Am I sounding ungrateful/moany about my job?

[Huws2]

Been with current company c.15 years, a few promotions but hit ceiling since c.2021 and can’t really progress further. Couple of unsuccessful attempts to move sideways.

Decent salary/bonus, generous holiday and flexibility. As secure as a job can realistically be in current climate, and any redundancy package would be good.

However - career is essentially dead end now, minimal interaction with colleagues since hybrid policy came in, manager is uninspiring and the work isn’t rewarding. Hours spent a week with nothing to do. Only Tuesday and I feel down about things already.

Spoke to a friend about this who thinks I need to count my blessings and many would love this position.

I am mid 30’s if that helps. Would you move on even it was a risky move/initial drop in salary? As there is a potential career change I have in mind.

If you have hours with nothing to do, could you do some online learning to help you towards your new career?

What is your job title at the moment?

Nothing with wanting your job to be more fulfilling, no matter how ‘cushy’ it may seem. If you want a career change, get your CV updated, look at what’s available.
But I would absolutely look into it in detail,I was helping a friend job hunt and it’s pretty dire out there (I appreciate it depends on what job you want).

It depends what you want out of life. If you have any ambition and are career driven you need to move ASAP. The private sector in particular may regard you as 'institutionalised' because you've stayed about 10 years too long in your current company. You haven't exposed yourself to different products, different systems, different customers, different management styles etc so you will be at a disadvantage when compared to those who have had moved a couple of times. You may get a bit of credit for your loyalty but it doesn't trump diverse experience. If you want to progress in your career, it is not really a question of whether you would but rather whether you should. And you definitely should!

The job market is not great (and may get worse depending on this week's budget) but you have the comfort of a steady job so you can take your time and wait for the right job. December is a terrible month to job hunt so I'd spend some time getting your CV up to date, getting your head round what you want (role, type of company, hours, commute you're prepared to do etc) then start looking in January. Good luck!

Good advice, thank you x

I'm older (54) and had a great career until March (sacked) Now working in a pleasant office but not enough to do. Mortgage paid off and DD at uni so trying to count my blessings. At your age you are too young to be "settling", maybe even I am 😀

I am in your position. I tried applying for different jobs. Had a couple of interviews, but the salaries are low, job security non-existent and some employers have no clue what they want from the position and have unrealistic expectations, which would mean I'd be setting myself up for failure.

I have decided to stick with my current job. Will speak to my manager soon about doing some things on the side. I mean they are paying me anyway, I might as well work on some things that could help in the long run. Not expecting much, but my recent foray into the job market made me realize my job is not the worst out there and it was nice to see that I was still wanted by other employers, even though it would have made my situation worse.

Just putting this out there, if you are potentially planning on having children in the future then you may very well find you’ll be grateful for your current job as everything shifts when you have a child. My job was team based and stressful, and it was worse with young children that get poorly and you know someone is going to have to cover your work when they already have a lot on their plate. They offered me a different role within the same department 18 months ago, its boring, but the flexibility is huge and no one needs to cover me if I’m unexpectedly not there for a few days, and I cant deny it has been a god send. If you’re not planning on having children then I’d definitely look for something more satisfying.

I'm in a very similar position here and am basically just riding the wave

If you’re making enough, would it be an option to drop some hours to spend more time on yourself and doing things that make you happy? I know you mentioned moving to a lower salaried job, but the time away to focus on yourself/ family/ other priorities may help?

Ive always found myself more miserable in jobs with not enough to do than too much. It sounds great at first, but is soul destroying.

Mid 30s is too young to feel that you have hit the ceiling of your career. I think it would be worth thinking about alternatives. You're in a good position in that you are not desperate so you you can take your time.

@Huws2 It sounds very ungrateful and moany to me, given that you have already been promoted multiple times.

The only thing that would change my mind would be if you revealed your salary was low or average. If you are earning a high salary, then that would add to the moaniness.

@YellowCherry Mid 30s is too young to feel that you have hit the ceiling of your career.

Well most people do hit the ceiling early on.

There are only so many senior and management positions. Very few people can have those positions.

Time with nothing to do has value. Use it.

I know you have security but are you ambitious. I can't imagine flattening in my career in my 30s. I'm 47 and going from strength to strength. It's challenging and terrifying (good money though). I'd look for the next step up. Don't move without something to move to.

@Lollyje89 I do have a child and the flexibility is great, I just don’t think that’s enough to stay in a job when I’m unhappy. But I get it’s a balancing act and something I could end up regretting losing.

@itsallrosy Appreciate the suggestion;I feel like I have a good work life balance currently and do plenty outside of work in terms of hobbies/family stuff. I think I’d be bored if I was to take extra time off.

@shuggles I earn £50k. With no prospects for further salary profession bar annual pay review which rarely exceeds 2%.

Yeah I am definitely not ready to ‘settle’ at this point. I miss being really busy and whilst it was stressful at times, it was far more rewarding.

@Huws2 I earn £50k. With no prospects for further salary profession bar annual pay review which rarely exceeds 2%.

Yes, I'm going to say moany then. High earner with an easy job with downtime. Most people would kill for that.

(Although, to be fair, a pay rise of 2% per year is generally below inflation, so something would have to change in that regard).

I earn less than you and the workload is limitless and non-stop in my job. Do you want to swap jobs?

I miss being really busy and whilst it was stressful at times, it was far more rewarding.

Have you thought about filling your free time with activities that aren't related to work? Then you will have be able to achieve fulfillment without being subservient to a corporation that would not care if any of its employees passed away tomorrow.

I do plenty in my spare time, but that doesn’t make the 35 hours a week I work any more fulfilling.

If you lack ambition or any kind of career drive then yes, you'd kill for that. But if you've got a brain and want to challenge yourself, innovate and contribute more then settling in a job you don't like is madness. Thankfully not everyone wants to do as little as they can for as much as they can earn.

Is there anything off on a tangent you could incorporate into your job, to gain more skills? Any extra qualification you can do?

If you leave your job can you let me know so I can apply. My whole office is in the process of closing and it’s bleak out there.

Great thinking

do you have to stick around when there is nothing to do?
can you get out, i presume, of the house?