Disillusioned with corporate world

[Semlavro]

I work in a corporate setting and I've been getting more and more disillusioned with it. The politics, the wanky jargon people use, the pointless meetings, the crap leadership.

I'm only still here because of the salary and flexibility/ remote work. Been looking elsewhere and applying for over 6 months but no luck at all.

I hate feeling so bitter and ungrateful but the soul has been sucked out of the company since private equity got involved. There were also redundancies last year and ive not felt secure since.

I long for a career change/ lottery win/ unexpected inheritance - anything to help me escape but not sure it's on cards anytime soon.

AIBU to feel like this about work? Does anyone else in corporate world think it's mostly bollocks?

True, we add so very little to society....apart from our taxes of course.

I’m in my mid 30s and feel like this. But I’ve worked in a more “fun” career and that had its own issues too (low pay, high stress and toxic behaviour etc). It’s no fun being low paid when the cost of living is so high so I’m staying put.
Things that help me:
-reducing my hours so I work part time
-using my day off and other free time to work on a creative side hustle that is my real passion
-not caring too much about my “proper” job. I do my work, say the right things to the right people and don’t get worked up about the politics, the bad management, the inefficiencies etc.
-generally I work to live, not the other way around

You make a good point, however most people who are disillusioned with corporate life and their soul destroying job don’t imagine the alternate to be thankless, low paid or stressful work like social work, working in a factory, or any of your examples. They imagine creative pursuits, setting up a small business, working for themselves instead of awful bosses, turning their hobby into a living. The issue is one (usually) needs a lot of capital and financial security behind them to make the leap into these things. Hard to give up a high paying job as an accountant or IT consultant to pursue a career as an illustrator or open up a tea shop when you have a mortgage and kids to pay for.

This is why I teach. It has it's nonsense but is at least real and motivating.

I agree with this. The grass is often going to be greener. I was thinking about full blown career change. Did volunteering in that sector and it woke me up to the reality.

Completely agree. I used to adore work. It’s how I found meaning and intellectual challenge; it was my identity. Now my job has only two big attractions - the salary and one or two of my colleagues.

I see all the younger staff just starting out and their enthusiasm and excitement is almost depressing when you realise (1) that used to be me and (2) one day they’ll be a soulless husk too.

The worst bit is how totally meaningless it all is. Life is short and most of it is spent doing stuff that doesn’t mean a crock of shit.

This is all exacerbated by how hard it is to navigate a path to something more fulfilling. Once you have a gigantic bloated mortgage and kids, your only option to maintain your income is to move sideways, to the same role in a different firm, or dramatically compromise the ridiculous, pointless lifestyle you’ve build for yourself.

It’s a fair point above though, if lucky that it’s well paid, secure, and gives my family a nice lifestyle. The work isn’t unpleasant. Maybe I just need a sabbatical.

@Hereagain334 - I've just gone through a similar experience. Been working in finance sector for over 15 years but suffered major burnout at the start of this year. Was off sick for a couple of months but it was made quite clear that I wouldn't get the support needed if I returned to work so I resigned. Fortunately both my DH and I have been saving furiously the last few years, so we're in the position to pay off our mortgage when our deal ends in January. I'm looking for a job in a different sector, which I know will be a significant pay cut, but I'll still have some savings and we'll cut back on spending to make ends meet.

It's quite interesting that several pp have stated that they're in their 40s. I'm 45.

I could literally have written this, pretty much word for word.

I haven't always hated it. Not all "corporate jobs" are automatically awful: they can in some circumstances be great. Nor do I necessarily think everyone gets too old.

In my case though, I've been at the same firm for 11 years. When I joined it was a challenge, I was learning, the money was great and it was a dynamic and fun place to work. Since then I've just become incredibly bored and the money no longer justifies the bad management, disorganisation and politics.

I'm at a crossroads in my life: I don't want to retire and I'm the main breadwinner in my family so I couldn't retire if I did want to.

I'm seeing a career counsellor this week to try to figure out where to go next.

Interesting. Wonder if the age of posters reflects the MM demographic or just the stage of people’s careers.

I’m not yet burnt out but people around me are. Leading teams through a reorganisation, running a priority project and now preparing to lead teams and clients through an aquisition. Long days, lots of stress & changing priorities. But also interesting work and apparently reasonably compensated (though per hour after tax probably not so!). Agree with PP about constructing a life with high financial outgoings and now feeling trapped. Good to know there are options.

This is precisely my plan. When the time is right, and once I’ve got the necessary qualifications, I’m going to volunteer or do very part time (a few hours a week) for a couple of years a job I want to transition into in the future, to see if I actually like it. I would hate to make the leap (and suffer literally a 80-90% pay cut) and not end up actually liking it.

Disillusioned too but the money keeps me here. Agree with PP that low morale is the accepted norm now. My organisation has become toxic following an acquisition but I feel trapped as the market in my sector is awful at the moment and opportunities are hard to come by.

I genuinely enjoy working, my sector and I’m good at what I do based on my successes to date, but the environment and a few awful people is what makes it hard.

I’ve gone part time and become a charity trustee in order to help with feeling purposeful and more satisfied with work life. I’ve also paid a shitload into my pension whilst the going is good so that I can retire at 60 hopefully 🙏

Where can I find a career counsellor? I've googled this but not found anything yet

I looked for Career Coach rather than counsellor: there are various different approaches, from people giving you tactical advice on what types of jobs to go for to people giving you more of a therapy-type approach, looking at fundamental questions about what you want from a job.

I'm going for more of the latter because I want to change things up in a fundamental way, I don't want to just drift into more of the same.

I'll DM you.

There are freelance career advisors and coaches. Sometimes counsellors also have specific qualifications in careers advice and guidance.

I couldn't agree more ! Made me smile. I work for the NHS (non clinical) and so fed up with the corporate bullshit. It seems to have got worse since Covid and staff working from home. Could scream every time I hear the words 'well being' and 'safe space' being spouted in Teams meetings. Utter horseshit.

Happened to me too...you'd think the charity sector would be better but nope... its actually worse because they make out how much they care about who they are supporting.

Came back to add there's quite a few of you that have jumped ship to the charity sector. Many charities are run like corporates, but generally more rewarding, obviously less pay, however employer pension contributions are usually good.

It's worth having a look at Brave Starts - it's aimed at career changers in late 40s and 50s.

I have found small charities awful. Medium and large charities are better as they have more policies and larger HR departments- so people tend to be less maniacal.

I’ve always worked in start ups or smaller businesses but now have a job in a big corporate. Narrower remit, less responsibility but 20k better paid.

I’d love to go back to the more relaxed environment where you can use things instead of leverage them and talk to one another rather than reach out and reengage.

But it’s quite hard to take the pay cut. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think retraining into something with a big pay cut, totally new environment, bottom
of the rung would be very tough after 45. Ie going from office to healthcare or teaching. I’ve come to the conclusion I probably won’t do it but will find the most enjoyable/ comfortable work I can within the area I have 25 years experience of and enjoy life while preparing for retirement. Some people can and do it though. If you want it totally do able. Volunteering over a period of time definitely sensible

I would see it as semi-retirement. I would transition and work part-time/freelance (like most in the industry) and not to try and climb a new ladder. It would require a degree of financial security that I haven’t yet reached, like being mortgage free, having some passive income, so this is more a 10 year plan than 5 year plan.

I think this is the way to go. I was thinking about full scale career change into a full on very different career. More of a wind down approach is better if finances allow. Good luck!

I feel very much the same. Early 50s, great flexibility, wfh three days a week and earn a healthy salary but the corporate wankspeak drives me to distraction.

Unfortunately the downside of having kids in your late 30s means early retirement is a pipe dream if they want to go to university.

I handle it by not working past 5pm or weekends and have very firm boundaries. I also work a 9 day fortnight so retain my full salary and pension but don't work every other Monday.

I actually don't hate my job most of the time but I am feeling increasingly fucked off with working the older I get!

We started with a franchise, but the franchise went bust in the early 90s recession. A bit stressful, but we came of it it ok. If it was now, I would take a look at what franchises are available, see if any sound good for you, then do it on your own without the franchise.