To keep quitting jobs after a few months?

[Miajk]

I managed to go from uni drop out and 20k salary to earning around 50k in my mid twenties.

This has been mostly achievable as I moved jobs frequently. My line of work involves a lot of manufactured stress, working with lots of clients, juggling demands.

I'm just so fed up. I've worked at 5 different companies in the last 4 years. I've been able to hit the ground running so no training required and I've always been considered a high performer with previous employers always saying I'd be welcome back.

Now I feel like I can't switch jobs again though due to the stigma, I haven't even lasted a year in the past couple of jobs I've been at.

I'm so tired of clueless managers, silly performance reviews, the expectation to go above and beyond constantly, the inflexibility, selling my life away to make someone else rich, the stress, the demands.

I'm starting to think that maybe I'm unfit to be employed! Anyone else feel this way?

This was me in my 20s! I'd last 12 months in some jobs but a few just 6 months or so, I didn't leave as I was fired or anything, I left for better paid jobs but that wasn't why I left. I'm a bit calmer now, I think at least in part as my out of control ADHD has been suppressed with meds and therapy; for me a lot came down to that.

You obviously have decent skills if you're managing to secure promotions regularly. I'd look into being self employed too and even if its not long term you might get more of a chance to see what types of environments and projects you like working on.

Legal processes with stupidly long deadlines that would usually have to be remembered 😃

Most jobs are bullshit I am a ducker and diver I make money out of not much. I have a proper business 10 weeks of the year doing the Christmas season turns over 75/80k with about 40% profit in the summer I buy clothes per bag and split them make 1000% profit normally for minimal effort. I also do swot analysis of business and clearance find what you like and make a business out of it

@Miajk Does any of the literature on women with adhd resonate with you? Rapidly cycling through jobs (and being highly impactful and good at hitting the ground running when you start, before the wheels come off through being bogged down in under stimulating processes) is a known pattern.

I find it pretty easy to get jobs though I've been contracting for a few years and like varied roles.

Only go into it if you tend to get offered the role 99% of the time you interview.

I also feel unlucky in workplaces. I've worked for 4 teams and 2 workplaces in 5 years. The other night I started looking at other jobs then stopped myself, eventually I think there isn't anything a great deal better. My last job I loved but the organisation and senior management messed up so nearly all of us left. Bad management is so common, bad work relationships, dysfunction. Anyway the thing I like most about my current job is that I really believe in the organisation, my immediate team is a bit weird and very dysfunctional but my internal clients are pleasant to deal with any actually the environment and everything is great. I have bags of autonomy. So perhaps that can help, especially if you work in tech you can work everywhere from big multinationals to public sector to university or colleges. Lots of choice but maybe type of organisation is worth considering.

Oh @Miajk I seem to have exactly the same problem! I know this is a thread from back in April but did you find a solution? I've been in my present job for 6 months and I've already had enough. Before that I was in a job for 1 year 6 months... before that 2 years 8 months, before that nearly 5 years. Seems I'm getting worse! Or just less able to put up with bull. Over whelmed currently, so many people have left and we are all firefighting with unhappy clients. There is no fun! I never get to benefit from the stability of a longer term job as I haven't found one I stick at. I'm a consultant, and there are always recruitment consultants knocking with the 'perfect' job which turns out to always have a catch. Do wonder if I might have ADHD 😬

Funnily enough I'm still at the same company but I moved into a new and very different role. Enjoying it so far but who knows how long this will last haha!

Contracting definitely sounds like a good option for you, lose all the bullshit you don't like, earn more money and you can chop and change as much as you like. If you have a good financial buffer (I'd probably want at least 3-6 months salary in savings but i am quite anxious so depends how risk averse you are) then just go for it. When I was younger I always had the impression you had to be very experienced to be a contractor but you that's not necessarily true. Be brave and have a crack at it

OP, have you done any of those Myres-Brigg personality tests or similar insights? I think you would benefit from some self awareness work. It will help you determine why you keep losing interest/bumping up against institutional issues.

You are obviously capable but I think you might struggle with some types of interaction and that might literally cost you - either in salary or opportunity. (I knew you were in tech from your posts. You’ll do amazingly well if you can work out how to stick it. )