Finally offered a new job but why don't I feel happy?

[alazuli]

I've been desperate to leave my company for years. I've finally been offered a new job after countless interviews but instead of feeling elated, I feel like it's not quite what I'm looking for.

I was in the running for another job which would have been my dream job. After hearing about this offer I chased them up only to find out they'd given it to someone else. I was crushed.

This is the first job I've been offered in years. I should take it right? In my industry the jobs in exactly the field I want to do come up rarely so I could be waiting years if I pass this up.

Also just for background my mum died recently. They say you shouldn't make any big life decisions within the first year. I've already moved house (and hated it). This'll be another huge change.

You could be right, Emma. I really wish I hadn't applied to this job at all so I wouldn't have to make this decision. I never considered it probably as I was interviewing for my dream job at the same time.

The decision has been made and it sounds like it's the right one. Can you make a list of pros and cons so it's in black and white.
We moved house recently, and a few days afterwards I burst into tears one evening. DP couldn't understand why - lovely house, better location etc etc, but I still needed to grieve for my old house where all the memories of the first few years of my kids life were.

Treat it 100% as a means to an end to start with. Dont analyse or agonise.

Over time you will find things slot into place, or else you will need to look again but hey nothing ventured nothing gained

cheminotte, you're so right. I just feel like I'm grieving the loss of so many things this year - my mum, the area where I used to live (and loved), and now this part of the job that I also love and has defined who I am for so long. It's hard being a grown up. :( I'm scared that I'll wake up next year and not know who I am if that makes sense?

I hope so, daisy!

Redundancy and unemployment taught me that your job doesn't define who you are, but it was a difficult lesson to learn. I still struggle with it to some extent, but I've come to terms with that fact that there's much more to life than having a glittering career.

You haven't discussed your reasons for moving on here (and there is no need to if you don't want to) but you could always move back if you decide to.

Nothing is forever - no house or job, that is.

I want to leave because there's no room for growth or progression in my current job. There was a restructure recently and I essentially got demoted when we were taken over by another company. I've been feeling very bored and unchallenged for a long time even before that. While the new job isn't in my ideal field it is a step back up to my previous level.