Would you look for another job or stick it out...

[ValentinaLuna]

Hi wondering if I should stick my current situation out or look for something else

I have worked at my current company since 2015 but had a one year gap at a different company (so it was a 5 year stint at company A, 1 year at company B, nearly 3 years back at company A)

I am very experienced in my specific field and an expert on my company/product
I have an account management job with some line manager responsibilities for a group of senior sales people, salary around 50k bonuses takes me to 65k

Cons- I am very isolated, my team are remote and when I am in the local office I have no "base" there, due to the small department I work for noone really interacts with me on a day to day basis anymore and although I have chats and catch ups with people I have worked with for years I don't feel part of a team spirit

My team are used to working fully remote and being driven soley by their performance and targets they are all focused hunters in a way and apart from meeting centrally 4x a year as is mandated for team meetings they dint want to get together, any suggestion of more meetings/in person get together are rebuffed with the fact they have clients to meet, need to travel for meetings with new prospects and these are legitimate and fair.

I do 121s, catch ups, a remote huddle weekly, coaching and development and conversations around sales objectives and KPIs but I feel this is lacking in genuine connection as their old boss "never had time for this stuff" so let them get on with it for years

I'm not a new manager, and I'm dying to get stuck into something that needs me to deliver if that makes sense. I feel like I'm not needed and that sounds so daft!

Pros- I'm expected to be remote. I can do school run each morning and pick ups as needed. Dc is year 3 and aged 8. I know alot a out my company and product so when my team DO need an expert help/guidance I can provide this
I'm confident in delivering anything to do with my job/company

But I feel stagnant, would you look for something else? Thanks

As in the pro of "I'm expected to be remote" I'm saying that's a pro because I'm not mandated in the office m-f 9-5 etc I can come and go to the office as I please.

But that's also a con because when I go to the office I'm pretty much Billy no mates and there isn't any point/collaboration/anything happening!

I suggest a meeting with your line manager to talk about this. Before you do that, think about what you want to change. For example have you any peers and can you start to network with them? If you're only giving a bit of support to your team, can your time/skills be better used in a different role in the company or add something interesting to your role?
I think the isolation is a big issue; depends on personality of course but that means that everything is harder and bad things feel impossible.

See what your current form can offer, but also no harm in looking at other roles; if nothing else it can help you formulate your priorities.

As pp says - I would talk to your line manager. Are there opportunities for promotion?

Thanks for your response, my line manager is the person who previously did my role and technically they have always been out on the "field" too and sales/prospect hunting with their management responsibilities becoming the secondary element so they brought my in to be the people manager/have my own account management panel (small and not very much travel expected I've been no where this year for example) and so it has been a shock to the team to be prepared and ready for 121s etc. Old manager/my manager not bothered....

My boss does "try" they are based maybe 300 miles from me and will often say "I must come and see you..." and in 18m they have visited my city 2x

I think your right I will certainly say I'm feeling isolated and although getting my team into one office isn't going to happen(home contracts and scattered all over the country) maybe its to look out for something else internally....

But I will still look and see what else is out there...

No absolutely none. This is a conversation I have had my boss really rates me and is so happy with the focus I have brought to the team from a manager perspective. Sales have improved and we're working at a great standard but the step up from mine are competitive roles which the people in them are NOT shifting from so there is no onward progression opportunities and my boss has been open about that and open at the fact they too have no where new to go to themselves as the roles above them are not going to be freed up soon

Also we're concerned about certain market variables which mean growth and new opportunities not likely

I don’t know what your sector is but it sounds like you’re very skilled in and knowledgeable of a particular area. Is this transferable to another company, or would you be willing to learn about a new product?

in your shoes I would probably stick it out but look for volunteering opportunities or something else outside of work that gave my the feeling of community and, when the time is right, the relevant skills to hop to a new position

eg I volunteered as a charity board member for 3 years which was really interesting and also helped me gain experience in charity governance which eventually supported a job move

I was actually looking into volunteering this evening!! Thanks for recommending this i will look into that!

My skills are transferable basically anything insurance/banking/investing and I have qualifications in these fields to back me up should I go elsewhere

The basic principles and expectations will be the same if I moved into any other regulated environment but I just know the inner workings if this particular firm so much seems a shame to loose that!! But on the other hand I di actually feel like the company isn't getting the best out of me in this role and I feel like I'm sat in a tiny cupboard under the stairs 😅😅

I namechanged for this just in case any colleagues are reading!

I could have written your post OP
I am in a very similar position (although in a different industry by the sound of it)
The results/delivery of job going really well and on an upward curve.
But mostly remote working - and my god SO dull and transactional.
Have you heard of this meme on social media called "having an email job"?
That's what I've got, I realise (and by the sound of things you too) - just a slightly posher version.
My day mostly consists of writing emails and Teams messages to people and receiving them back interspersed with an occasional Zoom meeting
The sting in the tail in my job is that some people in the business have the opportunity to get out and about and travel, but my role doesn't.

Personally I don't think it's a very human way to work (although I know more introverted types of people than I am might say they prefer it).

If Karl Marx was on Mumsnet he would probably say this is the post Covid form of alienation.

What to do - I decided to look for something else which has more ... humanity .. to it. But my DC is older - so that is a consideration for you with your school pick ups. On volunteering: yes, but only if its face to face. So for example if you joined a board of Trustees quite a lot of that would be Zoom only now as well.
You are not alone

Aw thanks for your reply @boringworksnoring
Yes this is exactly what my job is like
Email-problem- fix problem- email response

Or call through to the "centralised help team" tell them problem what I need-fix-communicate fix, ad infinitum

My team- check in/call/teams (not too much as they do have a job to do!!!) Hi how are you all OK? Yes, need anything from me today/this week? No

Feels so isolating.

Anyhooo....I will look and see what else is out there and further to that look at volunteering opportunities face to face

Thanks all

Edited as had tagged myself fgs

Can you network with similar individuals / similar level in different/ associated businesses /companies that might lead to bring in extra revenue?

Years ago I worked in a very large company with various specialist divisions, and the division heads (of which I was one) in our region used to meet up once a month for lunch and network, pass on leads etc and our network meet ups cross generated large amounts of business for other business areas of the company.
(We also got to discover some amazing pub food in different areas of the south of England, it was definitely a highlight of the month!)