Is it normal to always work overtime at low skilled job

[ASDnocareer]

I work full time which is supposed to be from 9 - 5pm, however I regularly work past this because of the workload.

Usually I work 8.45 - 6.30 on average, sometimes around 8pm, and few times as late as 10.30pm. Is this normal for an entry level role?

It’s an entry level operations role in financial services paying less than 35k in a big city. I rarely ever find external jobs I could apply for where my experience counts. I hit my targets but no internal vacancies in 3 years, and no external prospects due to my experience being seen as worthless low skilled.

I feel so stressed and mentally chained to my desk. Feels bit like I’m grieving the normal adult life I was supposed to have where I once thought working had some purpose or future prospects to strive towards. I have very low quality of life, an increasing workload but nothing to show for it.

My manager is very unsympathetic and unapproachable. She is senior but gets to finish around 5 as she does more scheduling and assigning resource rather than actual executing of xyz tasks.

I always dread work the next day, and I don’t have much time/energy to do anything after other than eat dinner, scroll on my phone and go to bed. The only time I feel life is okay is when I’ve gone for drinks with friends as it temporarily shuts off the work stress.

Is this normal for office jobs these days? I think I’d at least be more accepting of it if I had better prospects to change roles at some point or the potential to earn more. I’m instead trapped in this bad role without a way out, I volunteered for projects, joined multiple network groups with my employer, got a work mentor. I don’t see a future for myself, I’m not suicidal but I don’t see the point of life if it takes so much just to survive?
Time is passing me by so quickly, nothing to show for it.

You haven’t done anything wrong by contacting HR and you haven’t jeopardised your job by doing so.
If the person on the helpdesk has forgotten to log a ticket, ring back and politely repeat your request for a conversation with someone about your workload, and highlight that the ticket wasn’t logged before.

@Peoplemakemesigh thabk you, I so wish I could quit too (have dreamt about how nice it would be to hand my notice in). However on my current salary I’m already forced to live very frugally, paycheck to paycheck so sadly can’t quit without something lined up (Londoner)

@pottylolly thank you for suggestions, I personally haven’t had any luck landing any junior roles in those areas.

Just based on my experience but I often think recruiters don’t care for transferrable skills if it’s from a dead end role, it’s only seen as desirable if you’re in a ‘good’ job even though it’s arguably very similar skill set just ‘wrong’ job context. I don’t know how I can magic up experience I don’t have, as trying to prove my worth from saying I still have similar skill set but in this other role has not been enough for me to land me a new junior role. I had asked about shadowing different areas in my company too (step closer to getting experience) but management declined due to high workload.

I even paid someone to review my CV too out of desperation but still didn’t help.

Are there others at your level? How do they handle the workload/hours?

No, ime it isn't normal in an entry level role to routinely be working till 9 or 10 every evening unless you are training in law or accounting or similar.

I am surprised you are finding no recognition of skills that you must have picked up after 3 years.

What kind of role and industry do you want to move into. You are hardworking and have no dependents and are within a city with loads of opportunities. If you are not having success, this may ne because you are not able to show that you are clear in what you want to do or show enthusiasm for the role. Which is not surprising given the toxic environment you are in.

1st things 1st. If you are on the verge of feeling that all is hopeless then please see your GP. You may need some time off, some anti-depressants, a referral for counselling. You may have an Employee Assistance Programme through work that offers cbt.

Secondly you need to be more assertive with your manager. Be clear about your boundaries and ask for their support in helping you prioritise your workload. If you don't know how to do something because you haven't had training then ask them for training. If you are given something urgent and high priority then let them know what you will need to drop to be able to meet the deadline. Resourcing is their issue and not yours, yours is to spend the hours you are employed for using the skills you have been trained for to carry out tasks within your job description. Where there's short term important deadlines or opportunities for promotion then some overtime and going above and beyond is acceptable. But this doesn't seem to be the case.

Hi ASDnocareer,
That sounds so draining and unfair—I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. No, it's not normal to pull 10:30pm shifts in an entry-level job for under 35k, especially when your boss clocks out early. You're not alone; lots of ops folks feel stuck like that.
Start jotting down your real hours (even the extras) to chat about pay or time off. A simple arbeitszeitrechnerprofi.de helped my friend track hers and speak up. You've done tons already with projects—maybe nudge HR quietly on the workload?
Grab small breaks like a post-dinner walk to recharge. You've got skills worth more; hang in there. What's one thing brightening your day? Hugs.

When you said overtime and a low skilled job, I thought you meant like DDs part time waitressing and bar work while they are in education. Yes, it's normal and they get paid for all their overtime.

Working extra hours for free every day in a junior position in an office is a mug's game though. Work your set hours and go home.

I do work extra hours but to start with I get time off in lieu for some of it, my manager and team are supportive, and I enjoy my job. I don’t think it’s normal to do so much extra at your level, and I think you are increasing your hours in response to a very unhealthy team and management culture which is making you feel isolated and anxious.

I agree that the priority is your health, see your GP as above, and contact any employee assistance programme you have.

I think you need an agency to do some of the work for you. I feel like they still exist - see what you can find. What did you feel you wanted to do, back when you were feeling better? Would there be an option to move to a cheaper place to live if you changed track in work?

Its used to be normal to work ridiculous hours in the City at entry level in a corporate job in financial services. I know of grads that did 4 day stretches to complete an RFP. That was mid 90s though so maybe the world has changed. The Directors also used to pull the hours.

Doesn’t make it right.