Miserable and trapped at work - what would you do in this situation?

[everydayfeelslikemonday]

I'm having a hellish time of it at work at the minute. Ultimately I know I need to get out eventually, but could really do with some advice on what to do in the shorter term, as it's not that easy to move on right now.

I'm in a professional corporate role. I have been there around 18 months, and have tried to be patient to give the company a chance. It's a new organisation so was very chaotic from the beginning, I've only ever worked in established organisations prior to this. However nothing has changed and it's becoming an unbearable work environment without processes and structure in place.

Essentially the job role I was employed to do, which is a professional specialism, isn't there role they are asking me to do daily. I'm more being pushed to be a general coordinator and help others with things rather than leading/owning my own work.

I was told I could help to shape this and change it, but realistically I don't see this happening as it's too ingrained to the culture. They simply don't respect or see the value in my profession or job role, and peoples roles within the organisation mate a mess with many people picking up tasks they shouldn't be and not doing tasks they should be.

The job is fully remote which is about the only positive, that and my workload is less demanding than my usual job so I am less busy, but I'd rather be busy and learning and growing in my specialism and worry I am deskilling here.

I just don't know what to do. I've tried leaving but the market is so strong that I've been pipped to the post for a few applications. One of which was particularly rough going and hurt my confidence a fair bit as they basically told me the job was as good as mine.

There are a few other things that mean it's a bit hard for me to up and leave right now - I've had some training approved that I've been fighting for for around a year now, as well as a big life event for myself coming up soon. That tied with a strong market for employers right now means I likely can't change this in the short term. I've also got a lot of stress which has really intensified some health issues I have as well as my own wellbeing, so I'm not the best version of myself to hit the ground running in a new role and really need to work on that.

I feel so trapped and that every day here is destroying me further, yet I can't really jump and run. Has anyone ever been in a similar situation? I thought I'd had work issues before but not like this! If anyone has got any advice I'd be very grateful.

I don't want to give specifics as my post is already so outing. I'd say a little less than 5 years old.

If you can’t quit, then quiet quit and keep applying for roles

Hang in there you MUST pick yourself back up and keep applying for roles.
I've just left my job without another to go to. I've applied for jobs, interviewed and had excellent feedback but the job isn't mine because somebody else has more relevant experience (I'm career changing).

I have a great friend who picks me back up again and reminds me of the following:

1. No job is as good as yours. Don't believe anything they say.
2. Prepare for each job as though it's your first.
3. Dedicate a couple of hours a week etc to job hunting. Don't let it take over your life.
4. When rejected, ask for feedback, take it on board, have a cry and then pick yourself back up.
5. Remember you have no idea how many people are being interviewed or their skills. It could be they have someone lined up internally, it could be that someone has more experience.

Good luck!!

Thank you for this, I really needed to hear it and you are totally right ☀️

Going to stop feeling sorry for myself and make a bit of an action plan!

How long will the training last op? Could you do it for the benefits to your CV then use that to help with new job application? If you've been told you had the job (even if it fell through) you must be a good candidate and it's just a matter of time.

Do I would, completed the training (assuming it won't take months and months)

Update your CV with qualification.

As pp has said, quiet quit your current job, stop pushing for things to change, stop putting yourself out there. Try to convince yourself that it's just a few more weeks etc. book time off to take long weekends etc.

Use the saved energy to prioritise job hunting. 30 minutes to an hour a day. Taylor the CV to each job, same with covering letter personalised to the company needs, look at their website etc.