Career failure

[Greentoytractor]

I'm in my early 40s. Built up a good career in my 20s and 30s, then was made redundant from two jobs on two different mat leaves, followed by a toxic role elsewhere, followed by what can only be described as a bit of a breakdown.

The second redundancy in particular was handled extremely badly and caused ongoing anxiety and depression (coupled with pnd).

My confidence is shot. I've gone from earning about 60k to looking at minimum wage jobs. I've lost all faith in my abilities.

Anyone been in a similar situation? Financially we can pay all our bills with me working a low paid job, but I feel like such a failure.

Be kind to yourself. There have been so many redundancies across a lot of sectors over the last few years. I’ve scraped by 2 in my own workplace by pure luck only. It’s not a reflection on you necessarily, we’re skirting a recession (it feels like an actual recession frankly)

Very few people out there are telling the truth about employment and income, especially on Mumsnet.

I've been through the redundancy process a couple of times in my career, I wasn't actually made redundant but still, it was bloody awful, the second time in particular.
In my late 30s I was headhunted very aggressively by a competitor and against my better judgement accepted the job. Knew on Day 1 I'd made a mistake. That role totally destroyed my confidence and took me a long time to get over. I'd still quite like to meet a certain ex colleague in a dark alley 😂I freelance now and take no shit from clients and if I have to pull an all-nighter I get paid for it. Is freelancing an option for you?

edited for typos

Do you honestly want the type of job you previously had? Now you have at least 2 DC your life must have changed and also what you want from life. If you were in a senior role you’d possibly be spending most of your income on childcare are all the juggling that entails?

It sounds like you’ve had a rubbish time but life does evolve and currently this is what you are doing. In a few years maybe you’ll use all your skills in a different way again.