Directionless when it comes to my career

detoxkid

I'm looking for advice! I'm 39, pregnant and I've a 4 and a 2 year old. I've been working in the public sector for the past 12 years as an assistant principal for the past 7. Despite the press the public sector gets its a tough stressful job. I put allot into it and do a good job. - I work longer hours than I'm expected to but I don't bring work home with me in the evening time or at weekends - most others at my level in the organisation do. I'm well thought of and get good feedback but the job doesn't excite me and I get no job satisfaction out of it. I have no ambitions to climb further as this will mean even less job satisfaction and longer hours. My kids are young and my primary focus and I want to spend more and not less time with them. My husband is still establishing himself career wise but seems steady now although I've the higher salary. He retrained in the past few years which meant we really relied on my salary to make ends meet but he seems to be on the up.
So, all going well with this pregnancy I'm hoping to take a year off with maternity leave and parental leave. But I'd really like a plan to go back to so that I'm not spending my maternity leave dreading going back. How do I figure out my next career move, can anyone advise a good career coach? I feel like I'm stuck and I see other people being fulfilled by their career where I feel nothing. Or do I just appreciate the fact that I have a well paid steady job which affords me a life outside work for my family and myself?

airportgirl83

detoxkid wrote: »

I'm looking for advice! I'm 39, pregnant and I've a 4 and a 2 year old. I've been working in the public sector for the past 12 years as an assistant principal for the past 7. Despite the press the public sector gets its a tough stressful job. I put allot into it and do a good job. - I work longer hours than I'm expected to but I don't bring work home with me in the evening time or at weekends - most others at my level in the organisation do. I'm well thought of and get good feedback but the job doesn't excite me and I get no job satisfaction out of it. I have no ambitions to climb further as this will mean even less job satisfaction and longer hours. My kids are young and my primary focus and I want to spend more and not less time with them. My husband is still establishing himself career wise but seems steady now although I've the higher salary. He retrained in the past few years which meant we really relied on my salary to make ends meet but he seems to be on the up.
So, all going well with this pregnancy I'm hoping to take a year off with maternity leave and parental leave. But I'd really like a plan to go back to so that I'm not spending my maternity leave dreading going back. How do I figure out my next career move, can anyone advise a good career coach? I feel like I'm stuck and I see other people being fulfilled by their career where I feel nothing. Or do I just appreciate the fact that I have a well paid steady job which affords me a life outside work for my family and myself?

I can very much relate to how you feel. I worked extremely hard in the last 10 years to get where I am professionally today. Unfortunately, I don't find my job exciting anymore, I lost my drive and motivation. I'm still performing very well at work but I don't enjoy it. I've asked to be rotated to a different team and division for a few months which helped me a lot. Would that be an option for you? Being surrounded by new people, doing different tasks, makes me much happier now. I also realised that the job I used to do wasn't 100% for me.

I see a lot of people where I work ( public servant) bringing work home, being available for overtime 24 hours a day. Assuming that the job can't do without them.
But of course it can.
I have also known colleagues that were like that, but got an epiphany.
If work is not hard, it doesn't impede on your own life & it pays well.....
Well, life is too short really.
maybe take up a part time study?
For me, if work is not causing me stress in my real life, & I can enjoy my life., that's the important thing.
Boredom in work can be ****e but, there's usually something there that can be done that no-one else has thought of it can be bothered doing.

Finchie1276

Hiya

Try reading stuff by Hermina Ibarra - she is a god source of info. Have you had a psychometric appraisal? Might help.
Sketch out what you like, don't like about your job. What would you change. What is non negotiable?

You have seniority and experience so there may be a trade down but the work life balance may be better. Convention will tell you to stay in your career but who wants to do that? Not for everybody. Best of luck.

zapper55

Would you not seek an internal transfer or an external mobility move? There are plenty of AP jobs that give great satisfaction. You need to find a good fit.

Also do you mentor staff or do things to get you out of your comfort zone? Being in a rut in horribly demotivating but only you can change that.

qwerty13

zapper55 wrote: »

Being in a rut in horribly demotivating but only you can change that.

But you need to balance the rut against a guaranteed job. Pension. Predictable salary scales. Supported education. Gold in terms of austerity. Benefits in times of austerity.

Basically it comes down to, if you were single, leave the service. You’re not single though, you’re pregnant, and you provide the stable income in your family.

It really depends on how much risk you and your partner are willing to take. He clearly isn’t in a position to increase his risk for reward. Are you?

airportgirl83

qwerty13 wrote: »

But you need to balance the rut against a guaranteed job. Pension. Predictable salary scales. Supported education. Gold in terms of austerity. Benefits in times of austerity.

Basically it comes down to, if you were single, leave the service. You’re not single though, you’re pregnant, and you provide the stable income in your family.

It really depends on how much risk you and your partner are willing to take. He clearly isn’t in a position to increase his risk for reward. Are you?

Guaranteed job, pension and other perks are great but if you really don't like your job it might make you (and your family as a result) miserable in the long run. Do you see yourself doing it for next 30 years?

Addle

Congratulations OP.
AP at 32 at a time when there was very little going on promotion wise in the Civil Service. I think there's bound to be a bit of a come down after success like that.

If you want to spend more time with your family, is this the right time for a career change?
You're unlikely to get the same job sharing/shorter working year opportunities anywhere else.

Addle

airportgirl83 wrote: »

Guaranteed job, pension and other perks are great

They are great. Pension is well paid for.
I don't think any other employer would beat the civil service for family friendly working opportunities.

zapper55

qwerty13 wrote: »

But you need to balance the rut against a guaranteed job.

My post doesn't suggest leaving the civil service, just ways to move inside it. There are many opportunities available to get out of a rut.