I feel like I used to really like my job, mind this was a few years ago and slightly different job. Maybe this is just what it’s like for most people?? How depressing! I’m only 35!
No, it's not normal to hate your job.
However, what is "normal" I've learnt, is that what you thought you wanted in your 20s and what you worked towards, turns out NOT to be what you want when life changes.
I did the big corporate thing. I loved it. I was highly ambitious. Got my dream job at a huge, very successful bank where I was running a small team within a bigger team, but my small team was the biggest and most important sub team. Was promoted (corporate title, not job) at an unusually young age. Totally wanted to be head of the bigger department, ultimately to the top of my profession. That was my plan.
During those years, I worked hard and played hard. A lot of my social life revolved around work and work colleagues. It was fantastic. It didn't feel like work. And I loved getting extra responsibilities.
But then things started to change. The pressure got more intense. I got to see what the more senior roles were really about - I saw more than just the party line and had to start questioning whether I was okay with things being that way. Part of this was also growing up, reading more, meeting more people and questioning things that were just considered normal but now I wasn't so sure. I realised how homogenous the City was, and how uninterested in different opinions, lifestyles, interests it was.
I met DH and my life expanded outside of other people like me, working in the City and we wanted to start a family so I found there were other things I wanted to do outside of work and play-work.
And then I started noticing that within the bank, lots of people who were highly successful etc etc, were leaving when they got to a certain age (and not just the women). The attitude was always "they couldn't hack it/ they weren't good enough." but by now I knew these people and I realised they just wanted something different. Many went on to be very successful elsewhere but doing things completely differently.
I'm sorry, this is so ridiculously long. The point I'm making, very slowly, is that you need to look at your job and think about what you really want with your life. A simple, specific example - I've met so many lawyers and accountants over the years who started out at big law firm/acccounting firms, fully intending to make partner. But then one day they realise it's just not for them. So they go onto something else, usually still challenging and interesting, but a totally different environment - usually in house. And it revitalises their interest in their work and job.
Maybe this is what you need to think about. It's easy to get sucked into the big corporate job, the title, the perks, the "importance" - but that comes at a price that you have to decide if you're willing to pay.