To find corporate work so draining

[RedPandaPop]

More of a rant, but I’m starting to get really down about my job. I’ve worked in corporate/office settings for just over 10 years and feeling pathetically burnt out. (Yes I know office work is much easier than physical jobs, teaching, nursing, medicine, customer service etc.)

I’m tired of pre-meet meetings where we meet to discuss what we are going to discuss at tomorrows meeting. There’s already an agenda, so why do we need a pre meet?

I’m tired of typing up meeting minutes and notes when no one reads them afterwards.

I’m tired of stupid office jargon. Circling back. Blue sky thinking. We’re not teaching granny to suck eggs.

I’m tired of fake laughing on Teams meetings when someone’s camera is not working, they forget to un-mute or their dog jumps up in the background.

I’m tired of staring at a computer screen for 40 hours a week. Yes we’re encouraged to take rest breaks but the thought of another 30 years of this is so depressing.

Administration is all I’ve ever known since graduating university. (Fashion business degree) I genuinely don’t know why type of career will make me happy. I interned at fashion houses during my degree and didn’t like it, so ended up going for entry level admin jobs and worked my way up into PMO.

It’s probably because it’s Monday, the weathers shit and I have headache but please does anyone feel the same?

That does sound really shit and quite monotonous.

I work in corporate real estate and since Covid and the lack of grads coming through, all of our admin team have a “field” element of the job. They deal with routine property inspections and quite often get sent to review boundaries or just be surveyors eyes on the ground and take pictures.

Through our appraisals I know that admin within my team are really enjoying that variety to their role, so property admin might be an option?

You are definitely NBU. I urge you not to go into NHS administration either .... Same old there too. There are probably careers out there that you could move into that would be less tedious...time to starting thinking 😉

Funny you should say that, I forgot a crucial detail in my OP. I am in the NHS😂 Started off as band 2 receptionist and worked my way up into the Programme Management Office. Which I am proud of but just so tired and bored.

Definitely time for a massive research and brainstorm.

@eatsleepfarmrepeat thank you, will definitely look into the property sector.

YANBU 99% of my office job is as tedious as fuckery.

What are you doing to challenge where your time is not well spent?

Lol this is so familiar then ! I do think it could be better outside the NHS somewhere..?....all the layers of admin don't help, with all the technology there are the same laborious procedures there were 15 years ago. Endless meetings about meetings with all the associated minutes....and not forgetting the pre meetings. Would love to hear how it compares to other organisations. I am retraining as I can't do this forever!

Different role but I feel it to. I did read that burnout isn’t just from long hours, physical work or stress but also can be caused by doing a job with no meaning to you so your sense of purpose isn’t fulfilled. 40 hours a week for another 30 years on something which doesn’t interest, inspire or motivate you is going to be tough.

PMO is deadly. Could you slide across into delivery management or product management?

I understand OP, I'm also stuck in admin and sort of hate it. I have a degree in Psychology from years ago but don't want to do that either. I really want to retrain into something else, but not sure what and I'm afraid of throwing money at the situation only to be unhappy with my choice.

Unfortunately, because my experience is in Admin/ HR, that's what I get routed towards by recruiters. Ideally I would like something hands on and practical, maybe a bit creative, but not sure what.

If you are interested, you could check out Mature Study and Retraining board for inspiration - it might give you some ideas.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

@RedPandaPop i feel you so much right now. I did a degree in interior design and didn’t end up going into it. I got a job as a cad drawer for a large retailer and worked my way up in the projects team. I literally cannot think of anything worse than still being stuck in a corporate role doing project work. I feel I’ve trapped myself into a project coordinator/manager role and can’t see how to get out!

I hear you. I did an art degree but have been in an office role for the past 18 years. I’ve decided enough is enough, it’s dull and doesn’t fulfill me. I need to have a job I enjoy before I die. My issue is, I have no idea what my dream job looks like and feel like I’m wasting time deciding 😞