Hate my job. Deskilled and down...

[Cassiopie]

Hi all.

Not too sure what advice I'm looking for, maybe I just need to get this off my chest. I applied for a job a while back, thought it would be my dream job. I have a bachelors degree, two diplomas, an NVQ and a masters degree. I've worked my ass off my whole adult life and although only 27, I find myself stuck in this god awful job and am becoming deskilled by the day. I'm pregnant and can't afford not to take my amazing maternity package, however that means another 5 months there, and another three once I return. I feel anxious before going to work most days. I just want to call in sick and hide because it is the most unsatisfying job I've ever had.

Problem is, the flexibility is amazing, pay is good, I can go home and get to work whatever time I like as long as I do my hours, I get amazing benefits and the contract itself is all round brilliant. It worries me to think about leaving this behind for a more satisfying job.

Has anyone else felt like this? Do you enjoy your job? Did it take you a long time to find the job you actually like doing?

Feeling lost and like I'm wasting my hard work...

Hello!

I have a degree and a couple of NVQs and am basically doing a glorified admin job.

What kind of job do you do? Are your colleagues and manager nice?

Perhaps the pregnancy hormones are making things worse - how did you feel before you got pregnant?

I think many of us have jobs at decent companies with good benefits that we don’t really like. I’m beginning to think that’s just life.

Lucky you, frankly! Am in a shit job with a horrible boss and terrible pay! So hey, it's not all bad! And i have always worked hard and have a degree. You could bring your mat leave finish date forward as early as poss. Do the minimum and look for something that would be more fulfilling post mat.

@Polarbearflavour I work in law enforcement but don't want to say much more than that!

It's not admin, I'm an officer, and it's a company that a lot of people want to work for. It's truly awful. My manager is ok. Very sensitive and not very good at managing!! He's a nice bloke but he's extremely inexperienced and I suffer because of it.

Colleagues are nice. It's very bitchy and a lot of people are leaving (3 handed in notice this week, out of a team of just over 20!). I don't get involved in the bitchiness at all and have been praised for staying out of it though it does take its toll,

Pregnancy hormones definitely not helping. I think I just feel a little lost!

I'm 32 & still looking for the perfect job having worked since I left uni. I don't think it exists but every job I have had had its positives - eg flexible hours but long commute. I felt pretty crap the last couple of months before starting maternity leave I think partly cos of The Great Unknown of parenthood making me unsettled even tho the job was probably actually quite good. When I started getting ready to go back to work, I was able to move to a slightly different role which I quite enjoyed & go down to 4 days a week - would either of those options work? Alternatively, try to tune out the bad things and look to the positives of baby's arrival

Also, you have months of maternity leave to come when you can consider your next move, and possibly start applying for other roles with a view to moving on 3months after your return

@IdblowJonSnow sorry you don't like your job, it's hard but simply because there are people out there in 'shit jobs' doesn't mean I should stay in or be thankful for mine. Somebody always has it worse and at the end of the day, I'm aspiring to do something work wise that I enjoy. I have over 40 years left after all (terrifying!). You could possibly look at doing the same rather than just accepting that your job is shit?

I want as much time off as I can with baby. Bringing it forward isn't an option simply because I would be twiddling my thumbs at home and wasting time I could have with bubba!

@KnopeforAmerica I think that's what I'm going to have to do. I just have no idea what I want to do! The idea of settling for a less than great job because that's what most people do is scary to me!

Could you go back part time after your mat leave? Or do your 3 months back and start looking at other roles?

@Polarbearflavour I think I'll have to. It's amazing how many people settle in jobs they can't stand. I just hate the idea!

A few years ago I hated my job but loved the company I worked for. I ended up moving to a different role (from client facing to internal) that used the same skillset and made me much happier. Could you potentially do something similar? If it's a big company then there may be an (official or unofficial) internal job market that you could tap into...

I am looking for other work op, however working full time with two small children leaves very little time. Apologies for the lack of sympathy on my part, it's just on balance it sounds like you have little to complain about tbh. Hope you can find something better at some point.

I hate my job, my boss, my commute, you name it! I too thought it was my absolute perfect job when I applied. I'm also pregnant and can't see myself going back after maternity leave. There's a lot of chat about potential redundancy so I'm firmly keeping everything crossed as I'd get a fairly large package. I've got to the point where career progression etc are meaning less to me and i just want to be happy, shorter commute and less pressure especially now I'm going to be a mum. My husband will be due to double his salary in the next few years so I know we'll be able to afford it if we can muddle through in the meantime.

My advice would be what I'm doing - hold on tight until you go off and then see how you feel from there. Why do you have to do three months when you go back?

Welcome to life!!!

I could write almost the same post. I recently left my old job for a job that I thought could offer real potential for progression in a specialist area. Instead the reality is they need an administrator and I spent all my time booking rooms and organising diaries. I am seriously concerned that I am going to be deskilled because the work is a real step down. I have come from a tough environment but this is nothing like that, quite frankly they’d need their hand holding in my old work place.

But it’s flexible and friendly. I am paid a fortune for the level of tasks I have to take on. However I spend my days hating it. Come Saturday night I get the Monday dread.

@stayhomeclub see that sounds like my dream job! Friendly and flexible with high pay for admin tasks!

I've resigned myself to taking a pretty serious pay cut to be happy but I've also decided my happiness is way more important.

Hi, not quite the same boat as you, as in not highly qualified but hate my job! Loved the job I had before, but place closed down, and was lucky enough or so I thought to have a job on my doorstep, and only do 3 days, but I absolutely hate it 3 longest days ever! boss is walked over by colleague who basically rules the roost! have posted before and just thought that's it it's slowly killing me! but am still there! trying to get a qualification so that I can go for another job, but won't be able to for at least another 6 months 😣 got to hang in there.

I like my job but no longer like the company. My manager is not very good and is a bit nasty by email but nice face to face. I don't feel valued for the work I do.

However, the pay and benefits, flexi and annual leave are all good so you do get stuck don't you?

No career progression, just side ways moves.

I’m in professional job but always experienced a roller coaster on all jobs! Been in my profession 20 years but being challenged on suitability of me in my role today but not getting a fair hearing. Do not like my new company environment or assumptions they make! But am not corporate. Don’t think you need to be a bitch in business though seems to be an unspecified job spec!

I could have written your post. I'm a police officer and earn an ok amount for good flexibility in my hours so I feel a bit trapped especially as I have been in for a while and so am tied in by the pension. The trouble is I hate it! So much so that I ha an anxiety attack at work last week and am now signed for a few days. I just can't think what else to do.

I'm just like you OP, I am doing a job that I can do in my sleep whilst being managed by a fuckwit who knows nothing. I don't have enough to do and get bored and frustrated on a daily basis.

Trouble is the job is well paid, above the market rate, so as the main breadwinner I'm kind of trapped there. Plus I have an amazing work life balance as I work from home 50% of the time.

I should be happy but I'm not. Everyone says oh lucky you being over paid and underworked, but I feel unfulfilled and like my career is going backwards. Trouble is, it's not bad enough to leave yet. My fear is that if I go somewhere else, I'll be giving up the pay and benefits and what if the next place is shit too. It's such a gamble to change jobs.

@MilkTwoSugarsThanks

That's cheered my day up no end. Thank you. Have some to taste.

People are very lucky if they have a job that they enjoy, most people work to pay the bills and for some luxuries. Why not use your skills outside work to volunteer ? Why not do or learn some interesting hobbies. Everyone should have a good work/life balance. There is more to life than work, work, work

This is me right now. Bored, frustrated and upset every day over a job I hate. It's not even well paid, but I have to stay as I can't afford to leave and screw up my long term plans (doing a diploma right now, the highest you can do in my sector).

But my mental and physical health is really suffering because of it. My boss is sympathetic and supportive so that's good, but it's a shame half my colleagues aren't. The day to day bitchiness and pettiness astound me, as well as lack of support from outside agencies who expect you to just "cope" everyday in a very challenging environment.

I hope things get better for us all soon!

Emma198 I would have thought that too until I got this job. It’s public sector and having seen acute pressures, the wastage leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The flexibility is great but I still have to spend a certain amount of hours there and it’s becoming so tedious. I didn’t think I would but I am missing the higher level workload and to be honest, in my old job I felt I was learning from excellent leaders with solid judgement and experience, in this job errrrr no....

@stayhomeclub I'll have to bear that in mind... it's what I've been focusing on as all I want but it may well turn out I'm wrong!