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

I could give out cheese but I'm nearly 60 and not tall or beautiful.

I'm interested in how one gets two degrees and not be able to tell the difference between of and have

OP I have two degrees and I worked in boring office jobs while I was putting myself through college. Then, because I had two degrees and lots of work experience I was able to move into more creative type work (which still takes place in an office, but one in a beautiful old house in a park). So basically, instead of moaning that you're too creative to be working in an office, start looking at it as a means to get some experience to back up your degrees and your 'creativity'.

I don't think anyone, when they're thinking about what career path they would like to pursue thinks "I want to work in an office and type letters/file paper/photocopy all day every day for the rest of my life"

I think office work comes under the "What can I do" list rather than "What would I like to do"

IMO and experience, office work is a means to an end - creativity fills up the time outside working hours making life more liveable.

I think what you are asking is whether the fact that you have only started the office job in your 30s has made it harder for you, with the implication being that those who start younger are essentially institutionalised and that is why they can do it.
I think it is more likely that your age is not relevant and that either this particular office is not for you or that regular work is simply not for you.

I can see that your age may be an element, in that those who have gone into an office straight from school, say, are in some senses replacing one type of institution with another so are used to a routine, whereas someone older has had longer of doing their own thing and having more freedom with their time. But I suspect that it is inter-related in that you have clearly chosen not to go into that environment at an earlier stage becuase it does not appeal to you.

I have worked in an office since university (now 45) but in a high pressure, high expectation job and it does not feel like the type of place you describe. I do not feel institutionalised. Although I have been doing a similar job for a long time and I do feel ready for a change to something that gives me more control over my time.

I want to advise, I really do, but I'm struggling with one point...

seem. It's seem. SEEM.

OP, maybe if you could give us some indication of what sector you want to work in, maybe people could advise?

I don't think it is an age thing. It might be that you just don't like working with groups of people. Or you prefer to be active. Everyone likes different jobs, that's perfectly normal.

I could give out cheese but I'm nearly 60 and not tall or beautiful.

I know I'm posting it twice but... like this?

Oh, and Spiegal. It's Spiegal.

Perfect! pianodoodle

So if you spent your 20's in education and interships what were your long term goals?

Of course it's hard to start working if you spent your whole life so far studying for fluffy degrees and having fun. Welcome to adulthood.

I don't think it's an age thing.

My first job office based was hell - changed jobs new office new people and even though it was hard it got to be great and I hated leaving in the end.

It was depressing and affected everything - I got up later and later as I hated facing the day- but to get through I MADE A PLAN. I got through each day but after a set min amount of time I started job hunting - not easy as my confidence wasn't high but it got me a sedond job which was so much better.

I know thinking about where you want to end up isn't always easy - I'm struggling now feeling hampered by other demands on my time -ie fitting round DC - but once you have a plan/idea to aim for it helps.

One of my siblings coudn't hold a job till they entered a field where they could set their own time and be in charge of their own activites - within reason - a bit more. It doesn't pay well and would be my idea of hell but he managed over a decade.

Could it be that you need a bit more indpendance - something that might come with time or promotion or a differnt field?

I hated every minute of my first job out of Uni, which was office based. The job was related to my (more than one) degrees, but I was way overqualified for it. A similarity would be an admin job while holding a PhD in Economics. Everyone in my office was twice my age, and we didn't have anything in common.

After ten months, I left to go to a job that was much better suited to my skills. This was an office job too, but with people my age, with work that not only used the knowledge from my degrees but actually was a bit of a stretch, and in an atmosphere (early 00's; pure dotcom) that I loved. I stayed in that job for four years.

My first job actually got me my second job, because they needed someone with that kind of experience, no matter how trivial I thought it was at the time.

If I could go back in time, I would have worked much harder at that first job, because frankly I only half applied myself, and now I feel rather embarrassed at the sense of entitlement I had. Ever since, I've given my 100% to my work, and while some jobs have been utterly disastrous, I have walked out with my head high, knowing I did the best of my abilities.

Pride in a job well done or at least a job well attempted is important. Don't dismiss it as other people's pettiness or think you are above it.

For all you know OP there may be one or two other people in your office thinking how dull and serious you are and how they'd love to be working somewhere with more 'creative' types. We all like to think we're a bit different from the crowd but usually we're not

OK thanks to many people here. I'm not looking for carrea advice here just about the mindset of working in an office.

My job is quite high demand and it's a well paid job so its not like I'm a runner or photocopier.

Was panicing today as it was the last day I could quit with nil notice. Had a meeting with the manager and he said I was doing excellent and very pleased with my work. So decided to keep on at it.

I still feel like I'm a bit of a fraud pretending I'm interested in working hard and that I give a damn about a guy paying 120 to get a scuff cleaned off his alloy wheels. But will do that for the moment.

Still getting cabin fever, woman across the desk snacks on rice cakes all day with her mouth open making a stupid amount of lib smacking noise, but meh its not like I'm in a mine I guess.

You sound charming. I sure they hold you in high regard as well.

You sound charming. I sure they hold you in high regard as well.

oh i'm with you op on obnoxious habits of colleagues in open plan offices (and there have been plenty of threads about that on here)

good that you have had good feedback, and you're well-paid too

Thanks pet, was a weight off my mind knowing at least they are pleased with me. The two people that are treating me harshly have been there many years and think I've got their backs up coming in and suggesting new ways. But men management are happy.

How do you get a cheese job?

Oh and I reckon that 99% of jobs stifle you're creativity and suck the joy out your life. Sadly most people need a job.

You have to pretend to care about alloy wheels and put up with rice cake eating woman. I have to pretend to care about babies and put up with being covered in bodily fluids and worked like a dog for 8 hours a day with no break and no chance of a drink.

I swear I used to work as a donkey beach girl and I couldn't have worked a donkey in as shit conditions as I work in without being prosecuted.

I think that first sentence sums it up viva.

Just sign up with a promotions agency and live in a big city. Tbh I was very lucky with the cheese promotion, ended up 24 pounds an hour worked, often go lifts to the different sites and had an almost unlimited amount of cheese. Other promotions work is much harder, like wondering around boots trying to book people into an eye test or helping people with self scan at waitrose.

The two people that are treating me harshly have been there many years and think I've got their backs up coming in and suggesting new ways

Yeah, I'm sure that's the reason you've got their backs up.

Your not you're. Tsk.

I do hate being a wage slave but short of selling up and bumming round the world on the proceeds of my house sale not sure what else I can do. Its tempting some days though.

Ooooh there are some bitchy bitter responses! OP your post I think was sand right in the drawers of some people on here.

It really does depend on the office, the job, and how well you can separate 'your time' for yourself after you've come home. Openly asking about the culture during the interview is a good move.