Sorry this is long but just looking for some thoughts really and thought history would be useful.
I returned to work after maternity leave in Jan to a job where i had been for about 7 years as an Administrator.
It was a small company and although I had moved forward and had much more responsibility than when I started they were never prepared to properly advance me, give me a team leader title etc even though I felt and they felt that's what I did. I asked for training etc too but they would just say they'd think about it and nothing happened.
I decided to find something new and started my current admin role at the end of Feb. I initially had concerns as the hours were going to be tough with my childcare set up and the location of the job. They gave me an increased salary and reduced hours after I raised my concerns as they really wanted me. I was also told of a possible promotion opportunity after 6 months but only if I went to full time hours.
Well the past 8 months have been tough. I went to full hours as soon as I could and have worked hard. Life outside work has been tough and stressful being a full time working mum.
Well now I feel that the role isn't right. I've pushed myself to the limit and with the business being small and there being a very small admin team I firstly don't think there will be any promotion options and if there were I don't have time to commit to it due to the hours etc.
I want a new job but am struggling to figure it out.
As mentioned I've been in admin for 8yrs now (with a yr on mat leave) and have mainly processed orders in this time. In my last job I also assisted with producing and matching invoices on the in house system and in both jobs have been involved in customer service.
I don't want to process orders anymore so that's one thing. I don't know if I want to stay in admin but have no experience of anything else and can't afford to take a huge pay drop as my husband recently lost his job and is forced to change career so we will already be on a money shortfall from his situation (that's when he finds a job)
I think I am quite organised and work hard. I want the option to advance to be there and to be somewhere that invests in their staff with training etc.
I'm thinking a larger company might suit as the 2 small companies I have worked at just don't offer the prospects.
I feel if I had better hours (9-5) and was close to nursery then if I did advance I'd have the option of going in early to catch up and help etc if it was needed (I currently don't have that option as I drop dd at nursery as soon as it opens and rush straight to work just to make it in time for starting my contracted hours)
I also don't want to work in a phone call heavy role - call centres etc.
I'm glad I took my current job in a way as I needed to get out of where I was and 'jumping' was the only way to do it. But I wanted to move forward and I feel I've taken a sideways step and am actually responsible for much less now than I used to be (although I have learnt some new skills) I feel frustrated, disappointed and disheartened at the moment. Anyone else I know who has changed jobs seems to have moved to something that really suits them. They are training, advancing and doing well but I feel maybe I am worse off as at least my last place I was able to do extra if needed and I was valued by my supervisor that if I needed to finish 30mins earlier I could etc as it was known that over the course of being there I would always have caught up. It was just more relaxed and I was trusted I guess.
So some ideas would be great.
I earn just over £20k and £18k in my last job. I really don't want to take a pay cut and not sure if we could afford it. Monday-Fri is what I need and ideally I'd love to be on enough to work 4 days not 5 (think of the childcare savings and spending more time with dd) although I know that's very very unlikely.