Anyone ever taken a job they really don't know if they want?

[BeBe32]

I started a new job in the organisation I was already in last February and have been really unhappy ever since. I don't feel I'm good at the job, I find it really stressful and pressured and whereas in my previous job I felt I was good at what I did now I just feel useless and have no confidence. I have been keeping my eye on the job adverts as would like to stay in my organisation as I had been happy before this job. There haven't been many jobs around at all and around Christmas time I saw one that I really don't know if I would enjoy or not but applied in the end because I thought it wouldn't go anywhere and to be honest I just wanted to feel like I was doing something. I've now just found out I have been offered an interview and I really don't know what to do. I'm so worried about making another mistake and don't really want to go through the stress of an interview if I wouldn't take the job if it was offered. I really don't have a feeling about this job overall, I don't know if it would be good or not. Has anyone else ever felt like this and what did you do?

xx

I've taken a job I didn't want as I was desperate for money and it was mid recession... I thought as I was on notice at least when they discovered I couldn't do it I'd have four weeks to find something else.

I would say it's never a waste to at least go to the interview.. even if you decide you don't like it it's good interview practice for when a job you really do want comes along.

I think it boils down to how desperate you are for money, if you can afford to be a bit choosy then wait til you find something your heart is in.

Sometimes going for something you don't want can point you in the direction of what you do want... so I think you have more to gain than to lose by at least going for interview. To be honest if you're not enthusiastic at interview they will probably pick up on this.

Well if it's better than what you're doing at the moment then I'd give it a go anyway. The company obviously quite like you if you're being invited across depts for interviews.

Thanks for your replies. I am now thinking that I will have to turn the interview down (and really worried this might look bad and go against me if I apply for other things in the future). I have found out that this job will quite likely involve working with someone who I am in contact with in my current role, who has been quite unpleasant and contributed to how unhappy I have been in this job. I really would like to escape all the horribleness and make a fresh start so continuing to work with her would be a bad idea. It is also possible that she could be on the interview panel in which case I'm unlikely to get it anyway and I'm not sure I can put myself through that. Really hope turning down the interview doesn't reflect badly on me.

Many thanks

x

Late to this thread but a couple of comments from me.

1 normally I'd be all for going along to the interview if invited as there's nothing like real interview experience for sharpening up for your next role. My caveat is if it's like my company policy , you must advise your current manager if you are accepted for interview. Going along for internal interviews gives your current manager a heads up you're looking elsewhere. Only you know if that's the message you want to give.
In my company we can have as many "informal chats" with recruiting managers without having to declare. And you can turn down an interview. It's when you attend one that it's important to declare and don't fall into the trap of declaring after you've been. Very poor form. Just general advice based on what I know....

1. I'd never advise going for a job you feel instinctively isn't right for you. We all need to be flexible and make some compromises but if you have that " nagging feeling" then listen to your inner voice.

Hi daisychain01, just wanted to say thanks for your reply. I have been really beating myself up about this as I feel bad thinking about turning down the interview when I know it can be really difficult to get to this stage and also when I have been so unhappy in my current job for the last year but at the same time I have had a 'nagging feeling' about it as you say. Also while we don't have a policy as such, I always like to be professional and I don't think it would look very professional to not mention it to my manager but equally I wouldn't want to tell her if I'm unsure about the job because then whatever happens she would know that I'm looking. It's so difficult, this is the first time I've worked in a large organisation so when I moved into this role it was the first time that I had applied for internal roles and feels so much more complicated. I'm so glad you don't sound as if you think turning down an interview would be looked on badly as that was what I was worried about.

I'm just really worried that the right thing won't come along and I'll have another miserable year like last year...but equally don't want to make another mistake! Thanks so much for your advice,

xxx

Hi Bebe please remember that being at work has to always be 50% what you need in your career and 50% what the company needs.

I'd see it as a positive, healthy thing to explore options, turn down an offer that doesn't pan out the way you hope for, chasing for what you need to make you happy. You're in work a large % of your waking hours, the more satisfaction you get, the more productive you'll be to an employer

I'm not suggesting flip flopping around with too many options, that's a waste of everyone's time but there is no harm in genuinely applying for a role and turning it down if you get the wrong feel about it.

Thanks so much for your kind advice. After a year in this job my confidence is at an all time low. I am sitting here feeling dread at the thought of going in on Monday, and the endless days stretching ahead of having to keep going in. I'm so worried that the right job will never come up and I will be trapped here.

xxx

Bebe take back control to make yourself feel more positive.

1. Make a list of your contributions made, what have you done well, where are your strengths
2. Think about the "weak" aspects of your skill set as opportunities to identify some just in time training, maybe do some internet research ( loads of good free resources out there!

IOW make yourself a career plan for 2017.

Staying in your role is a good thing, it means you can evidence employability. Take it one step at a time, to make things less overwhelming.

Keep your CV up to date, lots of good WWW advice and templates out there.

Don't lose your self confidence. We all have dips in confidence, but try to come out of that soon, and take things fwd.

Thank you so much that's really good advice. I think I am definitely lacking direction. A few years ago I left a career as a teacher as I was very unhappy so it was a big change for me. I took a job in the organisation I'm in now and loved it and got my confidence and my life back. After a few years I felt I had to look for something better paid (I live alone and had had to take a drop in salary to leave teaching) but wanted to stay in the same organisation and got the job I'm in currently. I am miserable, I feel I'm useless at this job and I dread every day but I don't know what else I could do or what I would want to do.

I think I am now feeling even more of a failure because I have turned down this interview - like I am miserable in my job but when I do finally get an interview for something else I don't go. But as much as I desperately want out I don't want to make another mistake and there are so many things that worry me about this job (including the people I now know may be involved). Thanks so much for your help, I really hope I won't regret turning this down and something better will come along.

xxx

You are definitely not a failure, not going for the interview!! The converse, you recognised that you want a change, but the job wouldn't be a good move.

Think about the aspects of your current role that are making you unhappy or eroding your confidence. Maybe there are contributory environmental factors that aren't helping (sounds like there are people issues ... And other things may also be barriers to success) no need to go blaming yourself for everything, just focus on the big picture, not the nightly annoyances that grate on the nerves (all pat of office life!).

Niggly not nightly

Ah you are so kind. Reading your response has really helped me. Most of my friends have children and many don't work so I don't feel like I have many people to talk to about these kind of decisions. I want this year to be a good year and I am so tired of worrying and beating myself up. A lot of the issues with my current job are to do with specific people who have at times been quite bullying in their behaviour. I also find the job incredibly pressured and it is expected that you will routinely work overtime without being paid for it. I want to have a job I care about but I don't want it to take over my life.

I actually saw a job advertised today that is completely different to anything I have ever done before but I loved the sound of it. Unfortunately I suspect it does not pay enough (the advert doesn't give the salary) but I felt excited reading about it - that's how I want to feel, not miserable all the time.

Thanks again

xxx

Apply for the exciting job. You don't know what the salary might be until you ask

I'm definitely thinking about it. To be honest it's very different to anything I've done so I don't think I'd have much of a shot anyway. I also really like the organisation I'm in on the whole and loved my first job there, it's just the last year in this different section that has been miserable. So it's scary thinking of going somewhere completely different and as I said the suspect the salary won't be enough for me to leave my current job but I'm definitely thinking about it.

Thanks to all of you or your support,

xx

A good book to read is "feel the fear... And do it anyway" by Susan Jeffers. It is my bible.

When you get past the job titles nowadays, they are very often similar in terms of core skills

Good time management
People / collaborative skills
Project deliverables
Costs/budgets
Analysis of some description

If you can focus on these core skills you'll probably find many more jobs are more accessible than you think :-)

I actually have that book, just need to find time to read it. Have been awake most of the night dreading work so feeling completely exhausted, hope I can get through the day. Hope everyone else has a good day,

xx