People say I'll never find working conditions like this again, but I'm so bored!

[southernbelle9]

I've been in the same job for about 10 years, a project manager in a very niche thing, it doesnt pay well however the pro's are;

• My boss is extremely nice and accommodating
• I work every day school hours, which enables me to sleep until 7.30 and get up with my son, have leisurely breakfast, and walk to school
• Pick up from school and enjoy spending time with DS
• If my child is ill, my boss is very understanding
• It's fully work from home and I have 0 commuting costs

Negative points are I haven't had a payrise in ages (which our company genuinely cannot afford, I can see the books) and I am bored out of my eyeballs. However, it seems really difficult to get into PM work in any other sector, so I am looking at doing a more general PM qualification and take it from there.

AIBU to stick it out a little longer, do a PM qualification (which one though?), and try to find jobs next year or so?

Depends on how much you earn.

I shall add, if I end up taking a new job, I would have to look at after school club and get a car, so any payrise would probably be put towards that cost...

Not very much, its technically 30 hours only though and it is just so convenient for family life... It works out about 30k annually for full time which is more than usual in that profession (its very interesting work but a niche)

Honestly- I think you’d regret it. I’d wait until DC were a bit older. Is there nothing you can do to spice up the job a bit?

I am trying to be very proactive and use time well during the work day, but we're a tiny company and often, its' just very quiet and not very stimulating... but you are right- it's such a nice life at the minute and I really love spending time before and after school with my son!

Are you bored because the works boring, or because there's not enough of it to fill the day? If it's the latter could you take up some kind of hobby to do in the quiet periods as you're WFH?

Loads of jobs out there that are flexible these days. I work flexible hours, never miss a sports day, but also have a good pay rise every year and a bonus. Put the feelers out!

How old is your DC? I personally would stick it out until DC is at least out of primary school. I think it is a huge thing to be able to be present before and after school, you're essentially able to have the benefits of a sahm but making a half decent wage along with it. Before/after school care is a royal pain in the butt and expensive, along with the mum guilt of it all, I think you're in a very good situation, I would suck up the boring day! You'll have plenty time to focus on your career once dc is a bit older.

Oh definitely stick it out until your child is in secondary school, at least. The cost of childcare and the stresses of commuting/time off if your kid is sick or whatever, totally not worth it. Bored isn’t the end of the world, especially if it’s temporary!

Personally I would want to move on because I find being bored worse than stress.

I also think that while your job is pretty cushy now, if they can't afford to give you a payrise it doesn't bode well for the long term. You won't want to end up ten years from now doing a job which bores you out of your wits and where there's no possibility of a payrise or career advancement.

You’ll never get this time back! Use the time outside work to make your life happier generally. Maybe look at retraining for once your son is more independent

is there any role within the company that you could incorporate into your role to add some more challenges?

I would agree to stick it out until DC are older, for me I think the benefits would outweigh the boredom.

Is there a way you can inject more stimulation and interest outside of work? A new hobby, a fitness goal or a special trip you could take as a family? Even something stimulating you can do from home like creative writing or developing an App etc

Re qualifications

i worked for company that used APM methods and terminology. I think that’s the most widely recognised.

however it is a lot of work over a longer time period - and more expensive (or used to be). But maybe it’s a way of spicing up your working day and making it less boring, that you’re using your projects to help complete your course work.

alternately is PRINCE 2. In the end I did that as I was offered training grant and time off for up to 5+days for retraining as part of redundancy package, made absolutE sense to go prince 2 route as a 1 week end to end and come out with prince 2 practioner.

its a massive amount of work for 5 days and 4 evenings /nights to swot away, but gets it out the way. BUT, if you’re not used to prince 2 terminology and methods it can be a bit weird ! It is less intuitive, lots of shorthand codes for each step of process, and very prescriptive. Exams are a multi choice after day 3, then essay questions at end of day 5 , which are open book. I felt it was a fair exam set if you do the study.

I still went ahead with prince 2 to a) get a recognised project management qualification if I was made redundant (wasn’t in the end) and b) if I had left I’d likely have taken a project management role in IT , which at time tended to use prince 2 more. As did government contracts.

in your case, with plenty of time till kids mean you could up your hours, and boredom I’d try to go for APM, unless your industry area and interest lie with companies and sectors that prefer prince 2. Do some research ?

also, would your company sponsor you? Both ways cost, and if you’re not earning much might be worth exploring.

With project management you might be able to talk your way into a public sector or university role, or a similar role where they are likely to struggle to find project managers with exactly relevant experience.
I find staff are often expected to do or have the Prince qualifications but in reality (in my experience) very few projects follow these at all.
I'm just thinking of possible routes into to other jobs that may have flexibility.

getting your son to and from school or finding adequate, reliable wrap around childcare and a mad dash through traffic to get to and from it, avoiding those who think you leaving bang on time is a flaw

that’s what WOH will become

let me tell you, the stress is unreal!

@southernbelle9 wait til wrap around care isn’t needed, find something to study

Are you anywhere near a college/uni that offers apprenticeships in project management? If your company were willing to put you through this you'd get your qualification for free and it might keep you interested in your current job for a while.

Can you expand the business and keep busy that way? Maybe 1 or 2 after school clubs to allow the extra hours.

This sounds a bit like me in the past, except I just had a short commute rather than the WFH. And to be fair only the one role I did was boring but I never looked to promotion because I was so happy with the working conditions which fitted in with the rest of my life.

For me, I never did do the planned increase in hours / looking to promotion when my DS started secondary as by that time I was also spending time helping my parents, but I think a lot of people do stick out something less then perfect if their hours and conditions are good, if it lets them be there for their children when young.

In your position I would actually speak with your manager as to whether there was another line of work you could take on for a bit more variety and interest. But definitely do the extra training and qualification. Anything over and above your normal role should help you in applying for other posts when your DC is a bit older, if that’s what you decide to do.

What makes you think it’s hard to get another PM job? In the digital / tech sector they are always crying out for PMs and they are generally well paid and remote working

Sounds cushty.

Dont underestimate how much you'll miss being able to balance home and work. A new employer might promise that but there is no guarantee.

Youve already said that any payrise will be eaten up.

Would your employer fund or at least allow you to spend some work time getting a PM qualification as it will benefit them?

Is there any opportunity to move about /secondment /shadow etc with your current employer?

Is there anything out there that would suit you anyway?

Boredom and/or a lack of work can be very stressful but the grass isnt always greener.

Sounds like a good plan to me. Not sure why people are being so negative. Being "bored out of your eyeballs" is no way to spend your life, even if it is only school hours, it is a pretty significant part of your life. Obviously you will only apply for and ultimately accept jobs that are sufficiently attractive. Why assume they don't exist. Go for it!

I have a similar ‘issue’ with amazing terms but not the best job. However, I’m sticking it out until my youngest is more independent and oldest more settled (ND). Most of my friends have started to step back up their carers when the youngest is 8-10.

That's what I was hoping for, I'd really love to work for a university or maybe a council if at all possible....

Thank you so much. Yes, reading the replies on here and also seeing how stressed a lot of my mum friends are trying to balance job and family, I think I will stick it out for a few more years - I really do value family time above all else!

You are so right- I need to remind myself that I'll have loads of years of working ahead of me yet, and if I get a few years of less stimulating work/ shorter hours, that's really not the end of the year! My DS has just turned 6.