To think that I am stuck in a rut at 26?

[gigglygirly]

I have worked in the same office for 9 years ..... no chance of moving up really. More work and less staff - same as most places probably!

I am just miserable here but scared to give up a job. I feel like I have been doing the same thing for so long that I am not capable of anything more. There are so many deadlines and it is quite stressful.

I seem to be suited to office work as I am organised but I juat never had a dream career in mind.

How do you change jobs or even figure out what I am suited too? I am not really good at anything that would point me to a certain job. I just don't want to wake up at 50 in the same office.

Do you have children?

Do an evening class or something and see what you're good at. Something might spark your imagination.

You could go and talk to a career advisor to get some ideas- and think about what you like doing not just what you are good/bad at.
A friend of mine literally got an A-Z of careers and Job descriptions and worked his way through it- investigating any that sounded interesting to him. He found his dream job that way (took him a while - starts with O)

I am a year older than you and have been feeling exactly the same for the last year. Stuck in a crap hole town with no friends although admittedly a good job.
Do you have children? Is a move to a new part of the country possible? I took a gamble and applied for my dream job 250 miles away recently...and got it!

Moving is pricey and stressful ,but it really does give you a chance to start again and make real changes to your life.

I understand - I am 27 and about to change career.

I think you are too young to get stuck in a rut - I know its scary to do something different, but its better than being miserable.

My situation:

I did my degree is politics, but didn't really enjoy it. Out of university I did a bunch of random temping jobs in offices, but knew I didn't want to spend all day in an office. I thought, "Well, I like animals." so I researched online and looked at many of the different jobs you can do that involve animals. I applied for several and eventually got a trainee position, and over the past 4 years have worked my way up through this line of work. But I am not entirely happy doing it, I now spend a lot of time in an office again and feel rather bored.

So I now want to quit and go into agriculture. I want to be outside all day, be physically fit, and still work with animals. But I have no idea how to get into farming - I don't know any farmers or have any farm experience. So I've been looking online again, researching and thinking of ways to get some experience or a job. Its so intimidating but I know with perseverance I can make something happen. I really want a job that I will enjoy!

I don't have any suggestions as to how to figure out what you are suited to - maybe don't worry so much about finding your "dream job" but rather a job that involves something you are interested in in your private life. Maybe it will lead to a job you like, maybe it wont, but at least you'll have a jumping off point for your search?

What are you interested in?

interesting question

Why don't you do an evening class in a subject that interests you/something different from what you have done before, and see if it will lead on to other things - even if it doesn't you will have been using your brain for something different for the duration of the course.

I did A levels in Psychology and Human Biology (not at the same time) while working in a boring office job, I now have a completely different job, not linked to either of those subjects, but it gave me the confidence to study something else and move jobs.

IME, I don't think having children or not really matters. I changed my career when DD was 2. If you're motivated enough and have a clear plan of what you're going to do, it is most certainly possible.

Could you visit a few well reputed recruitment agencies for ideas of what kind of jobs would be available for you? The skills you have already are more widely used than you think. For example, office work needn't be assigned to just an office based business. You could be doing it for a scientific company, and learn new things related to science (if that would interest you!).

A word of advice, you're only 26. If you want to make those changes then now is the time to do it. I agree with the others about the hobbies and classes, but I think you would be much better off using the skill set you already have but in different scenarios.

Giggly,

I changed career at the same age as you. I am now a teacher and previously worked in a marketing/events management type job.

I remember at around 25/26 feeling a bit "at sea" and wondering where my life was going. Quite a few of my friends felt the same. I think we were going through some sort of "quarter life crisis", as we called it at the time.

I didn't have a dream career either. One of my friends was a teacher and she seemed to quite like it and that was the reason I retrained. I didn't have a burning ambition to be a teacher (or anything else for that matter).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Exciting times!

I don't think my hobbies would fit into an actual job - I like crafts a lot and baking.

I am back living with my parents at the moment and can't afford to move out on the salary that I earn. I was living with a partner (renting a house) and we were trying for a baby but split up a while back.

I have some qualifications (11 A - C GCSEs, Customer Services qualifications, level 1 Counselling award, NVQ 2 in administration, foundation course in payrolling and a diploma in payroll management) but they don't point me in any direction at all.

I have decided that I need to learn to drive and to save as much money as possible while living at home. Maybe a distance learning course in something. Also find out if there is a career advice place somewhere here.

It feels like the longer I am in the same job the less confidence I have in myself and my skills.

In my current job I like being responsible for my workload and the fact that it needs to be so organised. I can work under pressure too. I like working indoors!

I don't like that there is no support at all and that the team leaders have zero idea how it is to meet all the deadlines and keep piling extra work on when people leave and aren't replaced. You do the same thing every month and it isn't a challenge. Well the time pressures are challenging but the majority of the work isn't.

If you have a look at the OU, they don't take your parents income into account when applying for funding. So if you are on a low income, you may get a degree fully funded. Don't know how it will change after september though.

Not sure about accountancy - I am rubbish at maths!

I was thinking maybe a reception teacher in a primary school - not sure how long training would take / what would be involved though. I don't think I would want to nanny work.

I am scared that I am just being daft wanting to leave a steady job and taking a risk that I end up with no job at all!

There is no harm in applying for other jobs. You don't have to take them! Why not just start looking around and see if anything catches your eye?

Offices are always after very organised people who can perform under pressure and juggle lots of tasks.

The things that spring to mind (years of working in offices) are

PA - can work your way up and end up in v responsible v well paid position if you want to and are good
Some kind of financial role. You have quals in finance / payroll type stuff - accountancy can be v well paid and flexible with children. Payroll is needed at all companies who employ more than a handful of people. People always seem to be advertising jobs requiring something called Sage... Could you think what you want to do and then see what teh job ads ask for and think about a course?

Is there a particular sector that appeals? I like indoors organised work and have been happiest in finance (insurance).

How big is your current company - is there really no room for even a sideways move into a different area? i doubt they would want to lose you. They might agree to train you up for something different (very dependent on company that - guessing from your OP they're not the kind to do tis sort of thing!)

look at jobs abroad, we were stuck and I was being bullied. Moving out changed our lives. I work in HR in the ME and you are actually desirable here!

Children's nurse?

I'm 26 and stuck in the same rut as yourself OP. I work part time to suit childcare needs and can't find anywhere flexible with hours.

Not only that, I work with horrendous liars, reverse snobbery and nepotism. I know if I stay here I will still be doing the same thing in 20 years.

I did apply for a fantastic job doing mostly the same thing and a little bit of marketing for a local creative company though.

For me, it's not what I'm doing, it's who I'm working for. I just want to be proud of what I do and where I do it.

I am through to interview stages, shitting myself and also secretly hoping that I don't get it as it's going to be a massive upheaval at first but I know it would be the best thing for me.

I hope you can find something similar, look at companies that you normally wouldn't consider!

If you have no personal commitments (children or partner) then I suggest you look at night classes. Do something you fancy; learn another language, a silver smithing course, a watercolours course, aromatherapy - just do something YOU enjoy. You'll be surprised at the contacts you make and where they may lead you.

You are just the age to work out what you really want to do and go for it - still young, lots of RL experience, and no dependents.

You need to find out what you really love to do. The way I found out was by doing volunteer work - look at the website www.do-it.org.uk.

This suited me because I tied myself in knots thinking and reading about careers. That said, it does no harm at all to read and talk to a careers adviser - I'd recommend a book called "What Colour is Your Umbrella?" to get you started.

I think evening classes are a great idea. If you like arts and crafts and baking you sound like a practical, creative person. With your administrative skills you could be a really strong candidate for loads of things.

I am wondering about the counselling course as well - presumably you did this because you had an idea about helping people . I'd look on the volunteering website for a role that enables you to use your creative and people skills.

P.S organised and creative are a great combination for teaching. I work as a TA.

OP - best piece of advice i was ever given was "always give yourself the chance to say no" in other words apply for other jobs, go to the interviews and the only time you have to make a real decision is when they offer it to you. by doing this you will see that you have a load of transferable skills and that there are lots of different jobs that you can do. i changed career at 40 - am now self employed - and it took a lot of doing but was so worth it. also try doing different hobbies - things you have never tried before. we have to mix things up and shake all areas of life to stop feeling in a rut. and so what if it doesnt work out - at least you tried and will have no regrets.

Life is too short to be stuck in a job you hate. I went to university at 26 and did a pgce and am now working as a primary school teacher (which I love).

Where do you live?
Have you got children?

volunteering website
book

P.S the book is What Colour is your Parachute, not what Colour is your Umbrella, as like I said before ....

This looks amazing
but I noticed everyone looked in their 20s , I am in my 50s boo-hoo, but you pay to go on it I think, so never say never.