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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you’re satisfied with your current job?

59 replies

ceitidhb · 03/03/2021 01:15

Relevant background info: I’m a secondary school teacher and I really, really love my job - it’s very hard, especially right now (we’re open for kids of ket workers and those who need extra support, but still running online learning at the same time, so it’s quite hectic). But I was having a conversation with DD1 (who’s 18 and currently on a gap year; she’s at a bit of a crossroads re what she wants to do as a career) about the various places I’ve worked and it made me realise that as much as I love teaching, I really miss working in politics and being surrounded by other adults all day...

I worked in the White House for a while in the nineties (amongst other places, but that stands out for obvious reasons) and it was honestly the time of my life. It’s making me quite sad that I’ll never get that sort of opportunity again. I wouldn’t say I preferred it to teaching, they’re both obviously very different and have their respective qualities, but I think I also miss the youth & freedom I had back then! (although I don’t miss living in the US, especially with kids Grin)

So MNetters - is your current job your ‘dream’ job that you can see yourself in for the foreseeable future? Or do you find yourself pining for a completely different career field? Is it normal to suddenly feel slightly dissatisfied and ‘stuck’ or am I having a midlife crisis?

OP posts:
Whatapalavaa · 04/03/2021 06:39

I feel stuck and unhappy. I would like to do something totally different. I fear that I've bought into what seems to be an unattainable (for most) belief that a job should be something you love doing. Big fear I'll never find this and instead spend the next 40-50 years wishing my life away Monday to Friday.

Snorkello · 04/03/2021 07:36

I’ve just embarked on a career change! Best thing I’ve done.

I had wanted this for ages, and I think the midlife crisis kicked in. DH has been the same. We are now both moving in the direction we want, and I’m excited to be retraining for a new vocation.

Life’s too short! If you want a change, it really is never too late. Do some research on what you want and figure a way to get it.

LApprentiSorcier · 04/03/2021 07:41

I've often thought about this. In terms of jobs I could realistically do, the one I have is probably as good a fit as any.

'Dream jobs' for me are just that - things I have never had the funds to train for or am not clever/skilled enough to do.

I always wanted to be a train driver but my eyesight is too poor and I can't even drive a car so I doubt I'd pass a train driving assessment even if I had 20/20 vision.

felulageller · 04/03/2021 07:42

No hate it. Want to change but feel pressured to have the stable income.

RampantIvy · 04/03/2021 07:42

I love my job. I work part time with lovely people, and for a company that takes the health and safety of its staff seriously during this pandemic.

PurBal · 04/03/2021 07:43

I used to work in events and entertainment and travelled all over the world. I thought it was my dream job because I was working doing my "hobby" of so many years but in the end I decided I wanted something more stable. I now work for a charity doing admin and whilst it's less exciting in some ways I love the people, feel like I'm contributing something to the very vulnerable and it means I could settle down too. I enjoy this job more overall.

TheRaccoon · 04/03/2021 07:45

I changed careers last year after being made redundant from a job I absolutely hated. I now work freelance, and whilst I enjoy the freedom, the lack of a constant salary does get me down. I’m also now pregnant so worrying even more about money than usual as the government help is severely lacking!

In all honesty I’d rather not have to work at all 😂

Namechangegame123 · 04/03/2021 07:46

I am also at a crossroads. I'm early 30's, came out of work in a very high-stress job to be a SAHM a few years ago. Now my kids are getting older and I'm in the fortunate position of having no financial pressure on me I can retrain, but I have no idea what to do.... something that fits well around family life and has flexibility. Something I can really grow and develop in. I don't know!

DinosaurDiana · 04/03/2021 07:48

No, I don’t like my job at the moment because we have a new manager. I was told that she’s a ‘climber’ before she arrived, and boy is she !
She didn’t ask us how we do the job, she just came in and told us how she wanted the job doing, and now are results are worse than before.
She’s younger than all of us, so maybe that doesn’t help, but there’s an unhappy atmosphere now that wasn’t there before.
I don’t plan on staying much longer if she stays.

VashtaNerada · 04/03/2021 07:49

It’s hard. I had my ‘dream job’ years ago, working for an organisation I had huge respect for. Ended up being bullied and forced out, and completely shook my confidence. You can’t always tell how things will work out.

Imapotato · 04/03/2021 07:51

I love my job. I’m currently in the process of qualifying in my area of work and I’m so grateful that my workplace gave me the opportunity to do it as an apprenticeship, as I could never afford to give up work and go to uni.

Onedropbeat · 04/03/2021 07:51

I did love it

Now I just get the job done for a stable income

I started a small business last year but its only ever enough for some pocket money and will never be able to quit the day job

I could love my job again, it’s the people who make a difference and there are some bad management

I’m in the construction industry

user1493413286 · 04/03/2021 07:51

I feel dissatisfied in the team I’m in and I feel somewhat stuck as where I am is good for having young children but isn’t the area I’d choose to be in. It helps though that I can see a way of moving on in a couple of years

OhAnotherNameChange · 04/03/2021 07:52

I don't really HATE my job, but it is a job to pay bills, not a dream. I don't think many people dream of working in a call centre 😁

My problem is I have absolutely no idea what I do want to do with the rest of my life, how do people know this? Or decide what to pursue if they have a career change later on in life? If I could do anything with the absolute certainty I could not fail it would be to open my own soft play and cafe, but that is an impossible dream for someone who has no business experience or money!!

SmednotaSmoo · 04/03/2021 07:55

My job is ok, but the stresses caused by power play and politics and people back stabbing are really getting to me. I’ve never had a “dream” and now have a reasonable amount of seniority in a niche area and struggling to work out how to get out of this industry.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 04/03/2021 07:56

My job is satisfying for now. It is low paid and very monotonous but as a single parent of a 7 year old that's what I want right now, I couldn't deal with the stress of a career and trying to juggle home life. I do my job then forget about it the moment I step out the door.

When DS is older I think I will aim for a more challenging career. I had him young, he will be an adult by the time I'm 40 so plenty of working years ahead of me!

Lockdownbear · 04/03/2021 07:57

I'm fed up with my job. Its changed so much since I started 20+ years ago.
I want a career change but at the same time I don't know what else I could do while earning the same money.

Didiusfalco · 04/03/2021 07:58

I really love my job, but it very badly paid, and I’ve got to be realistic that if I was trying to live on just my wage it would be a struggle.

ItsSnowJokes · 04/03/2021 08:00

I loved my last job, I won awards for my work. Then they made me redundant earlier this year and have a new job now. Its not great, but with a mortgage and bills to pay, beggars can't be choosers in the current climate. I feel in my early 40s I will never have my previous job again (quite niche what I did) and now stuck in entry level admin.

GoodCow · 04/03/2021 08:06

I'm due back at work in a month when my maternity leave finishes. I don't mind my job but I'm not excited by it. Unfortunately I don't know what I want to do!

Meruem · 04/03/2021 08:09

I used to love the job I trained for but budget cuts and ever increasing workloads turned it into something I hated. The core part of why I loved the job was severely diminished and all that was left was stress and more stress! So I took a lower grade wfh job, which is ok. It’s not particularly interesting or exciting but there’s also no stress.

I’m too old to retrain now (51) so this is it I guess! There’s nothing else I particularly yearn to do anyway. Most jobs now want that extra pound of flesh from their workers and I don’t have the energy anymore to be on the go constantly.

something2say · 04/03/2021 08:10

I'd like to know more about the job in the White House!!! Time of your life how? What sort of things did you get up to?

As for my current job, it's got ups and downs but I do quite like it. I've been a support worker for many years, but recently moved to mental health. What is has in common with previous roles is, you end up really liking the people you support and I look forward to spending time with them. What's better than previous roles is that they cant help their situation where some people I've supported could have helped themselves but didn't want to and it's not PC to do anything to change that. I dont agree with that approach to life. You have to work through your problems in my view and you often come out better on the other side because you've grown and overcome. I dont like it when people refuse to do this. Now in my current role they can't. So that angst has been taken away.

I'd have liked to have done a counselling degree and be a therapist as that's what I like doing best but I do get the opportunity to do that sort of thing in my day to day role.

But back to the White House....

whoworksforfree · 04/03/2021 08:11

My current role was my dream job for at least 10 years. For 7 years up until last spring it was everything I dreamt of. Now, I very much dislike it. It’s caused me so much stress, anxiety and worry. The unpleasantness of clients overtakes any joy I feel doing the job. I’m exploring ways to get out of it ASAP and I’m so sad about it

CompleteBarstool · 04/03/2021 08:13

I've never had a job I've loved. I've had phases of enjoying jobs but never continually.

I did a teaching degree but never taught at the end of it, just drifted down various other routes.

The trouble is I've "never known what I've wanted to do when I grow up" .....and I'm now in my early 50s and I still don't know.

MyFloorIsLava · 04/03/2021 08:15

Overall I like my job. I've just been promoted and am on a new pay scale, I'm part time in a job share with a fantastic job share partner and have excellent work life balance. The actual work I'm getting my head around and has potential to be enjoyable and make a positive difference. Only fly in the ointment is my current manager, my old manager was a dream and my new one, well he is a different beast but nothing is perfect. I considered a complete career change when I was on mat leave with DS, I'm glad I didn't.

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