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.

My parents think I am crazy to them a steady job is the be all and end all.

I just want to look forward to going to work! I know that not everyone gets to have a career and just have jobs.

I wish I had a real talent to point me to a job. As a child I never relly had a dream job.

I care about people and charity work but need to balance that with earning enough money!

Hi there,

I know it sounds weird to say, but if you have a fairly low income (which from some of your posts it sounds like you have), then you're actually in a slightly better position than most to refocus your career. I would love to change my job but my salary is quite high, in a location where the average salary is normally half what I earn. So if I leave my job, not only would I have to reduce my income by half, but if I also wanted to retrain in something completely different, it would drop by a further third as I would have to start at the bottom again, so I feel completely stuck.

However, my company are doing mass redundancies worldwide at the moment so I am thinking about options and there is something that may appeal to you.

Have you thought about starting your own business in an admin field? So offering local small businesses your admin skills on an adhoc basis. Maybe do a basic book-keeping course and offer it to builders/carpenters etc who may be self-employed and don't have the time to do their own books.

These days a lot of companies have to do their own admin but can't afford to pay an Administrator fulltime. You could offer to do letters at a rate per letter, draw-up staff rotas, produce documents. Everything that they need. If you got 10 or 15 small companies or self-employed people interested, you could make quite a bit of money and could choose your hours, which may leave you some time to attend college one day a week etc.

Just an idea but definitely something that I might look into if I lose my job.

Good luck.

Working for a charity in an admin roll? They tend to be quite dynamic offices so would expect variety and challenges. If you're organised, used to handling figures and have a bit of imagination from your creative side I imagine you'd be perfect! Just need to find one that isn't suffering too much with the cuts...

Hadn't thought about how hard it would be for people on high wages to change! Mine isn't really low about 16 thousand and there are people on less but I guess I want a job that is fulfilling and makes me happy.

I think my plan will have to be learn to drive, take some qualifications and maybe get involved with a local charity.

It is so scary!! Even though I am quite miserable in my rut I know the work and the people.

Hard to know what qualification to take. They are really expensive! My highest qualification is either BTEC level five or six.

I would second looking at the OU. In fact, I can't recommend looking into it enough tbh. They do lots of short, inexpensive introductory courses too - which, if you find one you like, can count towards your degree/qualification. Take a look here.

It allows you to study part time so you wouldn't need to give up working and the online prospectus gives quite a lot of detail about the courses.

I've done a couple of courses through them and am planning on starting my MA with the OU in the next couple of years. The course materials are great - you don't have to buy any extra books - it's all part of the cost; you don't need to get out to the library (unless you want to) you have full access to online journals and ebooks. You can do well without venturing outside of your living room! There are no extra or hidden costs.

You can take 6 years to do a degree which would work out at £2500 a year under the new pricing structure (assuming you live in England - more for overseas, less for Welsh or Scottish students).

26 isn't too late to do anything - I went to university at 26.

Should get off really, I've got an exam tomorrow (with OU) and I'm supposed to be revising. Not sitting on here

You've he some good advice. Agree that the what colour is your parachute book is very good. The cheaper workbook is just as good and you can get it cheaply on line. Yes volunteering is one of the best ways of trying new things out it is really difficult to conceptualise things without action.

Do a free Myers Briggs test online- that comes up with some good careers ideas.

For skills check look at national careers service online.

If you were in a bookshop what shelves would you be drawn towards?

Might sound silly but also looking in back of yellow pages and marking all the sectors that interest you in twenty minutes.

Also take time to do your cv properly for yourself, making your past something you are proud of and future something you are excited about. You don't need o show anyone at this stage , just have it as a secret motivator.

Also don't be put off by what your parents think or say it can be incredibly inhibiting. Take the advice from them that resounds with you and leave the rest.

Yes pushing your comfort zone is scary bu it is the onl way to move forward and improve confidence.
Its exciting to build up and expand those concentric comfort zone circles!

Same here and can't get out of it, very little quilifications 2 children and a few debts and a home to run.

Op I would suggest just going for it, wish I could

How about a job in a school office?

You get to remain in an office environment but you'll also be speaking to kids, parents, teachers etc to break up your day?

And then there are the 13 weeks holidays

Wow that's inspiring verity!!

I'm going to channel my inner Verity I think. It must be there, somewhere... .

Giggly, two things really.

I'm 27 and felt stuck in a rut for a long time in a job where there seemed to be no opportunities to move, then at 24 I had my son ended up becoming a single parent and reduced my hours to part time, budgets were cut and I was even more in a rut. Then partly down to the budget cuts and a restructure a load of new jobs did actually come up and now I'm in a better paid and much more interesting job, so you never know what's round the corner.

Secondly if I was in a position where I had no children and no real ties I wouldn;t even hesitate to follow my dream job, you could definitely use your baking and craft skills in a teaching job. My sister loves cooking and is going on to become a food technology teacher. Go for it now before you end up getting a mortgage or starting a family and that's the time when you might not want to take chances. Even if you have to move there are house shares. There will always be admin jobs out there.

Verity - wow! Amazing!

If I go to a book shop head for crafts then baking then sort of self help books. Maybe classic fiction and gardening too.

I can see how people stay in ruts forever as all the doubts and fears surface. What if I am not good enough .... what if the people I work with don't like me ... etc.

I think at 26 it is perfectly fine to think you want to do something different. I fell into my career as i never had a 'vocation' or calling and after uni ended up in a company that paid for my professional accountancy qualification. Personally I also feel in a rut, and trapped for want of a better word as like another post the money is good, the company is pretty flexible and with 2 children that is a real benefit but i hate the job i do, i have no sense of enjoyment and have definitely lost my spark. I would have to take a very drastic pay cut also which is daunting to say the least. I am 38 now.
I have also been thinking about a change but have all the fears and doubts you have - i think they are normal. What can i do? what if i make a mistake? what if it backfires etc etc. I started looking at ideas through a site called careershifters.org. Basically it starts with identifying what motivates you, what do you enjoy, what personality traits do you have etc, and also helps identify practical ways to achieve what you want (and helps you identify what it is you want!) Maybe have a look there and see if it helps.
My advice would be not to sit back and just hope things will get better, but actually put positive steps in place to make sure it does. You're just starting out so have a real opportunity to make a change.
Good luck!

I second FolkGirl - I'm also 26 but have two children and have just finished a Level 1 course with the OU, and starting a Level 2 course at the end of September. Before I had DS1 3 and a half years ago I was in an office job which I had been in for 3 years, with 2 years of manual/office work before that.

Having the children and being at home with them made me realise that I would be doing this for the next few years until they went to school then I would be right back into something like an office administrator job that I had come out of before and not enjoyed, so I signed up for the OU one evening on a whim and I've found my whole outlook has changed. I feel way more confident about rest of my life being a happier outlook. Good Luck with whatever you decide!

Yeah agree; fall forwards not backwards!

This was me 5 years ago - Verity, I know how you feel.
Working in a job i hated. I got fed up and decided to try and get into university.
I got in!

Graduated in 2010, emailed a well known parenting website that I knew rather well and asked for a bit of work experience/ editorial experience and the rest is history.

Aim high and work hard, you can do whatever you put your mind to.
You are in a fantastic position with no ties - go for it.

Good luck.

TheWalkingDead I did my degree at a 'traditional' university - but on reflection I think the OU can be a better option if you have children.

I think the realisation for me was that the next 3 years were going to pass whatever I did, so I might as well do something worthwhile.

giggly I think that's the key - realising that and then taking the bull by the horns. Good luck.

It is really inspiring to hear about people who have changed jobs at my age!

When I look around the office here everyone seems stuck. A lot of people have been in the same job for 20 years. I would love to work somewhere with a nice atmosphere.

I will have to look at all the websites recommended and to try and figure out what would fit with my interests and qualifications. I don't know how a BTEC 5 or 6 compares to other qualifications. Will have to see what OU need to get on the course.

I think you have had some great advice so far. I would start by looking at jobs requiring the kind of skills and experience you already have but in a different sector. So try admin in a school, for a charity, whatever takes your fancy. It sounds like a change of scene will help you no matter what. And changing job will make the step of changing career altogether seem less daunting.

giggly the OU don't require anything for undergrad courses. You register - and can cancel the registration without incurring any costs until the day before the course starts if you change your mind.

But there are no entry requirements as such.

Nurse? ha. When in doubt retrain as a nurse ir accountant. Ridiculous.

I would move abroad and travel as you have no ties. Enjoy your life. Sod redoing career in nursing or god forbid accounts.