At a crossroads...

LegacyUser

I was wondering if you could help me with some guidance, advice or even an example from your own experience.

I am trying what to decide what to do with my life.

Background: I am in my mid-20's, female, I live with my partner and I am educated up to Masters level.

Unfortunately the industry related to the subject I studied in Univeristy has collapsed (construction related) so I am no longer able to get work in it (paying or voluntary). To get by I have been picking up administration jobs, mostly maternity leave covers. Currently I have been unemployed since September. I have been using this downtime to try and sort through a lot of personal issues (physical health, mental health, family etc).

I disliked doing these short term administation contracts and during my downtime have realised that I was using any money I saved from a contract to live off before getting another, accumalating in no savings and no significant change in lifestyle (I have been living frugally for years). These jobs were also a stressor in my development of panic attacks and anxiety issues which I am now getting under control.

I want to try to figure out what is the next step?

Do I have to suck it up and keep on going with the anxiety-inducing admin jobs? I fear that if I go back to them I will be damaging my mental health.

Is this how other people feel about their job?

I feel reluctant to let go of the industry I trained in, even though it is a deadend, but I have no idea where to go from here. I don't know what I can retrain as as my education and interests are Arts and artsy based (and I'm not sure how they can translate into a successful career).

Any comments relating to career path advice or coping with anxiety in the non-desired workplace appreciated!

LegacyUser

Anxiety-inducing admin job? Er, do these not involve lots of paperwork& minimal customer contact? You'd be surprised how anxiety-inducing a more people-centred job is, even when you're trying to help them!
Would you not think it'd be more stressful in the long run to be sitting around at home ('cos that's the alternative) naval-gazing& having no structure to the day?
Would you consider, for the moment, following up the Arts thing as a sideline& see how that develops, but keep the job on the backburner?
Otherwise, realistically, the only way to enter your trained pathway in the construction industry, is to emigrate. Would you& your partner be willing to do this? Equally, would you be able to hack the pressure of that type of working environment (deadlines, ect)? You must be practical& realistic.

LegacyUser

I think you did the right thing to take a step away from your temp work, I know work is work in this horrible economic climate but if your mental health is going to crap over it you have to look after no.1.

Now that you've let off some steam and looked at some your personal difficulties you need to develop the tools to cope with returning to a similar work environment. Like what the other poster said I've been there in admin work, didn't love it but after my next job which was dealing with the public I would have given my right arm to have the paperwork again as it was stress free in comparison! If it was one workplace you were in you could write it off maybe as having a ridiculous workload, unrealistic targets, arsehole colleagues etc. but if there's a consistent pattern of anxiety in the same type of job in differing workplaces you've got to look at stress managment and practical aspects like your organisational skills, time management etc. because these could be lingering issues you may have in any type of job. Even taking up yoga could help your relax and help you physically. I don't have alot of detail on the practical characterisitcs of your job/s so I'm speculating to an extent. Maybe looking at cognitive behavioural therapy could help you overcome your anxieties? It doesn't work for everyone but it can give you the mental tools to analyse and handle challenges in a more positive and proactive way.

If you decide to steer clear from the admin work you've got to look at how to use what you've gained from your undergrad and masters and to implement that in another field. You obviously have alot of talent to achieve your respective degrees so it's crucial you don't let that go to waste! Don't give up on what your qualified in, I know construction and related areas are in toilet now but that doesn't mean there won't be opportunties to utilise your skills sometime in the future. Look at what interests you have outside of your qualifications, studying something that may be considered 'below' your qualification level on the qualifications scale could actually become a good compliment to your existing degrees and open up other opportunities, sometimes you've got to take one step backwards to go two steps forwards. I understand doing more courses can cost alot money but you find something deep within your heart it could be worth it but still keep in mind of career opportunities in anything new you may study.

If emigration is something you and your partner would be comfortable with then that is the most realistic avenue to work within your qualifications, teaching abroad could be another option for you once you have a good degree under your belt.

I'm in a very similar situation to you with recently graduating with a degree that is doing nothing for me in this economic disasterzone. After losing my job I'm now long-term unemployed. You've done very well to even get the temporary work you've got because I couldn't find anything like that even with some experience behind my belt. Basically what I'm saying I understand your difficulties coping with the lack of direction in your life/career and your work related anxieties but returning to temp work could be the lesser of the two evils because l/term unemployment will suck the life out of your soul eventually. Even with doing the temp work you can re-skill and study on the side at weekends or night. Most importantly you need to try and get the past the first hurdle by overcoming your anxieties by trying CBT or whatnot. If you can do this I think you can have a very bright future ahead of you.

LegacyUser

sdfagfd- I probably didn't explain myself well enough. I didn't mean that admin jobs induce anxiety in a normal person. I meant that I suffer from anxiety issues which are brought on when I am unhappy, which happens to be when I am working in jobs in the admin category. I say admin jobs, but they're probably best described as receptionist positions as yes, I know what "a more people-centred job" is having worked on switchboards, helplines, bill enquiry lines, reception desks and medical reception desks.

I would be willing to emigrate however my industry is non-existent now worldwide. It's a complete deadend unless I want to go into PhD and at the moment I cannot afford that.

iunderstandyou- thanks for your long reply! There is a consistent pattern in my panic attacks associated with work. I don't know if I just have bad luck but I often seem to end up in positions where I am working with horrible office bullies or where the clients are belittling and rude. I'm able to put up with this and be professional most of the time (or else I would not have continued to be successful in securing these positions!) but the effects are felt in my home life. My time out in September has been used to address this. I have anxiety problems and panic attacks related to other parts of my life and have started medication to deal with this. Because I am quite poor at the moment I've been reading CBT books recommended by my GP as an alternative to in person CBT (I've done counselling before but not CBT).

Have you managed to come up with an alternative to your career? How are you coping with long term unemployment?

I'm not sure how transferable my skills would be. I can only think of careers that generate no money! Yes, I would feel better about myself but I'd probable be living in a cardboard box at the same time!

I suppose I should make a list of my interests and what I'm good at and try to come up with a career from those? Are there any online resources to help me with this

Is it bad that for the past 4 months of unemployment I haven't minded it? I have structure in my day, I've been so happy and stress free since starting my medication and CBT books and relieved that I don't have angry people scowling at me all day!

coconut5

atacrossroads wrote: »

sdfagfd- I probably didn't explain myself well enough. I didn't mean that admin jobs induce anxiety in a normal person. I meant that I suffer from anxiety issues which are brought on when I am unhappy, which happens to be when I am working in jobs in the admin category. I say admin jobs, but they're probably best described as receptionist positions as yes, I know what "a more people-centred job" is having worked on switchboards, helplines, bill enquiry lines, reception desks and medical reception desks.

It's probably not so easy when you know the job is only temporary as well, so people will not give you the time that you would get if it was a permanent position, where you would be eased into it a bit more.

It's a tough one. I would do some volunteer work just to get you out of the house a bit (I taught computer classes to the elderly, and it was a really lovely experience). It would help for your CV as well to keep things ticking along. Also, there are some arts festivals you can volunteer for if that is your interest, I guess it depends where you're living.

I think the thing is not to worry, and if you are happy at the moment being stress-free, then I say just go with that for a while, and I'm sure you'll meet the right people/see the right opportunity for you soon and it will all click into place.

Also, can you join up with Fas? They put people in placements, even in areas where there are not many jobs at the moment.