Rebuilding After Stressful Job Situation

[SunsetOverParadise]

I’ve been with my company for a number of years and due to several factors, it’s become unworkable. Morale is very low, many staff have left, and management is disinterested. It’s taken a while to reach crunch point but I’m there and actively looking for vacancies. I’m definitely trying to leave.

My issue is with self esteem and confidence. It’s at an all-time low. I feel like I have been ignored, undervalued, and in many ways made invisible despite my role being directly related to operations. I don’t think very highly of myself, despite the results of my work showing I am successful, because of how I’m seen and treated by other staff.

I’m not trying to turn this into a pity party but I want to try and find my worth again while I am
interviewing. I think it will help me get a new job. I have had a couple of interviews but not been successful though I am aware on paper of how to interview and know I prepare thoroughly. Feedback has always been ‘close call, but you came second.’

Any tips from anyone who has been through long periods of stress in a very negative, unmanageable work environment?

Thanks in advance.

I've been there twice and I know how much it affects your confidence. For me, it all came back within a week of starting a new job that didn't have shitty manageent and a shitty culture; I hope it does for you too.

My only advice is fake it until you make it. You may feel full of doubts about yourself and your abilities, but when you walk into the interview you have to push all that down and show nothing but confidence.

Thanks. That’s good advice. I think half the time other people don’t observe how we feel, so faking it may be a good way to go. I’m glad things changed for you so quickly into another job!

I am in a similar situation, it’s absolutely world shaking that as an adult a job can make you feel this bad. Maybe I was just fortunate not have had experience of supremely toxic work place before now… But, yes. It’s rubbish. I really hope you find something else/something changes soon and you feel better. My current mantra- No job is worth my mental health. I’m actively applying but will be handing my notice in if I haven’t found anything else in the next couple of months.

Thank you so much. I’m pleased to say I am out of there and I am in a new job. So far so good. My self-esteem has definitely improved just from having the distance from the old job, and I have been deliberately looking at reinforcing boundaries for the future. The take away for me is that I am stunned I endured it for as long as I did. But I really do not think I ever will again.

Good luck to you and I hope you are successful soon. :)

I've had 2 awful jobs (annoyingly left a lovely one) in 2 years. Awful managers, terrible personal comments, worked my arse off for nothing. I was stressed beyond anything I've ever experienced, made silly mistakes, especially by the time I was nearing the end of the second role.
I'm in a much nicer one now with a kind team, better pay, positive feedback, so it can happen!
How do I feel? Slightly ptsd ish/haunted every now and then now the pressures off iyswim. I .can't beleive how horrid the other managers were and how I was treated etc.
But
It had made me souch stronger and more compassionate as a person I think, definitely more humble I treat people at work really carefully, take care of them and I've realised how important people's feelings are at work.

@Allwelcone That’s it isn’t it, the stress is horrible and it seems to infiltrate every aspect of your life. Empathy is a really valuable quality to have, it’s good that you’ve taken that and are mindful of what others may be going through in similar circumstances.