to think if your first office job is in your 30s its too hard to adjust

[spegal]

Hi,

I've started an office job in my 30s, its been a month and still just finding it a miserable and boring existence. Such dull conversations and other people seam to delight in pointing out minor mistakes or picking arguments over little things. To be honest I really don't care about it all, I'm just like whatever its not like anyone is going to die if something isn't perfect.

I'm coming to the conclusion I'm just not an office 9-6 kind of person. Maybe if I had started in my 20s I could of coped. But now I've had such a great life not sat in offices it makes it so hard.

Am I being stuck up or does anyone see my point of view?

Might just stick it out till Xmas for the cash

yes, i used to be 'trapped' in a job that pays four times what I earn now, but now.....

I work in walking distance and I only work 3 days a week, and I don't need to look the part or feel the need to keep up with wealthy colleagues, so I in no way feel that I have only quarter what I used to have. It's quite odd really. I do what I want to do now on the other two days which i love.

It really depends on the corporate culture of the office. Some place you will click with, some you won't. It's work though, you're there to work not gossip at the water cooler, so who cares what others talk about?

Not all office jobs are the same. The one I have now is not challenging at all. And where I am now, content, valuing free time, always with one eye on the children, that suits me. Before I had children I had the energy for managing projects etc.

By lumping all office jobs in together, that's like saying a doctor and a hospital porter have the same job satisfaction.

Clearly OP despite your belief that you are not a 9-6 person and are a very special snowflake, you haven't been able to secure that lifestyle have you? So maybe you are just a normal pleb like the rest of us. As an office manager, I wouldn't employ someone with your attitude, whatever your educational attainments. I'd rather have someone keen with a proven track record of reliability and efficiency. You sound like a clueless dreamer.

What a vile and hateful point of view. I'd rather be a dreamer than someone that gets their kicks out of being a troll insulting people online.

Woe is OP

Spegal, would you rather work nights? or weekends?

yes, i used to be 'trapped' in a job that pays four times what I earn now, but now.....

I work in walking distance and I only work 3 days a week, and I don't need to look the part or feel the need to keep up with wealthy colleagues, so I in no way feel that I have only quarter what I used to have. It's quite odd really. I do what I want to do now on the other two days which i love.

Sounds great what your have now, sorry if you mentioned it but what is your job now?

I work in an office and enjoy it but that's mainly because I like the people I work with and so for me it is enjoyable. Perhaps you just don't like the people, not necessarily the fact that it is an 'office job'. I couldn't do my job if it wasn't for the great atmosphere, especially on the odd day when I have to work 14 hours without a lunch break. I don't think it's to do with your age, you just haven't fallen into the right team of people unfortunately.

there are very very few jobs that don't have an element to them that is tedious, irritating, has to be got out of the way, but also necessary

I would rather work weekends, I worked all thought out my education at the weekends

ofgs, spegal, i was sympathetic to you to begin with but what do you want?

what lifestyle do you want? what hours do you want?

It's a toss up between the cash and the schedule you want. It's that simple.

The cheese job sounds boring. I would hate tp go back to office work but i am a princess. [ grin]

Right Spegal, now you're getting somewhere, so why don't you apply to a hotel to be their events co-ordinator? That is a sociable job and office skills would no doubt be useful?

or, you could (as I did recently) do one of those software packages where you have to keep clicking the option that sounds preferable. Eventually it told me I'd be suited to being an Occupational Therapist. That sounded right. So I trust the softward although I won't re-train. It wouuld be standard at a career guidance counsellor's

Thanks yes, I now know I shouldn't lump all office jobs together, think that's it don't have much to talk about with the people I work with. All they seam to go on about is cars, homes, holidays which fair enough if your into that kind of stuff,but I'm now. Would rather work less and have less money.

the career guidance suggestion is a good one - perhaps your old university or the national careers service might be able to help you think about what would actually enthuse you and what sort of environment?

don't write yourself off as stuck in your ways in your 30s though

Do a few of these quizzes here

i just googled and there are a few career choice quizzes on line. But i'd go to a human being!

You don't like your job. But you need money to live.

Your choices are to put your head down and do it for the money (and try your best to find it somewhat enjoyable) or find a different job.

I'm not sure what your pre-job history or your age have to do with it.
It's the same for everyone.

So the question is: what would you propose to do instead? Starting your own business isn't really an option unless you have a good idea (with ideally some relevant experience) and some funding to do it with. Do you?

The trouble is that your posts come across as if you have some sort of entitlement to enjoy your job. Nobody has that entitlement. Most people do their best to find a job they enjoy and if they can't, they carry on with the one they don't enjoy until they can think of something better.

I'd you're finding the lack of physical activity a problem try joining a gym or going for a run or class during lunch. I don't love working in an office environment (I don't know many that do) but it pays the bills. If you've got to work, you've got to work so it's worth putting time into finding something you can tolerate.

I've worked in 5 offices, each have a different environment and philosophy. I prefer a relaxed environment and have found some really oppressive and moved as a result. Try looking for other opportunities that you can tolerate long term. Being bored every day is no good for anyone.

It sounds like you thought you would walk out of uni into a top job, good pay, few hours, great team.

And reality compared to X Factor isn't what you expected.

The true secret is find what you are good at, do it well, get paid for that talent. Those people do love their work.

Most however just work to pay the bills and compartmentalise.

I kind of get where you are coming from OP. I also spent most of my 20s in education or in short-term posts in different countries. Some of these were very well paid and others were not paid well at all, but they averaged out at enough to support myself and fund pretty extensive travel which was really the point of it all. Then I reached the end of my 20s and decided to move back to the UK and get a 'proper' job, I figured if I wanted any kind of family of my own then moving countries every 6 months or so was not going to make it happen, I also missed my extended family and just wanted to be nearer home in general.

I work in an office and have done for the last 8 years and I struggle with aspects of it. I am an introvert, some days making small talk is a real effort, I do it with a smile on my face and hide my introversion quite well from others but I find it exhausting. I struggle with the politics and with the endless meetings which last for hours and achieve little. BUT, the actual nitty gritty of the work I love, it's what I studied all those years for and it's rewarding - most of the time. I manage the office life by working from home a few days a week which gets me away from the gossip, gives me a chance to do some proper work and recharge the batteries ready to go back in. I do have I would say a pretty strong work ethic and yes, some mornings, I do jump out of bed to get to work, especially if there is an interesting project on. The office environment can be what you make of it. You have only been there a month, there are bound to be like-minded people about to go for a drink with.

i work from home two days a week. it's a godsend during the winter when i actually get to see the inside of my house in daylight for more than just the weekend

What is an "office job"? Do you mean that you are doing admin work? Not everybody who works in an office does admin not everyone works from 9 to 6.

If you are a novice in the office in 4 weeks there you will just be scratching the surface.
You need months to understand what each job involves before deciding I'm just like whatever its not like anyone is going to die if something isn't perfect.

As it happens - somepne is paying your wages Princess and for that you need to do what they require to be perfect - perfect... or leave

YABU to lump all office jobs together. Maybe the problem is the particular job you're doing?

Most of the jobs I've had have been office based - some very interesting with fantastic colleagues, and others that were mind-numbingly boring or working with people I didn't get on with. The job that involved nothing but filing and photocopying along with colleagues I had nothing in common with was a particular low point.

But, regardless of how uninspiring you find your job, i agree with PP that you should try to do it to the best of your ability, whether that's because others will be depending on you doing whatever it is, or just so you go home with some sense of personal pride.

Agree also that you need to have a proper think about what you want to do for a job and figure out how to get there, even if that means sticking it out in a job you don't like for a while until you find something you like better.

And as for no-one's going to die if it's not perfect - that's true for plenty of jobs, office based or not. It's not a good reason to not do your job properly.

Minlile I do like the cinema! It's going under now and I'm trying to scrape up the grant money to buy it myself :(