Feel trapped in current job

LegacyUser

Some history on my situation first:

I've been working in the same multinational IT company for about 20 years, ever since I finished college. I don't have a very senior role, but up until recently I was happy enough with my job. The salary is decent, mostly because of how long I've been there though.

About 2 years ago my department was moved to another country, and bit by bit most of my colleagues started to be made redundant. Eventually it happened to me too, and I was offered a very generous payment (1.5 years' salary), and 3 months garden leave.

I spent about 8 weeks job hunting during this time, and doing a small number of interviews. I realised at this time that getting a job in my field would take way longer than I thought, and I would most likely take a large paycut.
I saw an opening in my old company for a job that I could probably do, but was far from ideal. I panicked though, went for an interview, and got the job.

Now it's almost 2 years on. I am not keen on the job. The work itself seems mostly pointless to me, but the quotas/ targets we have to achieve are what I really dislike. I would love to do something else, but my brief period between jobs is really making me think twice. I would be crazy to walk away from such a big severance pay (should it be offered again), and the drop in salary would mean paying rent and bills would be a huge struggle.

I'm sure I'm not the first to be in this situation. Are there others who have been there and done something to get out of it?

beauf

This thread might be better in work problems.

Depends how much of a war chest you have if it doesn't work out

LegacyUser

Thanks will do, didn't know that forum existed

JustAThought

Imagine having a crap.job : one with awful hours or a horrendous commute or a mean and impossible to please boss or spiteful catty competutive colleagues and then put on top of that an awful wage and streas and pressure of being loor and struggling funancially. Your skills may well be 20 years out of date and you may be competing with the hungry just qualifieds who have no mortgage to pay or family to feed (or worse are on rent allowance and so need a pittance to live) - its hard out there. Get the good well paid job FIRST and then move. Not the other way around. The money in the bank - assuming its over 40 or so K - will prevent you getting the dole / welfare so its not exactly a saving and you will have to pay tax on it too - it will go very quickly. No doubt you have good skills and are likeable and people enjoy working with you - are there other departmsnts you can move to? - 20 yeara in one job is a lifetime. I shudder to.think of how much redundency you couod get but nobody wants to waste n entore life counting beans. Try doing an online course or night course to make your skills.up to date and then once youre aell into it put that on your CV and start applying - it may make all the difference. Change is fine but there are always aspecta of every job that are difficult - stress and poverty are non negotiable added extras - nobody wants that and far more than a job they can totally ruin your life and make it unbearable..

beauf

I certainly wouldn't rush a change. You'd have to plan it. Especially if you don't know what you want to do.

I did something similar after long time in a company. I had to move laterally and to a different area. I wanted a change though. I'd had enough where I was.