Any advice on how to get a less stressful job?

[tartanskirt]

I'm at breaking point with my job. I've worked in the same (very large) public sector organisation for 11 years. I've done the typical uni-grad scheme-manager route. It was worth it for the money (currently on about 55k) which enabled us to buy a house and have DD but 80% of the time I've been miserable. I don't want to live like this anymore.

After a terrible day yesterday (crying on the train home terrible) I think it's finally time to make the switch. DD starts school in September and I want to work part-time in a role with no management responsibility, which is clearly defined and has a clear purpose and which I can leave at the door when I walk out.

So my question is where do I find a job like this? My background is administration, public affairs and some HR. I really enjoy admin and project work and am very organised. I'm near London.

Secondly, how can I present this to a potential employer? Will they think it's odd that I'm "downgrading" my career and suspect something bad happened?

I've just had enough of being miserable now. Anyone made this switch and can advise?

If it helps, I've worked out that I need to earn about 30k FTE (but would be looking to do part-time).

No advice but watching with interest OP! Feel similar to you!

The voluntary sector? The only problem is that jobs can be short term due to funding.

Charity jobs
Guardian jobs
Third Sector

Yes, actually I've found myself looking at quite a lot of voluntary sector jobs - seem to be plenty of part time opportunities.

The two most stressful jobs I have had have been in the voluntary sector. Maybe it's just my bit of it but funding/poor management/beneficiary pressure was hard going!

How about a different type of role in the public sector? I am PS now but in a senior advisory role with no management responsibility. It's not 100% stress free but not managing a team is brilliant. Could you do a business partner type role?

@zone4flaneur that's a really helpful post as it got me thinking a bit more about why I am so unhappy. I think a lot of it is about being expected to deliver but without the levers to do so? And the attraction of a less senior role is that I would have control over my own tasks and how they were done, rather than trying to "deliver through others" all the time. Does that make sense?

For that reason I'm really wary of business partner roles - I work quite closely with the finance and HR business partners in my current role and they seem to spend a lot of time nagging people for things or advising people who then go on to ignore their advice!

A few weeks ago our diary manager was off and I was the only person who could cover. I bloody loved it as the tasks were clearly defined with a tangible outcome. I am way overqualified to be a diary manager but I do not think I would be bored at all as my home life is so busy right now.

That makes sense. I quite like the advising people who might ignore the advice bit though - I'm not accountable for the outcome, just the quality of advice. Helps with the leaving it at the door bit.

Are you in private office? That is famously stressful!

I'm not sure, though, being more junior gives you more autonomy. It can be quite frustrating if you have been more senior and would depend on having a manager who was happy to let you get on with it. Delivering through others is quite stressful though, especially if you have some underperformance going on.

The other thing is that it is often easier to secure PT where you are already so that's worth considering.

@zone4flaneur yes that makes sense actually on the giving advice and then moving on, sometimes I look at our legal advisors and envy that part of their role.

And no it's not private office but it's a similar kind of role (I tried to be vague but can see I'm already outing myself !)

You might be surprised how low stress some private sector environments are...particularly on the fringes of London. I moved in house and was immensely clear at interview that my reason was primarily to see my family by working more reasonable hours. I am also clear that I accept that I won’t get the very top rating because the hours I’d have to put in are in no way worth it. What I have got from the role is industry experience that will allow me to ratchet back up if I wish to in the future.

Use your skills, just somewhere else!

I work in an Investment Bank in project management and it is a 9-5 job with little stress! Also pays exceptionally well.

Not sure about part time options but it’s low stress enough that I can manage the job and my disability. 90% of the stakeholders on my projects are out the door at 5pm, contrary to what people believe about banking. The key bonus is that there is a clear chain of escalation so any problems get pushed to the next level to deal with.

That's good to know @delurkingaj. Is it possible to find private sector part-time jobs?

I'm on leave today so have spent quite a lot of time searching and found a lot of opportunities in the university and voluntary sector, but not so much elsewhere.

People at the company I work for seem to come in, get a good reputation and then ask to go part time...but I suspect for the right person with the wanted skills it could be negotiated.