Don't like my job, but don't feel I can leave

LegacyUser

Hi, I'm going unreg because I'm more comfortable being anon for this.

I've been unlucky the past year or so regarding jobs. I'm finding it hard to find the right job for me, and as such I've had a few jobs. I'm very conscious that my CV looks jumpy, but it wasn't a case of just leaving because I was bored, the jobs themselves weren't right for me and I just couldn't stay.

Recently I've started a new job, and I don't like it. I'm so upset that this has happened again. The area I work in has lots of sub areas I can go into but I've been unfortunate that the area's I've ended up in just haven't been suited to me. After my first day in my new job I got home, cried and got sick. I found it so tough. I've only been in the job a few days but my heart tells me it's not right for me.

The problem is, I really don't feel I can leave ANOTHER job. It looks dreadful on my CV and employers are going to question it. I also worry that my friends and family are really going to judge me for it, but I'm so worried this job is going to bring me down. I have anxiety and depression so it doesn't take much to knock me down.

I don't know what to do. I was hoping maybe someone might have some advice? Thank you.

Ursus Horribilis

What do you mean by a job not being right for you? As in - why are all these jobs making you leave? What is the common denominator here?

banoffe2

Are you dealing with the anxiety and depression OP, starting a new job is always challenging and can feel overwhelming, perhaps giving up the jobs is not the solution, look after yourself and everything else will work out.

LegacyUser

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

What do you mean by a job not being right for you? As in - why are all these jobs making you leave? What is the common denominator here?

I work in social care. Some areas are amazing to work in and I've had really rewarding and enjoyable experiences in these areas, though usually this has been doing contract type work, ie covering someones leave, so not permanent, hence why I couldn't stay in some jobs. But then there are areas which are just a little too tough for me, and really take a certain type of person to do. My newest job is the latter. It's extremely demanding and definitely not for everyone.

Big Bag of Chips

Maybe you need to try get a handle on the anxiety and depression. You say yourself that it doesn't take much to knock you down. Contemplating giving up yet another job after a few days seems crazy. I don't know exactly what your issues with each of these jobs is, but everyone finds the first while in a new job difficult. Everyone. Honestly, it can take up to 6 months to fully settle in to a position, and even at that there will be the odd thing that pops up that you haven't dealt with previously or know how to do it.

If you leave this job, what's the alternative? Could you go speak to a careers counsellor, or whatever, and try find what it is that will suit you and that you will be able to stick at? Jumping job to job sounds exhausting, and maybe the jobs genuinely aren't suiting you, or maybe your anxiety is causing you to be over anxious about your performance?

Silverfish

It takes 4 to 5 months to settle in and get a handle on any new job.
I thought I hated jobs in the past, but I just didn't give them enough time, and my cv looked terrible. Once I forced myself to stay 6 months and learn as much as I could in that time, and cut myself some slack and remember it's only stressful because I don't know how to deal with this problem yet, then things got a lot easier.

Ursus Horribilis

Are you seeing a therapist at the moment? If switching jobs is so traumatic for you, then you probably could do with getting extra help when you move jobs. As everyone has said, starting in a new job is tough and many's the person who has had the sweaty palms and knotted stomach at the start. But to be coming home and getting sick - that's taking stress and anxiety to a whole new level. Surely every job you've had in the past year can't have been that awful? I can't help but think that this is a mental health issue and that if you don't get help, you'll find this pattern continuing no matter what job you get next.

Penny Tration

I think if you get some help for your anxiety, you'll find work a lot easier, OP.


For now, focus on that. Nobody likes their first few days in a new job, god knows I didn't in the job I started recently! I love it now, though.


If you get some help and still want to leave, just don't put it on your CV.

BarcaDen

OP, do you think you could take a year out? Like travel abroad and teach english or something? Because I suspect all you're lacking is perspective. Maybe you're finding these jobs awful because its not what you want to do. I used to work in an office and hated it, years later I'm a freelance running the world and I'm happy as hell. You're not tied down to the line of work you've chosen so maybe you should cast your net a bit wider?

AtticusFinch86

Regarding the jumpy CV, if you leave this job, can't you just leave it off the CV? I agree with other posters though, leaving probably is not the solution. Better to figure out why you haven't quite settled in to a variety of jobs and tackle that issue, otherwise, this problem may keep popping up