I haven’t had a job I like in years. Any advice?

xmasdealhunter · 13/05/2025 22:34

Does your local council have any jobs going? School admin jobs? That way you'd be in an office with people.

Probablygreen · 13/05/2025 22:41

No advice but I’ve been feeling exactly like this today. I’m soooooo bored. What even is the point of most corporate jobs, really? I listen to people talk and think, this is all complete nonsense.
But I carry on regardless, because what other option is there to earn £70-£80k per year?

Original poster

EmberR · 14/05/2025 07:44

@Probablygreen exactly…! And I need to pay off my mortgage!

OP posts:

Agix · 14/05/2025 08:22

When you find a new one, can I have your job OP? Getting paid well just for being in zoom calls sounds great.

I feel you though, you don't like it and you're miserable, that's valid. I don't think "other people have it worse" works to make anyone feel better... But I would like your job please lol.

Hope you find something you like.

purpleflowersfordays · 14/05/2025 09:06

Same here OP. Well paid in a job that doesn’t stretch me and oh my days, corporate life isn’t for me. I love when I finish work and can go back to speaking like a normal human being.

Cannot find anything that pays anywhere near as enough so I guess this is me for the next 20 odd years…sigh

Nichebitch · 14/05/2025 09:37

careful - I had one of those jobs and I moved to work in a school hoping it would be less nasty and boring and more sociable. Instead, small office gossip and drama and the inability of people who never had a corporate job to follow process is driving me insane. Think about what you really really want to do and work towards it - don’t just leave for perceived advantages such as a friendlier environment

EggnogNoggin · 14/05/2025 09:44

Tbf even in an office a lot of corporate jobs mean that people are on Teams calls all day anyway. Quite often while someone on the same call is sat next to them! And don't forget office culture isn't all that great once you're out of your twenties.

Can you make friends locally?

tecbrowidow · 14/05/2025 09:50

I'm in a similar situation. I apply for jobs when I get downtime. I also work from a sociable coworking space (hard to find but luckily I did) and arrange to co-work with colleagues once a week. Sometimes I travel over to see friends or family and cowork together or work from a cafe near them and get lunch together.

tecbrowidow · 14/05/2025 09:50

I'm in a similar situation. I apply for jobs when I get downtime. I also work from a sociable coworking space (hard to find but luckily I did) and arrange to co-work with colleagues once a week. Sometimes I travel over to see friends or family and cowork together or work from a cafe near them and get lunch together.

ComtesseDeSpair · 14/05/2025 09:52

What do you do, in what industry? A sideways move which uses your skills in a more practical way in a different industry could be the answer i.e. if you work in governance you may be suited to internal audit, risk, or compliance which has a lot more opportunities to get involved in the business itself rather than just being on calls all day.

Tbh I’ve always looked at it from the perspective that I don’t really need to “like” my job, just be good at it. They pay me a very good salary which I then use to do all the things I do like. I have a high boredom threshold, which has probably served me well over the years, and I also ultimately know that I didn’t choose this line of work for the personal fulfilment in the first place, so I’ve never expected to have it. I find pockets of genuine enjoyment in some elements of it, and humour in some of the more nebulous activities.

malificent7 · 14/05/2025 09:52

Please tell me where all these corporate jobs WFH are on £70pa! I'll do one!

TerroristToddler · 14/05/2025 11:30

I feel like this at times too - corporate job, mostly WFH and well paid. But its peaks and troughs in terms of stress/interest/workload/exciting stuff and currently in a low point. Still have lots of work to do, and am busy, but its very much boring work and nothing that gives me a buzz or gives me a sense that I'm doing anything particularly worthwhile. Sat on Teams calls all day drafting documents and contracts live with others who seem to care an awful, awful lot and are super stressed about it all...whereas I'm sat there all confused like, 'no one's gonna die if this doesn't get done guys....' 😂

FWIW, I think our attitude of not caring so much is a good one. It means we still have perspective of the world and we realise what is and isn't important in the grand scheme of things.

I love the flexibility of WFH as it really does help our family so much but overall I'd say I'm less fulfilled with my job since WFH more. I miss the laughs I'd have with co-workers. I do work hybrid so go in once a week, but there's no set day that people must be in so more often than not I commute in to find an empty office which is just depressing (not to mention totally pointless!).

MyCyanReader · 14/05/2025 12:03

EmberR · 13/05/2025 22:20

I’m very lucky I get paid well and can work remotely, but I’m in a corporate job and spend my whole day on zoom calls. Basically talking nonsense whilst no one listens. 20 more years of this is like a prison sentence!

when I used to go to the office at least it was sociable and I could make friends. My current company office is 2-3 hours away and because of where I live there are no decent “office jobs” near me. Also not a good time to be job hunting. It’s tough out there.

i don’t want to sound depressed but god im bored. I try to keep busy with out of work things but it’s not enough. What do I do?!? Retrain? Move back to London? I’m 40 years old and have 1 DC and husband who would move if I needed to for work. Any advice?!

Unfortunately, you're stuck in the "well paid but boring" trap.

You want/need the money, but the "fun" jobs that you would probably really enjoy just don't pay enough.

A friend of mine does similar to you, but makes sure that her life outside of work is super fun. Holidays, hobbies, days out etc... If she has something to look forward to then the oh so dull daily zoom calls whilst WFH aren't so bad.

Another friend quit the dull but well paid job and is currently doing a masters degree so she can then do her preferred job, which could be well paid but she will have to do quite a bit of training. The family have had to make big sacrifices e.g. down to one car, their holiday is a camping trip and no longer abroad, meal planning to cut the food bill down (they were quite extravagant with eating out!) but they seem happy.

You need to see the bigger picture and ask yourself what is actually important and what do you want to get out of life.

I'm a teacher. Pay is not the best but it's ok. The hours are insane in term time (so I work 4 days a week), but I do get 13 weeks holiday to go and have fun with the kids. And my job is never dull! Teenagers are fab!