Looking for advice on my work situation - please give your opinion

[beenherewaytoolong]

I know that you Mumsnetters regularly have some great advice and I'm hoping I can tap into some of that advice now.

For background - I have been with my current employer for 20 years. I started off full-time and then when my DD was born in the mid-00's, I was able to reduce to part-time. Currently I work a reduced hours 4 day week. BUT STILL GET A FULL TIME SALARY. The company I work for is local to me (less than 10 minutes driving time and a walkable distance).

My company is a national company, but with a very small Head Office. I am the only person in my company who does my job (think niche) and I am qualified to the highest level in my job and have recently part-qualified in another associated field.

Over the past few months, we have had a massive staff change at Head Office with the entire accounting team leaving, one at a time. They all cite "nowhere to progress to" as their reason for leaving and "don't like working for such a small company".

My issue (and it really is a privileged position to be in), is that I keep thinking "should I be moving on"? I am bored stiff in my job as it hasn't changed for many years. The workload increases/decreases from time to time and I get two periods a year when I am very very busy. But, I can do this job with my eyes closed and am not challenged in any way.

I know that if I put myself onto the job market, I would be able to find a similar position very easily. But to earn the same money as I am now, I would have to work full-time and possibly travel further.

I keep thinking I should stay where I am in case of a possible redundancy situation (which is a real possibility).

But then I think, should I do as my colleagues have done and spread my wings?

This dilemma is keeping me awake at night. My DH says stay where I am, although he recognises my boredom. I am comfortable, not stressed and have real flexibility at work with for my DD.

Any thoughts?

From what you've said, I don't see any benefits to moving necessarily unless you definitely want career progression, travel, etc? From a personal point of view, where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

It's not mandatory to want to move onwards/upwards!

I know it's a unsettling time when many colleagues leave, so I think it might be best to ride it out a little while longer before making any sudden decisions. You could investigate options though?

Good points must. I'm not looking for career progression as I don't physically or mentally cope well with stress. Looking ahead, I can only see me scaling down my necessity to work. In 10 years, (finger crossed), my DD will be out in the wider world and my DH will be approaching retirement. Our plan then is to downsize and travel.

I suppose I keep thinking I am missing out on a possible wonderful opportunity. Which I suppose I won't know about unless I look at alternative options.

You are right about staff movements being unsettling. Luckily, for such a small working environment, we don't have any people that are difficult to work with. I just think that anyone new coming in thinks that I am the dinosaur in the corner who is part of the furniture .

Why not take a look at potential opportunities in the market just to see what's out there? Could you get in touch with a recruiter who specialises in your field? There's no harm in looking and it doesn't commit you to anything. You might stumble across a fantastic opportunity, or you mind conclude that you're better off staying in your current job for now. I think it's impossible to make a decision either way without researching your options.

I was in a similar position and left a very easy home based role because I wanted career progression/ was bored and unfulfilled

Well, I found out the hard way that the grass isn't greener and my new role turned out to be a nightmare.. I left after a couple of months and am looking again.

Every day I wonder if I did the right thing. I think career progression can be over rated but i understand the need to move on if you're bored.

Think very carefully...is it worth the risk if it all goes wrong?

I think you should stay where you are, it is a pretty cushy number. The fact that the work is not challenging can be tackled by using your mind in other ways. You've already done another qualification related to your work. Why not do something entirely different, do a night class in something fun which allows you to use your brain.

If it was me, I think I would stay put. I can see where you're coming from though. As a pp said, no harm in looking to see whats out there in terms of opportunities and salary. But also a good idea to challenge yourself in other areas instead and enjoy the headspace (and salary) where you are.

Thank you everyone. I think I have the fear of stagnation, FOMO and also, how will a 20+ year career in one company look on my CV if I do ever need to find a job again?

But you are all right in that I can challenge myself in different ways, away from work. Whilst reaping the benefits of the flexibility and salary of my current role.

Stay! The grass is not always greener.
The money and flexibility sound ideal.
Could you do some other courses that are still relevant to your current role, that would help you if you did move on at some point?

Is there something else that you can do that out with your main employment that will fulfil you further - volunteering, or sessional work. For example, I have a friend who works for a local authority but works in a hospice two days a month ?

Could you do some training that could allow you to widen your role with your current employer - training, management etc.

I don't see any harm in looking but if you were just going to need doing the same job how much more fulfilling will it be for you?

I would be tempted to stay put for a bit longer, especially as you say you don't want stress.

Could you do some further studies on top so you feel a bit more fulfilled?

Full time salary for 4 days is pretty sweet.

I don't think there is any harm in looking around. Whilst the grass isn't always greener, you never know what's going to come up.

I've been in the same job for 12 years now and it's served me well with flexibility, childcare etc. I'm well paid and the degree of flexibility I have is insanely good.

However In the last few months I've realised I've got to the same point as you have - I'm top of my game, but I'm also bored because I've been doing it for so long and I'm not challenged. It's also very niche and tbh I've really started to lose interest in it, even though I was very passionate about it when I started. My work also doesn't fill the time aside from once or twice a year. There is career progression but it's all a bit dead man's shoes, no positions have come up in the last six years.

I thought I could just suck it up, take the money and flexibility. I've been filling my extra time by signing up for everything - I've got three side projects on the go at the moment!

What I've realised is that I personally can't make those compromises. I need my work to at occupy me for the time I'm paid for, without having to constantly fish around to entertain myself. I very quickly start to lose purpose.

I wasn't looking for a new job but have ended up with one entirely by accident (that's another story!), and whilst I was sure I wouldn't accept it if it was offered to me, I actually have because over the months the recruitment took (several - it's civil service...) I've realised I'm safe but not thriving in my current job. I don't think you can underestimate how important that it.

Agreed hedgefund and you've made me remember why I left my insanely excellently work life balanced previous role, which I seem to be regretting a lot at the moment now I'm out of work and temping! (left fro a supposedly 'better' job which was a mistake)

I just felt like my brain was dying of underuse, it made me lazy and unmotivated as nothing was interesting or different or engaging. I knew if I stayed there I may as well consider my career written off, which after years of training and qualifications felt like a waste.

As it was I jumped ship for the wrong ship, but I'm back on my dinghy (temping) and looking for another, better ship to jump to any day now.

OP only you can decide if its worth moving.. but ask yourself is it worth it even if there's a risk it could go tits up? For years I said no, I wouldn't risk it.. I eventually did and it went wrong but hopefully that's a temporary situation and I'll soon find something that makes it worth me moving in the first place. It's a tough decision though.

In yout position I would update linked in, have a look at other companies, recruiters just to see what your options are.

I would also look at other roles within your company and see if any of them tickle your fancy. Is there any training available?

For me it would depend on my age and childrens ages. I have just started a less challenging but very local job - I am 47 and my youngest is 4. I am planning 5 or so years as being able to pick him up one day a week and popping to school events at lunchtime is amazing but once he is at secondary school I am likely to look for something more challenging. If I was in my early 30s I might give it a bit longer.