Career Prospecst Quandry

[romeogolf]

For the last 5 years I've worked in the serviced office sector in a commercial/sales capacity. My current role was touted as a promotion with more of a commercial focus and less 'building management'. 14 months in, and this is simply not the case. I'm also increasingly frustrated with the way I am managed and the complete lack of autonomy I have day-to-day. There is also no scope for progression.

So, I'm job-hunting, but I'm struggling. I feel as though my options are fairly limited, so turn to the PH collective to prompt some sort of idea as to what else I might be qualified to do.

Experience: Office sales, contract negotiation, facilities management (day to day, not compliance/legal), and general customer service related skills. Prior to offices, I worked in self-storage, which was broadly similar responsibilities but less money and often working weekends.
Salary expectations: Approx £30-40k including commission (approx 15% of basic). I'm currently in the higher end of that, but have a lengthy commute so would consider something a little lower with a reduction in travel time.
Other perks I currently have: 25 days holiday, pensions contributions matched up to 5%, flexi-hours and WFH one day per week.

So, uh, what else might I be skilled to do? Recruiters thus far have been a bit useless so I'm probably approaching them the wrong way.

At this moment, time out of work to retrain isn't financially feasible.

Edit - Yes, I've typo'd in the title. Fantastic impressions and all that...

Edited by romeogolf on Thursday 18th October 15:11

[pb8g09]

romeogolf said:

For the last 5 years I've worked in the serviced office sector in a commercial/sales capacity. My current role was touted as a promotion with more of a commercial focus and less 'building management'. 14 months in, and this is simply not the case. I'm also increasingly frustrated with the way I am managed and the complete lack of autonomy I have day-to-day. There is also no scope for progression.

So, I'm job-hunting, but I'm struggling. I feel as though my options are fairly limited, so turn to the PH collective to prompt some sort of idea as to what else I might be qualified to do.

Experience: Office sales, contract negotiation, facilities management (day to day, not compliance/legal), and general customer service related skills. Prior to offices, I worked in self-storage, which was broadly similar responsibilities but less money and often working weekends.
Salary expectations: Approx £30-40k including commission (approx 15% of basic). I'm currently in the higher end of that, but have a lengthy commute so would consider something a little lower with a reduction in travel time.
Other perks I currently have: 25 days holiday, pensions contributions matched up to 5%, flexi-hours and WFH one day per week.

So, uh, what else might I be skilled to do? Recruiters thus far have been a bit useless so I'm probably approaching them the wrong way.

At this moment, time out of work to retrain isn't financially feasible.

Edit - Yes, I've typo'd in the title. Fantastic impressions and all that...

Edited by romeogolf on Thursday 18th October 15:11

Careful what you wish for - doesn't sound like too bad a gig...!

Does your line manager fall into the same workstream as you or are they based in another field (i.e. could you apply for his/her job if they left or is it disconnected from your role?)

[rsbmw]

Presumably sales or procurement in just about any industry?

[romeogolf]

pb8g09 said:

Careful what you wish for - doesn't sound like too bad a gig...!

Does your line manager fall into the same workstream as you or are they based in another field (i.e. could you apply for his/her job if they left or is it disconnected from your role?)

Yeah, I flick between feeling like it's a soft role with good money, and then getting frustrated at being treated like an idiot and having no mental stimulation day to day like I did before.

Sadly my line manager is very property-focused, whereas I'm essentially commercial. This is also part of the reason I feel my management is so poor - My manager doesn't really have an interest in the other side of my role.

[pb8g09]

romeogolf said:

Yeah, I flick between feeling like it's a soft role with good money, and then getting frustrated at being treated like an idiot and having no mental stimulation day to day like I did before.

Sadly my line manager is very property-focused, whereas I'm essentially commercial. This is also part of the reason I feel my management is so poor - My manager doesn't really have an interest in the other side of my role.

I'm in the camp of - I hate my line of work but it gives me the money to do what I want outside of work - mortgages, holidays, decent enough cars etc.

If you go through ups and downs on your current work, perhaps you can find a way to enrich your outside of work life which may balance it out?

I know that's a terrible piece of advice and you should always do what makes you happy, but the prospect of working from home a day a week and the ability to leave your work at the door when you go home and not be glued to a phone outside of the office would be a massive turn on for me.

[The jiffle king]

I have a friend who has similar expereince to you and he went into change management. He started off doing some contract office change work where people thought it was about putting desks and phones into a building and it's not, it's about how people will use the building and making sure that simple things work like a place for coats, umbrella's etc

He then went into organisational change as moving office can mean a culture change, so it's a thought for you to think broader than your current remit

[Johnniem]

OP, not being funny but have you considered getting the RICS qualifications to become a chartered surveyor and then pushing for a place in a commercial management situation? Bigger bucks, better prospects. More opportunities. The larger firms will offer apprenticeships so you can get paid whilst you learn. Maybe not £40k. That's lower end of a chartered status salary!

[kiethton]

Johnniem said:

OP, not being funny but have you considered getting the RICS qualifications to become a chartered surveyor and then pushing for a place in a commercial management situation? Bigger bucks, better prospects. More opportunities. The larger firms will offer apprenticeships so you can get paid whilst you learn. Maybe not £40k. That's lower end of a chartered status salary!

^^^^ this

Else are you London based? If so there are a number of larger flexible workspace operators (I work on the other side of the fence with a few) e.g. WeWork/Office Space In Town/Workspace that always need good building managers, especially to let-up newly completed developments.