Please help! Stuck in office hell. What can I retain as?

[Careerhellllllp]

I have a very traditionally office-based job, that would be considered to be a “great” job that I worked my way up as and trained for when I was younger. But I’ve never loved it and find being in an office 9-5 really really doesn’t suit me. It’s not just what I do (PR), it’s being in an office and interacting with a computer and people only via a computer almost all day.

I quit to have my kids five years ago, and knew I never wanted to go back. But DH and I can’t afford for me not to work, and youngest dc is two now, so I’ve gone back to work part time. I HATE IT!

I would be so happy to retain. But i’m STUCK. Please help! What kind of non-office job can I do? I have a degree and a masters, so have the ability to stick at training. But want to think of something that gets me outdoors or interacting with people - in person - all day.

So far all I can think of is gardener and teacher. Clearly not thinking very creatively!

Non office people! What do you do?????

Help! I’m slowly going mad!

Sometimes I quite like the idea of only having a computer to deal with!

hmmwhatatodo haha I guess the grass is always greener!

I’m even missing the days at home with my arguing kids - I must be desperate!

(And noticed a typo in my title - I meant retrain as, of course )

Any other non-office-job people on here give me some suggestions?

Well, how much do you want to earn? What’s your degree in?

@Careerhellllllp almost the same! Watching with interest.

Pretty good career in PR. Left several years ago after having kids - then retrained in something low-paid that I enjoy (won't say what as identifying!). But I can't continue with it, as circumstances at home have changed and my current job doesn't pay well enough.

So, I am looking for a full-time job that isn't minimum wage, but not sitting in front of a computer all day...yet I fear that is what I will have to do...!

well it depends very much on what your 'office job' is, as to how you could possibly transfer skills!
Do you want to completely change jobs - easier than you might think, so many skills are transferable - or do you just want something that will break up the monotony a bit, so 1 day wfh, 1-2 days out and about, only 2-3 days in office?

e.g. I used to work in council tax - one colleague went for a slightly different role in the dept that meant he spent a lot of the week going round the houses that were claiming exemptions to check they weren't actually living there.

In my current role in civil service there isn't a huge amount of progression so people tend to move sideways to the training dept - again means they can spend a few days out of the office travelling around and meeting other people.

But if you want to completely change role then you'd have to have a complete rethink. Off the top of my head, other jobs that involve non-office based/lots of people interaction - chef, waitress, shop assistant, display co-ordinator, social worker, police officer, heritage volunteer, nightclub promoter, bartender, fire officer, police officer, paramedic, call centre worker (particularly for emergency services), vet or vets' assistant, yoga teacher or other personal trainer/class leader, lawyer or barrister, court clerk, prison warder, lecturer, classroom assistant, SENCO, one-to-one, dinner lady, motivational speaker, farm labourer, estate agent, facilities coordinator, MP or local councillor....anything take your fancy

There might be some more fun comms roles you could do - or move to training other people to do comms/PR?

I am a teacher and I love it but I suspect that the main reason I love it is because I only work part-time so it isn't as all consuming as it is for someone FT.

Could you change the industry you are in? But still stay in PR? I’ve got a friend who switched from Fashion/beauty/magazine PR to the oil industry and she now RAVES about her job

Operating department practitioner? Something completely different but will certainly get you interacting with people.

Thanks all! My degree (although a veeeeery long time ago) was in history and English, MA in literature (probably really outting myself! Just hope my boss doesn’t read mumsnet!) and work in PR. It really is the sitting behind the computer all day, I feel quite drained at the end - not from working really hard (although I do), but from sitting down and staring at a screen. I like being outside / with people. I don’t earn a fortune being PT in PR, but it isn’t that terrible. I can just about afford a happiness pay-cut. I’d rather not have a nice holiday a year than be fed up at work three days a week.

Interesting job list, onceandneveragain!

I teach and really want to retrain to work in an office! but I don’t know where to start so i’m still teaching!

I have the same degree history as you and have sort of accidentally ended up in agriculture. There is a need and a market for people to work on farms as Assured Produce/Global Gap various other similar schemes paperwork and also become auditors for the Red Tractor scheme (going out and auditing the farms or processing plants or packhouses making sure they are compliant and up to standards). There are not just livestock farms needing this but arable and fresh produce too if livestock isn't your thing.

Some sort of Receptioist role might suit - I work at my kids school on the front desk and while it is an admin role, I am talking to people ALL DAY LONG... helping them, sorting out issues, liaising with parents and staff, arranging meetings and catering, basic first aid for the kids, minuting meetings - plus admin tasks like reports, photocopying, typing letters etc. I absolutely love it and the days fly by!

@Loyaultemelie, can I ask how you got into that?

I don’t feel very secure in my job after having kids but grew up on farms and would love to go back to my roots!

Is it the job you were in pre kids? Ie how long have you been in that company?
I have a job which is on paper boring but in reality is really interesting interactive and fun