To give up on a career that I hate?

[Littlebme12]

That's it really in a nutshell. Went to university and gained a degree thinking I would secure mine and dcs future and I hate it.

I've now been employed for three years with different employers and I can't see me changing my opinion any time soon. I've recently become a single parent again and reduced my hours and given the nature of my job will not progress unless I return to full time. In all honesty I can't see how I will be able to manage that or if it would be financially smart due to tax credits and child care issues. I feel unsupported, overlooked and deskilled and also feel I am doing nothing worthwhile.

The job I have is in the care sector and I could move to another section as friends have suggested as they think I might just be needing a change of client group, that I might find something else more rewarding.

In looking at jobs I've seen one in a library advertised, I love books an learning and would love that sort of job, there would not be the same level of stress and responsibility but of course this is reflected in the salary and I'm not sure there would be room for progression, but the hours fit perfectly around school time.

I think on one hand I would be happier but worry that I would be throwing away a career I could progress in and guarantee a decent salary to give my kids a decent lifestyle? Aibu?

I think the library job sounds wonderful, and you should definitely apply. but i understand from friends and from MN that there are a lot of fully qualified and experienced librarians applying for these posts, so you shouldn't be too disappointed if you don't get it in the end.

I know someone who works in a library - it doesn't sound great.

A lot of infighting women, shifts that change all the time including Saturday's etc. A lot of petty people.

And libraries really do attract the odd people in society.

I don't think it is worse than other jobs but not as wonderful as at first glance.

Do what makes you happy. You don't need the big fancy educated career to be happy in yourself and in life. I make peanuts and come home everyday stinking of sweat, mud, diesel and shit but I love it and I am happy. Sure there are things I cant afford like abroad holidays or even a holiday that doesn't involve a caravan but I'm happy and so are the kids.

I am a librarian. Just to warn you it is an extremely stressful job at times, especially in a public library. You are either dealing with the general public in glorious technicolour, or belligerent school kids. Plus I assume you don't have a library qualification so you'd be a library assistant and on the front lines as it were. In a public library you will deal with shit, piss, vomit, alcoholics, people screaming and shouting at you, people eating, using mobile phones when they shouldn't. People trying to look at porn on the internet. Frustrated people who need help printing/completing benefits forms. Constant, constant IT problems. Problems with photocopiers, printers, lifts, you name it. You'll work evenings and weekends.

What you won't be doing: teaching anyone anything much. Reading anything. You might stick some labels on the books but that'll be about it. People say to me all the time 'oh it must be wonderful reading all day.' So bizarre. You wouldn't say to a chef 'oh it must be wonderful, eating all day.' or a shop assistant 'it must be wonderful, shopping all day.'

Maybe I am just having a bad week at work. But really fed up with people thinking working in libraries is soooo calm and wonderful!