Fed up with job want to switch to something more basic

loveisdivine

I want to preface this by saying I know that I'm the only one that can eventually make this decision (my husband is part of it too) and I'm basically just looking for some pro's con's, blunt truths etc. that might help me along the way to figure out what to do.

I've been doing the same office based job for about 10 years now, both here in Ireland and in the UK.

To say I'm bored of it is a complete understatement. It's not challenging, it's not fulfilling/stimulating and is in no way satisfying.

One of biggest problems is I'm sick of sitting on my arse. 10 years I've sat on my arse and the thought of getting to 50 or 60 and having spent the majority of my working life sitting down depresses me.

I also work about 1 hour from home and spend money on tolls. When we first moved further away I didn't really mind. The house we bought was worth it. But now, the job isn't worth it. My role has, over the years, become less and less busy. I'm starting to be given the ****ty jobs no one else wants to do just because I have free time.

I'm basically either bored and twiddling my thumbs, or being handed crap that somebody hasn't bothered doing for months and now I have to clean up the mess. I can see the job becoming more of an "assistant" role, which I really don't want.

I've been looking for similar roles close to home but they are few and far between and honestly, I don't want another office job.

So, within walking distance from home is a lovely cafe/grocers/florist. It's a lovely place, we go there often. They are looking for cafe staff/waiters. I've been thinking about it for a while and imagining myself walking to work, with a simple but active/busy job where I get to be on my feet, makes me happy.

Okay, maybe I'll have to work weekends and the pay won't be as good. But at the moment I don't work weekends and I'm still unhappy.

I obviously need a job, I have a mortgage and bills. But we could definitely manage on less than we currently have. I have waitressed in my younger days so I'm not completely oblivious to the negatives of it. Also, if I started just waitressing, maybe I could eventually get into the grocers side of the business, which I would really love.

I don't want to rush into anything. But I don't think I can carry on as I am much longer. I spend nearly 10 hours a week commuting and don't have time to do more personally fulfilling things. I don't want a high paying, life encompassing career. I just want to go to work, be busy then go home. Focus more on home life.

Agh, I'm rambling.

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loveisdivine

Thanks. I guess any big change is scary. All the what if's.I think for a long time I've put off making a real effort to switch things up because it's easier to just keep pushing through. Better the devil you know and all that.

It's funny because a couple of new people started work with me in the last year and both have said that after getting to know me they don't understand how I've been working in an office for so long. Apparently I come across as someone who would want to be outdoors or at least more active than I currently am. It's true really. I love the outdoors and as mad as it sounds I love all things veggie! This cafe is all vegetarian (I'm a vegan myself so that appeals) and they have the most gorgeous displays of fruit and veg in the shop. I'd love to be part of that, displaying all the produce and setting up the flower displays outside. Then just walking home at the end of the day, feeling like I've done a decent days work, instead of feeling like I've wasted another 9 hours sitting on a chair.

Definitely gonna at least get more info about the job. My waitress experience is from a long time ago though, so probably need a good cover letter and I'll drop the application in in person I think. The people in the shop don't know us by name, but they know us as regulars, so that might help.

Addle

Apply.
If you're offered the job, you'll have a real decision to make then.
It will help you get your priorities in order.

silverharp

make sure your husband is fully on board and not just going along for "peace and quiet" , for one you are putting more financial pressure on your husband and secondly you might not be around a lot of the weekend when you both might want to do stuff. flip it in your head and imagine your husband making the same decision?

loveisdivine

It would definitely be a big change financially. This particular job says "competitive salary" so I doubt it's minimum wage, but it can't be much more.

Yes I have to be careful with my husband, I think he will feel obligated to support me because he's been able to work part time for the last 9 years or so, while I have always worked full time. So I've always brought in the bigger wage. A few years ago he switched to a job with even less hours. I was genuinely happy for him cos I don't want either of us to be working all the time. The less we have to work the better.

He knows I sometimes feel jealous of the free time he has. He currently works very early mornings and is home by around 9am everyday, mon-fri, so he has all his days free.

It would be great for us to both only work part time, but I don't think that's an option right now. So if I can't work part time, maybe I can at least do work that I find more stimulating.

Addle

Can you work part time in your current job? And trial something else on your days off?
You may earn more part time in your current job than full time in another.

m.i.l.f

Could you waitress at weekends and see if you like it ?
I know you said no office work but there are so many varied roles out there that aren't boring
Would you consider re training while you are at work ?

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loveisdivine

OK, so going on an estimate of hourly wage at the cafe, working there full time would give me the same net pay as working my current job 4 days a week instead of 5.

However, even though I'd be working more hours at the cafe, I'd be financially better off because I wouldn't have to pay tolls. Plus I wouldn't be doing this crappy job anymore.

I think I need to make a proper pro and con list. Find out the wage at the cafe and do a proper budget between both me and my husband to really see if it's feasible.

Xterminator

Hi op

if your role has been eroded you should sit down with your boss and have a chat about redundancy. Especially if your working title and role dont match you may have a good case.

Dont leave until you have explored this as even statutory payments will allow you to make choices like re-training.

loveisdivine

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To be honest I think I'd feel pretty crap about it. I don't want him to have to work more. I'd feel pretty guilty if he had to work full time so I could go part time.

Plus he gets really good pay at the moment because his hours are so "unsociable" We've looked at a few full time jobs for him, just our of interest, and a lot of them would only leave him with slightly more money than he gets now, for full time hours!

Dial Hard

loveisdivine wrote: »

OK, so going on an estimate of hourly wage at the cafe, working there full time would give me the same net pay as working my current job 4 days a week instead of 5.

Just bear in mind that they may not be offering full-time hours, though. I'd pop in and have a chat to them before you do anything else. Find out the hours available and the hourly pay, if possible.

loveisdivine

I'm definitely not gonna put anything into action until I have all the facts. The ad does say full time and part time shifts available, but obviously that could not be up to date.

I'll pop down with a cv and cover letter either this evening or tomorrow and see what happens from there. Thanks!

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Addle

loveisdivine wrote: »

I'm definitely not gonna put anything into action until I have all the facts. The ad does say full time and part time shifts available, but obviously that could not be up to date.

I'll pop down with a cv and cover letter either this evening or tomorrow and see what happens from there. Thanks!

Do it quick. Those kind of jobs go quick, I find.

loveisdivine

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Yes I suppose it is. But I try not to look at it that way, I don't like to think that he owes me or anything. He has contributed in other ways, in fact he took redundancy a few years ago and it was only because of that that we were able to get a deposit for our house.

I'd rather find a way for us to eventually both just work part time. But that will be quite a way down the line.

I've printed off my CV and cover letter so I'm gonna drop them in on the way home. Maybe nothing will come of it, but at least I'm making a start on changing things.

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loveisdivine

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I'd never thought about something like that. I'd be surprised if they would agree to that sort of thing though.

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DoozerT6

OP, I was going to post about waitressing not always being a barrel of laughs, but I re-read your post and I see you're aware of the occasional downsides. As you've waitressed before and have no doubt dealt with late nights and sore feet and rude customers, yet are still willing to give this a go, I say...why not. By the sounds of it, the place you mentioned sounds like quite a large business, so who knows, maybe once you get your foot in the door and if you like the place, a job might come up in the admin side of the business you might be interested in going for? A busy, buzzy place like that might have a completely different energy about it than working in some drab office building somewhere, and might be more interesting for you.

I have to say I find you quite inspiring OP. I would love to have the nerve to make a similar move. Keep us updated and best of luck.

loveisdivine

Well I dropped in last night and spoke with the manager. She recognized me from being in the shop, so that was good. She was very positive and thanked me for bringing my cv in person. She's hopefully going to call in a day or 2 to discuss it m ore after she's looked at the cv's she has.

I didn't find out anything about pay or hours yet. But the place only opens til 6 in the evening which is handy, no late nights!

I did get a little panicky afterwards, making a change seems more real now, even though nothing has actually happened yet.

The only real concerns I have are making sure we can manage on the reduced income, there will be plenty for mortgage and all the bills, but less for the "fun" stuff. And the possibility of working weekends doesn't thrill me but it's not the be all and end all.

Wait and see now!

Deleted User wrote: »

I have to say I find you quite inspiring OP. I would love to have the nerve to make a similar move. Keep us updated and best of luck.

Thank you, that's a really lovely thing to say.

miamee

loveisdivine wrote: »

I did get a little panicky afterwards, making a change seems more real now, even though nothing has actually happened yet.

The only real concerns I have are making sure we can manage on the reduced income, there will be plenty for mortgage and all the bills, but less for the "fun" stuff. And the possibility of working weekends doesn't thrill me but it's not the be all and end all.

I'd be of the opinion that having more personal time will give you lots more thinking space. Maybe this job might be the best thing that ever happened or it might just give you a year or two of work near home to take stock of what you want from your next job and the extra time to put some plans for that in place. Commuting really does suck up a lot of time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere in life

I hope it all works out for you

shesty

You sound like me OP!
I bloody hate being stuck in an office all day long.Way back I remember thinking the last thing I wanted from my job was to be stuck in a cubicle the whole time.My career choice allows me time out on site though, so it helps.But I had a period of wanting to actually open a cafe or cafe/bookshop locally.I decided against it at the time, as we are in the middle of the baby/toddler years in our lives, and we need steady incomes.But I am open to what the future holds.I have a good thirty years of work ahead of me, I can't see myself sitting in this career for that long. Get all the details sorted and go for it, hoping it will work out.Change is terrifying but looking back at having done nothing to change scares me more!

loveisdivine

shesty wrote: »

You sound like me OP!
I bloody hate being stuck in an office all day long.Way back I remember thinking the last thing I wanted from my job was to be stuck in a cubicle the whole time.My career choice allows me time out on site though, so it helps.But I had a period of wanting to actually open a cafe or cafe/bookshop locally.I decided against it at the time, as we are in the middle of the baby/toddler years in our lives, and we need steady incomes.But I am open to what the future holds.I have a good thirty years of work ahead of me, I can't see myself sitting in this career for that long. Get all the details sorted and go for it, hoping it will work out.Change is terrifying but looking back at having done nothing to change scares me more!

It's horrible isn't it! I know this will sound ridiculous, but by the end of the week my bum actually aches because I've spent so much time sat on it! Obviously if I was waitressing or something, then my feet would probably ache, but at least it would be the product of a decent days work.

I sit and think, is this it? Am I going to be sitting at a desk for the next 30 years? Spending 2/3rds of my waking time feeling like I'm wasting my life. This can't be as good as it gets.

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Addle

Stolen from another thread to inspire those looking for meaning in life.

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Have a look at this. I was blown away by it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAKF9kWaGEg

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057839430/3

messy tessy

Ah I enjoyed that... 'you will soon be dead!'

Posted something very similar to shesty over the weekend in a different thread, we must be all taking a good hard look at life in an office!
I think the 'don't panic if you don't have it all figured out yet' bit from that video is good advice... but am going to work towards my alternative career plan. Life is definitely too short to be miserable in work.

Best of luck OP with the job! Sounds positive!

loveisdivine

I feel like I should add that outside of work I'm actually very happy. I have a great marriage, a pain in the arse house that we unfortunately love! A multitude of pets that we're completely devoted to.

And as someone said above, I realise that it's only because of this crappy job that I have all these things. I don't think changing job is going to somehow make my life a million times better, I'm already happy with my life, I'm just not happy at work.

I think that's why I know I really do need to change. From 5pm to 7:30am I'm a positive and happy person, I have no real complaints, life is good. But for the rest of that time, I'm subdued, uninterested and unfulfilled.

Fingers crossed I get a call today or tomorrow, this is all pie in the sky until I can least find out the pay.

okiss

I know a lot of people are in jobs and they would like to move to another job or work part time. In some work places it can be a combination of things that make you realise that it's time to move on. I have seen friends dealing with horrible bosses, an always high work load because people are leaving and not been replaced or a wage that is low compared people doing the same job. Some work places are just so toxic now that no amount of money is worth what you have to put up with.
I have seen people move/change jobs. I know other people would have been thinking why did X do this or leave a good job in A to take a job in B which would not pay as well.

I know one lady who left her very well paying job for one that paid less. She heard about this job via a friend and was unsure about applying at first. Both her and her husband decided that it was worth going for it as the hours were more family friendly. Now a number of years later she likes this job and her company are paying the high fees for her further education course. The company were also very supportive when she had some personal issues and needed time off. She told me if I was still in the last place I would not have got the time off.

One of my friends is married and has a family. Her husband worked in the same industry for over 15 years. Over the past 2 years he found he was working harder, dealing with staff causing problems or not turning up to work so he ended up having to do their job as well as his own. Due a personal issue he had some time off work and he decided to do up his CV. He had a few interviews and got a totally different job and he is far happier now.

I had a friend who had a good job with company z. She had a good salary but worked long hours. She told me that she did not like her job and was sorry she did not become y after leaving school. I said to her when she was 30 that she could go back to college to do this. She had a number of excuses then why she could not do this. The truth was she lacked the ability to realise she could and needed to make changes to her life then.
Now over 10 years later she was made redundant from company z despite the long hours/****ty jobs she did for them. She found it hard to get work after this and took a part time job due to this and for personal reasons.

I think if you want to change jobs or work part time you look at your income and out goings. Check up on the tax calculator online to see the tax, prsi, USC you have to pay in a new job. I know some people that did this and found that taking a lower paid did not lead to as much of a pay cut due paying less tax.

For a lot of people getting out of a company or away from a particular job or from working long hours/shift work or weekends is not always about money but about general happiness and having a better work/life balance. For a lot of people having extra time in the evenings or at the weekends is worth more than an extra few euro each month.
Sometimes a sideways move can be better long term than staying in a job that you hate.

As you get older you realise the following is true - work is part of life but should not be your whole life.

Nymeria

Hi OP,

I really wanted to post, as I am pretty much in the same situation...I'm so glad you have taken a chance and apply for the other job in the shop near to you -fingers crossed. The only thing I would say is, don't get too disheartened if nothing comes of that, something else good will come your way if you go out and look for it.

I've worked in office based roles for the last 10 years, from banks to insurance, and I've come to realise that the corporate world just isn't for me. The following is a big long rant that you can just skip if you feel like...

A few months ago, I felt really down, depressed, waking up in the middle of the night stressing about the emails I hadn't sent, or the 20 that would be waiting when I got into work the next day - it felt like I was slowly drowning.

And I understood why I have been resisting moving up in roles over the past few years...it always seemed like a bit more money for a lot more stress.
I was also studying part time for work, two evenings a week, and that made it even worse I think.
I remember at one point wondering to myself 'why am I studying to be better at a job I don't even like'....

Obviously, not everybody feels like this - some people can hack working in an office, making half decent money... answering a million emails a day, but I feel like I will die of boredom if I stay here, there's no room for creativity, meetings are boring and pointless, my 'nice' colleagues just dump work on me that they can't be bothered doing.


ANYWAY... I have been seeing a life coach for the last little while, who has helped me to look at what my career values are, and try to find something that aligns with that. I handed in my notice at work

I'm going to take the summer to try out new things, probably work in a shop or a cafe or something like that, maybe travel a bit...and there is a professional cookery course starting later in the year that I want to do. I have a bit of savings, and no dependents so I'm lucky in that sense.

The key thing I have learned from the life coach, is that you don't have to throw the whole lot away and start again...you can if you want to, but small steps in a new direction, something that interests you more.

I won't have it all figured out by the summer, but that's ok. I feel lighter already having taken positive steps in the right direction...whatever that ends up turning into.

People seem to ask what you do when they meet you...or what you're working at, but they don't seem to ask if you are happy doing it. I would be so much happier making less money, doing something more basic that I enjoy. Meeting people, making food, being a bit creative, producing something tangible, being outdoors for a bit.... I'm still coming to terms with letting go of a proper career path in a respectable job, and 'wasting my potential', that is something I will have to work on...

Who knows, in a few years I might try to start my own cafe, grow my own vegetables, have a market stall, something like that...maybe it will happen, maybe not, but I want to try and live a different type of life, and I'll never get there sitting in that grey office, being depressed.

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stuboy01

Hi OP,

well done on just making the step of considering the change.
I've come to realise a few years back that there is more to life than a job that pays well. I'm currently in a decent job (not fantastic money, but good colleagues and i find it interesting most of the time and frustrating at others). I was recently approached by a recuiter via linkedIn to put myself forward for a similar position but with a 25K salary increase.
One look at the job description turned me right off, I knew I'd have a longer commute and it would also involve international travel, so less time with my family.
The extra money would have been nice but my wife and I decided that it wouldn't make up for the lost time.

There are more important things than money, as long as you have enough to get by.

Life is far too short to spend in a job that drains the life out of you.

Best of luck

loveisdivine

Just a quick update - got an interview with them tomorrow!

Fingers crossed the pay and hours etc aren't too bad

loveisdivine

I'm not feeling super confident, not because I doubt myself, but because it's only just occurred to me what bad timing this is. I have a poorly timed (but well needed) holiday for 2 weeks in May, it was booked last year and we can't change any of it now. Plus I'd have to give 4 weeks notice here, which means I'd only have a week or 2 between finishing here and then going away for 2 weeks!

I imagine that's going to put them off I'll just be honest about it in the interview and hope for the best.

dixiefly

Best of luck. I wouldn't say that the holidays will be an issue if they see you as the right person for the job.

loveisdivine

loveisdivine wrote: »

Just a quick update - got an interview with them tomorrow!

Fingers crossed the pay and hours etc aren't too bad

Good luck what for you won’t pass you.

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loveisdivine

It went really well. Going in for a couple of hours tomorrow to see if I like it/they like me! It's more of a supervisor role, so things like hours and pay are up for negotiation. The only slight negative is that I'd have to work most weekends, probably only 1 in 4 off.

But unless it goes awfully tomorrow, or we can't come to an agreement on pay/hours, then I think I'll definitely take it if they offer it to me.

bertsmom

Loveisdevine that's brilliant! Congratulations and very well done. I have been following this thread and rooting for you. I'm delighted and wish you all the very best.

professore

If you are commuting by car you will save a fortune walking to work if possible. Even more if there is a second car you can sell.

loveisdivine

Ok so, I did about 4 hours on Saturday. I enjoyed the work, very busy, time flew in.

However, I have quite a few concerns. I won't go into too much detail but I think it's gonna be too many hours (more than I do now), probably more stress than I currently have to deal with. Things were incredibly chaotic and not in a good way. Plus it was left very ambiguously, the manager didn't seem to want to sit and have a chat about hours/pay or anything. Just wanted to know if I could do the same again next weekend (which I wouldn't be paid for btw) but there might not actually be a job for me because someone that previously worked there is coming back and will probably get the role I interviewed for.

Basically, it doesn't quite sit right with me. As much as I want out of here, I don't wanna rush and make the wrong decision.

georgewickstaff

Unpaid? They want you back for more unpaid work? Of course they do!

Alarm bells alright. This is not how things should be done.

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Addle

I don't think you're in a position to be asking pointed questions to be honest.
What good will it do?
There's already someone else for the job.

Fair play for trying. At least you're not left wondering 'what if'. And something else will turn up,

LegacyUser

Very common tactic in the hospitality and restaurant sector to advertise a position and get someone to come in to do a "free trial" to cover for other staff on leave or hoildays. It's a nasty, cheap trick and anywhere that tries this stunt should be exposed. It's far too prevalent in the sector along with not getting breaks and availing of free labour from catering departments in colleges where students are pimped out under the guise of accreditation for their placement. Just because restaurants have high operating costs doesn't give them the right to exploit or take advantage. I wouldn't go back if I were you. You have had a taste now of some of the murky practices within the sector. Trust your gut on this one.

loveisdivine

Well we sort of left it that I'd go in for a few hours on Saturday. But to be honest, I think I'm gonna drop in after work tomorrow or Friday and let them know it's not for me.

I don't mind it being chaotic as in busy, I was there for the busiest portion of the day so I expected that. But on numerous occasions it descended into a complete mess and the woman I would be replacing got quite pissed and had words with a few people.

I have enough stress and politics in my current job. The whole point was I wanted something more easy going, I don't mind being rushed off my feet, but this just strikes me as something where in a few months time I'd be deflated and stressed out again.

Thanks for the support though everyone, I know what I want now and I'm going to keep looking for it.

miamee

As far as I can remember, this was a place near your home or where you liked to go occasionally for a treat? If you want to continue doing that, don't leave it until Friday to tell them you can't be in on Saturday after saying you would. You don't owe them anything at all but it might leave a bad taste with them and knock the shine off the place for you going there if you know what I mean? Maybe the shine has been knocked off already after last weekend though.

It's great that you tried it out and were able to pinpoint the bits that you know would drive you mad - progress!

loveisdivine

Yes I'll go down tomorrow. My husband and parents thought I should go in again on Saturday just to be sure, but my mind is pretty made up so I don't see the point. I'd be losing the most productive part of my day to work for free when I know it's not really going to go anywhere.

I don't want to leave a bad taste in their mouths so to speak, although we don't go as often these days cos it's so expensive!

qwerty13

Awh such a pity OP. I like my job, but lots of people who do the same work as me seem to hate it, so I’m always interested when someone leaves for something very different.

Anyway, fair play to you for trying it out, and even more so for deciding it wasn’t for you. As you’re not happy in your current role, it would be too easy to jump into a new / different job. So respect to you for evaluating it properly and deciding against it.

I really hope you can find a job that makes you happier soon.