To quit my job because I am crap at it

[crapatwork]

Is it unreasonable to quit for these reasons?

Probably not. But I feel I am useless at work and I feel like a fraud taking money for a job I'm rubbish at

Crapness

Crap Crap Crap

Never carp

I was crap at my job too (research). I basically didn't find it interesting enough to come up with good research ideas.

I stayed working for the same place but carved out a new role that involved only the area that I was good at. I took a pay cut in the process but I was a lot happier and I now feel like I am good at what I do.

If I hadn't had this option, I would have quit my job because it's soul destroying when you are genuinely not very good.

OP is your worry about your crapness more about the environment you are in? Are you supported?

Make a list of the parts you are good at, and the parts you are crap less good at.

Take your time and try hard to think of everything for both lists.

If you are brave or have a good relationship let a colleague you trust see and comment - not if you don't have a trusted colleague.

Decide whether the bits you are weaker at are fundamental, and if so whether you can improve at any of the crap aspects through training (formal or informal) or approaching them differently or going back to basics and taking them slowly or whatever. Then decide whether you actually want to.

Then if you think its a lost cause start thinking about what else you might prefer to do or be better at - could you take a related but different career path based on the aspects you know you are good at?

If you are not about to get sacked don't jump without an alternative plan (and ideally a new job or training place ready to start) unless this is making you unbearably unhappy, otherwise you may sink into a spiral of negativity and not be able to motivate yourself to find a new job that you feel better about, and end up long term unemployed!

I'm just rubbish at one aspect of it and I'm experienced so shouldn't but I am.

I do a job until I feel I've mastered it, then leave. No challenge left otherwise.

Is that one aspect something that your manager could help you with? Could you get training? Are you crap at it because you can't do it or because you forget things or because you fear it so put it off?

No, none of those thing in all honesty I just haven't got something I clearly need to succeed.

I can relate, is it something that's at odds to the rest of your role, like chairing meetings or managing clients? Do you prefer getting your head down and working on your own?

I have a few jobs that were beyond my capabilities. It doesn't make you thick; it just shows you are not interested in the work, hence not being able to get a handle on it.
I tried admin twice; oh man was that embarrassing.
Think of all those intellectual types that can't cook a simple meal or clean their home.
I'd stay put until you find a more suitable job.
good luck x

I was really crap at all my old jobs. Seriously shit at about 75% of the tasks. 25% I was good at. It was awful I left virtually every job after exactly a year. I always blamed the specific places rather than the roles. I also blamed the colleagues as I was pretty much universally despised in all jobs. I went on lots of training but never ever got it.

It took me 15 years to realise I just am utterly shit at office work. All I was doing was replacing the old job with another exactly the same. Mainly because I needed to work and it appears you can only get jobs you have done already before. Especially once past 30.

I wish I had realised sooner and done something about it. As a girl I was shoehorned into 'admin' whereas I am disorganised and virtually computer illiterate. I should have been a painter and decorator or summat.

Is there a possibility of retraining in something you may be less 'crap' at?

No, unfortunately I need to master this but can't. My confidence is low.

Sounds like a training issue OP. Fear can paralyse us too. Don't make any hasty decisions. I'd speak to a Manager about the way you are feeling.

I spent seven years in my previous job consumed with misery at my crapness.

Apparently I am now remembered fondly and much missed! While my successor is struggling in turn. In retrospect it was just a really hard job.

Teacher?

There may be an aspect of that Irene we are all struggling.

As others have said, whether you are actually crap or just feel crap is the question..

But, there is a lot to be said for feeling the pride and confidence that comes from being skilled and competent, and security that comes from that, so if I felt I really couldn't improve/ learn or just didn't have the apititude for certain things (we all have different strenghts and weaknesses) I would look for other work that suited me better. Play to your strengths not your weaknesses and save yourself the grief!

I'm thinking teacher too - so many variables outwith your control

You a teacher? I know a lot of teachers who have been brilliant, but suddenly think they are crap - nothing has changed but the goal posts

Are you a teacher, by any chance?

Oops cross-post. But an interesting one

Can you focus on the parts you are good at and leave the bits you are crap at to someone else?
I work alone, but part of a small team and we are all crap at some things and good at others, we all try our best so the basics are covered, but whoever is good at a particular bit puts more effort into that. We all work like that, so even though we are all a bit shit (and a bit good), a good job is done all round iyswim.

If you really think there is one aspect of your job that you need to be good at to succeed and you know you haven't got it deep down then maybe it's time to retrain and get a new career.

I know a civil litigation solicitor fairly new qualified worked for I think 3-4 years in the business I think he was good at what he did but maybe the firms he worked for weren't good. Anyway he retained as a primary school teacher, has his new job and has never looked back and is much happier.

I know a female barrister, she wasn't happy or good at certain barrister parts of her job so she switched from the bar to legal eg retrained as a solicitor and is much happier.

What would your colleagues say about you? Do you get any actual feedback from your manager or through appraisals? They might have a different perspective on you entirely.

Read the first post and thought - teacher.

The culture atm is to constantly knock us and blame us for not doing enough/working hard enough/getting the results. We are all made to feel like we're crap on a daily basis.

I quit recently and remembered that I'm actually quite a nice person who is good at stuff.