can answer this but you. No one can predict the future, the new role could be amazing, all youve ever dreamed of - or it could not. The question is how disposed are you to handling wither of those outcomes?

Will you sit there regretting the decision, looking backward wishing you'd never made the leap and wishing you were back in your old role with its boredom and flexibility or would you take stock or your situation (whatever it is) and make strides to improve it?

The question for me is not whether the new role would work or not, its more what type of person are you (going to be)?

Sounds like your current job is an easy option. Would there be any possibility for more responsibility/hybrid working if you asked for it?

Absolutely not. Stay where you are. You have the dream job. Commission? In this economy? No, they will work you to the ground. Keep your remote job, otherwise I’d happily take it!!

Keep your job and get a hobby or start studying for a better future s9 you are not bored .

A job that fits around the kids is like gold dust.

I'd go for it. It sounds like it excites you. Extreme boredom can cause mental health issues. I hnow id go batshit crazy sat at home doing admin all day.

no way would I give up a remote flexible job with that much holidays. I.dont have children but live on a farm so need the flexibility of my work. we ( as we have no children) are being pulled in with the helping the parents now 🙄. I see how my sister is with her demanding no flexibility or little wfh is and trying to go through life with children ( oh and she works on commission too ) as other said get a hobby join a club do a night class.

I think this is more likely to be something you regret not doing than something you regret doing.

Personally I could never do a boring job. You spend so much time at work it’s important to find it fulfilling.

We had someone leave our team to go to a cushy term time only job, she was back within a month because it was so dull and I’d be the same.

I can see lots of people here don’t agree though. Some people are elated to be in jobs that are a doss. For a person who is wired that way I don’t think they can really understand how it feels to be wired like me.

The only thing that you need to spend some time thinking about is how you would make childcare work.

It's something I'd consider after I no longer needed school pick ups etc.

If you take the sales job are you looking at after school clubs, no more asemblies, limited flex? And potentially be poorer?

Can't you have an affair instead?

I’m biased as you have my dream job so no, I definitely wouldn’t leave! If you’re bored, you could take up a new hobby or learn a language.

What sort of company do you work for if you don’t mind me asking? Is it the civil service/public sector?

The housing market is very flat so you’re unlikely to make much, if any, commission. The new job will be insecure with less annual leave. Have you compared things like sick leave provision and pensions too? I think this new job will be a mistake. Can you afford to take lower pay or be made redundant?

Are you in the public sector? If so, you could make a sideways move as team support in a more interesting department maybe?

I’m in an nhs admin job, tbh it bores me to tears BUT it’s flexible, can wfh when needed, 2 mins drive from home to the office, good annual leave. I feel like I would be foolish to leave

Honestly I think you’d be crazy. I’m fully WFH and would never switch to a job that wasn’t.

Can you use the spare time to study something, an OU degree perhaps. Something that can give you the skills to switch careers down the line.

If you enjoy a job it's worth a lot. You're getting nothing except a paycheck currently. If you're not the breadwinner I'd do it. If you are the main earner you're a bit more restricted. It depends how you feel really.

I honestly could have wrote this post. I also have a very well paying, work from home job that is completely flexible around my two young kids (4 and 1) and I’m 31 but I am so so bored. I also do full time hours over 4 days but making the work I have stretch a 9 hour day is hard! I’ve said I’ll stick it out until my youngest is in finder nursery (3 in Scotland) but then the next day I’m like maybe I should just go?? But like you I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I see my mum friends who are teachers, lawyers, nurses who would kill for the flexibility I have especially for the money. It’s a hard one. For me would depend how old the children are and whether you have the savings to get through a few months if it doesn’t work

Please pass your job my way 😬

There is real satisfaction in being a good estate agent. We had one who really changed our lives, because he listened to us, and really got what dh was looking for - something quite off beat - and nearly made it happen. He found us the perfect property and found us buyers too. (Not his fault that our buyers changed their mind weeks later.) However, he made us believe that it was possible, and we managed to find somewhere eventually. He went on to move company and sell very high end properties. I've also, of course, met other, v disinterested estate agents.

However, estate agency work can be a bit fickle. They may have to lay folk off, when the market goes quiet. And it involves weekend work. And do check the safety aspect too. You will be working alone, and need to be sure as you can there are measures in place to keep safe.

I'd be inclined to say 'Go for it' if you can cope with the reduced holidays/less pay, as life is too short to be so bored. However, ask yourself if there is any progression in estate agency, or could you end up bored in 5 years on less pay?

I did this! Had a completely wfh role. Well paid, extremely flexible, so much downtime. It was so boring, I hated it. Didn’t feel like I was using my brain or making any worthwhile contribution. I now wfh home one day a week, rest of the time in the office and I absolutely love it. The role is exciting, challenging, hard work, busy, fun, social, and I absolutely love it. I am so glad I changed, it’s improved my life and my family’s life immensely. My husband has the same set up and we make it work (equal childcare/household responsibilities). We have a cleaner and take it in turns to put a load of washing on when we have break wfh. Weekends are spent just having fun, no chores. I highly recommend it.

I’d keep the easy boring job. So you have time and energy to do the things you enjoy doing when you not at work rather than feeling like you’re mentally drained and just preparing for the next work day.

It sounds like you’re ready for a change. Think about what you need eg school run 3 times a week or whatever and be upfront about this with your hiring manager before accepting the job. They will appreciate your honesty and you ensure you get what you need. Embrace the challenge and good luck.

Your job sounds like gold dust, but I'm 20 years older and that wfh easy admin job appeals to me. I think at 29 I'd want to push myself more and be with other people.
31 days holiday is lovely! Time to do life admin, no commute saves a lot of expenses and time.
Can I ask what area you work in? What quals do you have?
Working on commission is a hard slog, can your finances be that flexible?

Personally.....

I'd keep the job and use your free time better.

Absolutely insane to even consider this. Less money to make your life harder and more stressful. Find something else to add excitement to your life. Start a side hustle.

Less money, less flexibility, less holiday, virtually no pension, less job security - all for a job that is only exciting on paper, in an industry with a poor reputation.