Took a sick day as I'm burnt out

[Henrietta1000]

I work between 44-50 hours a week which I know isn't even as much as some people on here must do, however working 6 days a week is draining.
I have no children so I know it could be worse, but I'm fed up. So I've called in sick today, luckily my last sick day was a year ago and it's not a job where they'll be short staffed.
I'm in the Civil Service as an AO. Whilst I enjoy the role, an AO salary is not great for a person living alone..I've applied for 3 EO roles but have come to understand how unbelievably slow they are. I sent 2 of my applications 3 months ago and still waiting to hear if I have an interview!
So I've currently got a second weekend/evening job. There's no guaranteed overtime in my civil service role, it used to be unlimited now it's capped.

I'm a qualified teacher, but gave up trying to get a job. I'm in languages, was turning up to interviews with 5 others and failing every time, got put on a support plan in one so resigned, or just not getting interviews. So I did supply, which was fine and paid better but I wanted something permanent and stable.

Please do not tell me it's worth it because of the pension, when you have a low salary and are quite young, you're obviously not going to put up with that for 30 years!
I've had a very productive day so far, cleaning my home and tidying, also just catching up on TV.
It's hard sometimes! I went to a hen the other week and all of my schoolfriends are now band 7 or 8 NHS, manager of xyz, and I'm in an entry level admin job despite going to uni.
6 days a week isn't sustainable much longer!
It's not even an AIBU, just a rant. Even EO roles are very competitive, I'm so fed up.

Burn out is sickness. If you are not mentally capable of doing your job you are not fit to work.

Can I ask how old you are? I entered the CS after completing my degree and masters and stayed for 4 years in AO role. With time comes experience and promotion.

Doing lovely fun things with friends that are completely free or work or responsibility is literally an ideal thing to do to get better if you are burnt out. Self-care is the only remedy, and socialising, dancing, laughing etc can very much be part of self-care, unless you’re an introvert.

OP I’m not sure its burnout you are experiencing. It sounds like your tired due to having a second job which is valid and probably warranted an emergency leave day.

Please be aware that your organisation may well discipline or even fire you though if you engage in your second job in the next 7 days. At least thats how it works in the NHS.

The AO wage is really hard. Everything has gone up so much so all fun money is zapped on essentials.

I don’t know if you’re in a place for advice but even within a bit of a hopeless landscape for jobs there are things you can do to give yourself an edge.

if you were put on a support plan in one job (did I read that correctly) - it could be that you’ve got a blind spot in your working ability eg you think you’re better than you actuall are. I’d get some honest feedback from your managers about what you could do to enhance your chance of promotion. There are free courses online to upskill in more leadership/management courses.

just a word of caution- taking a day when feeling down and burnt out- it happens. But long term it won’t fix anything and your employer can reprimand you for being too tired to function if you have a second job.

I’d probably just apply for any other well paying jobs - outside of civil service, then quit the second job. And make a plan from there. Good luck.

I don't mean this to sound harsh but if you're burnt out in an entry level AO role, are you sure EO is the right move at the moment? Demands only increase as you progress up the ladder, especially in target-driven teams.

Empathise with you on the pay though. I started as a Brook St AO to get my foot in the door. It's not a long term viable job in this cost of.living climate.

It would be helpful OP if you didn't assume everyone knows the civil service terminology and said in your initial posting what the role titles were.

There will be many on here who have grievances against the "service" the public get from employees of the Civil Service. Nothing works!
Trying to elicit a satisfactory outcome from the Civil Service is like treading through treacle.
I could elucidate but it would take days.

Just saying, this may be reflected in some of the responses from the outset

What someone said about making use of your teaching skills is a valid point surely? Could you do online language teaching to top up your salary?

Life is tough, take a day a/l or whatever and work out a 6 month plan for what you want/need to progress. See it as a project and take the constructive advice that will be offered. Don’t engage with what isn’t useful both on here and IRL. Don’t compare just ask those who have progressed what did they do and take that forward.

What dept are you in and where are you? Are your skills from your job transferable. HMRC is doing mass recruitments. I started as an AO and I’m a Grade 7 - it is doable.

Your post doesn’t need to say others probably do more hours or tell people you don’t have kids, it doesn’t matter, what matters is you need to figure out what works for you x And 44-50 hours is too much for anyone- did a 44 hour week last week and I could honestly have collapsed after. It’s not sustainable. Do make sure your days off include either one lie in or you getting a proper sit down though

I hear you op. It sounds a right old grind. Take another day off. I always think two days is so much credible than one. I hope things improve for you

There’s more nuance to what she’s saying. You should read it again.

AO roles vary hugely across departments, in a call centre you are probably working to targets, might not be able to make use of flexible working and might not have a lot of interaction. If it is a big department you will only know your tiny bit of it so difficult to achieve a broad understanding which would stand you in good stead when applying for promotion. Public sector generally are also fixated on competency based interviews which do not suit everyone. I assume you are asking for feedback from unsuccessful applications.
What do you really enjoy in all the roles you have had? You sound to have skills useful for society, SEN, teaching etc but at a time when there are massive cutbacks so fewer opportunities. Have you considered charity sector. The pay will be no better but it might suit you more.
The deeper you get into a rut the harder it is to break out. Catch 22, you are in a low paid job and want out but can’t do volunteering or training because you have to take on a second job.
The wider you make your search the more chance there is so try to look with a totally open mind. I hope you find something soon.

With kindness, why do you think you aren't advancing very well OP? Have you asked for any feedback or has any feedback been given from interviews? If you are being perfectly honest with yourself what do you think is holding you back?

I don't think mumsnet is always an accurate reflection, but you sound very combative & argumentative, you are very obviously seeking validation on this thread and are getting extremely defensive to people that have a different outlook to you.. but why do you need them to agree with you? If you feel you need to take a day off, then take one, no harm will come from it, but that mindset is not going to help you get what you want. It's just a temporary fix for a bigger problem, which only you have the power to resolve.

How are things with your partner? Would you ever be considering moving in together? It certainly lightens the financial burden/feeling like you are alone in the world, but can obviously bring it's own problems too.

A support plan in teaching is the way that schools get teachers out who have a face that doesn't fit, are too expensive, are taking up time (ECT), challenge leadership. It is basically something that they use as a reason to get rid of someone when there is no reason to sack them.

She is not (for some odd reason) getting paid for her sick days though.

Do you have any opportunity to take some annual leave from your main job and spend the time investing in yourself by doing some deep (but active, I don’t mean sitting thinking) reflection on your career aspirations. There are lots of tools online to help with this. And also to take a look at some of the free online personal development courses and tools that you can do to deepen your thinking, grow your knowledge and possibly acquire some new skills? The tone of your post suggests you are somewhat low in mood and need to gain inspiration, and perhaps enthusiasm for possible opportunities. Yes, I hear you are working long hours. You are also talking here to an audience who collectively have much experience of productivity and fitting multiple priorities into their lives. I don’t know your life but reading between the lines as much as is possible I would suggest there is very likely to be a way to fit in some of the personal and career development opportunities that exist.

Did you mean to reply to me?

I don't need a better job, I have one I really like.

I don't think having a contract with an alloted number of 'sick days" is a normal thing, at least not in my decades of working for a lot of different employers

I'm not complaining about anything, merely pointing out that not everyone is a skiver as the PP was so emphatic about

Do you work in the public sector?

Its not odd for a temp member of staff not to get paid sick leave is it?

OP, if you are working in a contact centre and you are on the phones for 7+ hours per day, I totally understand how you're exhausted. It's a bloody hard job and I couldn't do it. I managed many teams in many call centres years ago and by the end of a ten hour shift my team needed a hug/alcohol/2 hours in a rage room/crack cocaine/a 12 hour shift in their bed/all of the above.

However on mumsnet you must work, you must never complain, you must never question management, you should always do as you're told, you should never take a day off unless it's life threatening and even then they'll remind you you have days off for that 😂 I'm sure there are posters who would be orgasmic if the victorian workhouses were brought back.

Maybe you not being promoted or able to get a job as a teacher is because of your attitude??

If you are working for an agency at the CS, then you must be on agency pay, not CS pay. I know you want a EO job, but could you apply for a CS job working for the actual CS and not an agency? This would give you a better salary than agency pay, and at least you would be a little bit better off while you look for a job you would enjoy. Have you tried NHS or local government jobs? They might be more interesting than a call centre. 😁

You have a degree in languages and work in a call centre? Jesus... try applying for project management jobs in translation/localisation sector. There are a lot of them in London and many remote ones. Currently the market is all about AI and you will learn a lot of technology stuff which will help you in your future career. Much more interesting also and less full-on than your current role...

Sounds rough OP.Its difficult job market out there .Is there any way you could manage without second job? E bay are good for clothes,If you live alone can make a Spag Bol up for a hat trick easily.Walk/cycle rather than run a car.Sadly we are in a very competative job market ATM,and promotions are thin on the ground .Try not to compare with EE(everyone else!)as I tell my DC.You are lucky to have a steady job .Pension seems a long way off ,but believe me it comes round quickly.Working 2 jobs is knackering .My own DS said he would do anything to be back at Uni with all the holidays and he is in a very well paid job!

I’m confused why is everyone giving you such a hard time for having a day off sick. Last week I woke up and I was just like… I can’t do it. Called in sick and didn’t tell any family I was off work so that my phone wouldn’t ring. I was just completely exhausted, my job is very draining and physical and my employer refuses to provide any AC or anything to relieve the heat, so I was just dead to be honest.

Saying that, I thought teachers were in short supply, I’m surprised you’ve struggled so much.