To feel like I'm not cut out for work?

[mashh]

I have had 4 jobs in the past:

• job 1 - left for better job
• job 2 - left for level transfer in same company, as I moved to my home city over summer
• job 3 - left to transfer back to 2nd job at university city

But I never did return to the 2nd job. There were delays with transfer paperwork between the stores and like I stopped caring. I could have been more proactive with calling both stores to get my shifts sorted, but just carried on being a full time student and didn't get in touch with the store.

Job 2 annoyed me because although I was constantly given good feedback, the store was understaffed and development opportunities were rare. I was working at a high standard.

Job 3 annoyed me because the staff treated me like I was new instead of experienced so it was like starting from the bottom although I was capable of more.

Job 4 is my current role and I've been here for 2 years and feel exhausted with the office politics. Feel a bit like history is repeating itself and would love to hand in my notice but I'm an adult with bills. I just find it tiring. It's a different industry but has the same issues with understaffing and me performing at a high level but being passed aside for development opportunities.

Sounds like your manager is shit. Move jobs sideways if at all possible. Look outside. Don’t get hung up on what the new job is, look for what you can learn. Can you move into a data job just to show you have the skill set then move in.

it’s not you, it’s them

At 23, I'm in my 4th job, and I've been in this job for over 2 years. That's more than enough time to become experienced in a non-technical job. Particularly as it's very similar work/environments to my last 3 jobs.

I've actually trained up new staff and led presentations to the district on the area I excel in during my current role. I might not be experienced in the grand scheme but I think I've done enough to be credible

Thank you for this! Some great ideas, I actually like the idea of a data role

Most of us are 'annoyed' by our jobs at one stage or another but you either get on with it or take steps to get something that you like better.

I get you. I'm my 60s. I've always felt like I wasn't born to work. That feeling never went away. 😕

Not cut out for work? What an odd phrase. I absolutely love my job, it's hard work but I love it and it pays very well. I also get to wfh. You need to find something you absolutely love. Unless you are incredibly wealthy and can support yourself you're going to have to work obviously

I don't think it's odd at all. I have struggled with holding down jobs my adult life and have being fired from multiple ones due to poor performance. I never fitted into worklife, I was temping up until last year but had to go on long term sick leave after a bad accident.

I don't think this applies to op as she hasn't being constantly fired but I do think there are people, a minority, who would struggle in many jobs and aren't really cut out for work. I've seen a few threads on this now and the op is usually told to ''do something you love'' but I think people saying that don't quite understand the problem. They can't quite grasp why some people struggle in a work environment.

Not many people would describe themselves as "cut out for work". Given the chance, lots would prefer a life of leisure.

But we make do. We pick the most tolerable job available. We switch companies and fields when we're miserable. We dwell on the good stuff like wfh and nice coworkes etc.

We don't put our hands up and opt out of adulting. What's the alternative? Becoming a sugar baby? A housewife?

Try not to be so defeatist. You've barely scratched the surface of the professional world.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4210395-To-think-a-percentage-of-the-population-are-just-incompetent-and-not-suitable-for-work

Above was a very good thread op that another poster asked this question. The op in that thread could have being me because we sounded so similar but you'll see that many of the replies didn't really get what she was saying but a few did have empathy.

Not many people would describe themselves as "cut out for work". Given the chance, lots would prefer a life of leisure.
But we make do. We pick the most tolerable job available. We switch companies and fields when we're miserable. We dwell on the good stuff like wfh and nice coworkes etc

you are kind of missing the point though, some people really really struggle to hold down any job. It's not that they are lazy, they just generally struggle.

(most grad positions are available as long as you start within 3 years of graduating)

I was at a retraining expo not long ago and someone from a tech company was explaining that their graduate scheme is now open to graduates of any vintage. I think this is because they are trying to make sure they are not discriminating against people who might have reasons for not being in a graduate job, related to one or more of the protected characteristics, and also trying to diversify their workforce more generally. They said this is getting more widespread.

Loads of free data courses available- try gov.uk. Massive skill shortage.

The public sector is for rule followers

Really? Never followed a rule in my life (senior public sector manager speaking....)

I often get bored of a job after 18 months. At that point I have normally solved 80% of the problems and the other 20% are beyond me so it's just annoying.

Two exceptions, my first 3 year job I had to leave because I had a stress related physical breakdown, my second 3 year job I really enjoyed but then my client left his job and his replacement wasn't great to work with.

Keep looking and following what you enjoy doing. You are still young!

How are you still employed? If you're a civil servant you have to adhere to the civil service code, i.e. rules. I work in a listed company. If I don't follow company policy, i.e. rules, I could be committing a criminal offence and certainly wouldn't last long in the job.

You're only 23. That seems to be quite normal. We've had a group of grads come through in the last two years. Half have left after a year for sideways moves or swaps to different sectors.

You just need to keep trying new things, keep looking until you find something you love. Build a good reputation - for being efficient, reliable, more than capable and opportunity will come calling, especially in this jobs market. Good luck.

I've just read your update OP. If you're being passed over for development opportunities when you're the person with the best work ethic then you've got a crap manager. Find another job that gives you the opportunities you are seeking. It's a candidate's market at the moment with a shortage of people for the roles available.

There are a lot of people who, for a variety of reasons, struggle in conventional employment. Various forms of ASD and ADHD can affect the individual’s ability to (for example) meet deadlines, manage time, understand unwritten social codes and office politics. There is also a condition called Executive Function Disorder (often going hand in hand with these diagnoses but can also occur in otherwise NT people). This underlies a lot of ‘failures at life’; it’s where you have no problem following direction and you’re perfectly capable of doing a whole range of tasks, but for some reason, you can’t plan, you can’t organise yourself and you can’t co-ordinate all those tasks together.

It’s a bit soon for OP to start thinking about this possibility as executive function tends not to mature until about 25, but it may be an issue in those who constantly struggle with employment.

You are clearly bright and capable

I would suggest you are bored of your current job and need something more interesting to get your teeth into!
Most companies now advertise rolls in-house so it isn’t up to your manager to offer you a promotion it’s up to you to apply.

Bloody hell, you're 23!

I think your expectations are possibly too high. I wouldn't class 2 years in an industry at 23 as particularly experienced or warranting promotions/recognition.

I work in science (private sector though), and hire a lot of grads.
Tbh over the last 5-10 years there’s an increased expectation of being “progressed” quickly. People get angry they’re not a senior role after a couple of years. We’re not sure where this has come from. It would usually take 5-10 years to achieve that. There are so many things that only come from experience, but some won’t accept that.

The other thing is, there’s always a high turnover of new grads. They move roles, sectors, location…they’re young, finding themselves and working out what they actually want to do. I’ve had quite a few quit to go ‘travelling’ this year.
It all means there’s a higher chance they’ll leave soon. Not necessarily a bad thing. They should gain different experiences, in different roles/companies/sectors. Broader experience is great. And we’re happy to have them, so that a part of that experience is gained with us.

We have started to invest more in apprenticeships now though, and are moving at least some roles away from grads.

There are a lot of people who, for a variety of reasons, struggle in conventional employment. Various forms of ASD and ADHD can affect the individual’s ability to (for example) meet deadlines, manage time, understand unwritten social codes and office politics. There is also a condition called Executive Function Disorder (often going hand in hand with these diagnoses but can also occur in otherwise NT people). This underlies a lot of ‘failures at life’; it’s where you have no problem following direction and you’re perfectly capable of doing a whole range of tasks, but for some reason, you can’t plan, you can’t organise yourself and you can’t co-ordinate all those tasks together.
It’s a bit soon for OP to start thinking about this possibility as executive function tends not to mature until about 25, but it may be an issue in those who constantly struggle with employment

very good posting and I agree but the op's thread title is misleading. I thought she was going to say she repeatedly got fired but not the case.