I think I've had enough!
Discussion
Ok then here is the question/problem…
My entire working life I’ve been in London (working in banking operations) and now that I’m within months of the big 5-0 I’ve finally admitted to myself that I’ve had enough… I hate the f
king place, I dislike the travel (but can cope with it), the ‘buzz’ of working up there was and is something I’ve never understood and the jobs leave me cold. While I am by no means a high earner the hit on salary to work locally would hurt (a lot) but should be survivable (as long as the mortgage is covered) – the problem is to a certain extent I’ve become institutionalised and job-wise it’s all I know. I will cheerfully admit that there are certain up-sides (no weekend work, reasonable salary) but it’s getting (has gotten?) to the point where the salary certainly is no longer compensating.
It’s been a gradual process which my sub-conscious has obviously twigged as I started a new role 7 months ago and I’m still buying weekly train tickets which I think tells a story (at least to those who commute on a regular basis). Again I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never ‘loved’ London so combine this and my dislike of my current role could be skewing my thoughts so that things seem worse than they really are, but at my age getting up every morning and dreading going into the office is not a good way to start the day!!
The problem is, obviously, partially about – the question, I guess, is who’s had an epiphany at this age and changed careers? How did you do it? How did you shoehorn your skill-set into a new sector and cope with being a ‘junior’ (so to speak)?
My entire working life I’ve been in London (working in banking operations) and now that I’m within months of the big 5-0 I’ve finally admitted to myself that I’ve had enough… I hate the f
king place, I dislike the travel (but can cope with it), the ‘buzz’ of working up there was and is something I’ve never understood and the jobs leave me cold. While I am by no means a high earner the hit on salary to work locally would hurt (a lot) but should be survivable (as long as the mortgage is covered) – the problem is to a certain extent I’ve become institutionalised and job-wise it’s all I know. I will cheerfully admit that there are certain up-sides (no weekend work, reasonable salary) but it’s getting (has gotten?) to the point where the salary certainly is no longer compensating.It’s been a gradual process which my sub-conscious has obviously twigged as I started a new role 7 months ago and I’m still buying weekly train tickets which I think tells a story (at least to those who commute on a regular basis). Again I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never ‘loved’ London so combine this and my dislike of my current role could be skewing my thoughts so that things seem worse than they really are, but at my age getting up every morning and dreading going into the office is not a good way to start the day!!
The problem is, obviously, partially about – the question, I guess, is who’s had an epiphany at this age and changed careers? How did you do it? How did you shoehorn your skill-set into a new sector and cope with being a ‘junior’ (so to speak)?
Could you do a one year full time MSc to get you started in a new sector? This will make access a bit easier, though you will still start at a relatively lower level.
Other than that, you are at least 15 years away from retirement. I've not even been working for that length of time and have had a good career to date, so that is certainly long enough to build an entirely new and successful career.
Other than that, you are at least 15 years away from retirement. I've not even been working for that length of time and have had a good career to date, so that is certainly long enough to build an entirely new and successful career.
I may hazard a guess that it's the place more than the job role itself?
I did the London thing for a mere 18 months. The first few months I thought it was the dogs but I then started to despise the place and the whole scene. It is very much a rat race. I engineered a move back up north to Manchester which is home.
Basically, get out of London and move up north. The air is cleaner, the people are nicer and everything is cheaper. My health has improved no end since I came back too - and I don't get off a train or tube every day secretly hating everyone I walk passed.
I did the London thing for a mere 18 months. The first few months I thought it was the dogs but I then started to despise the place and the whole scene. It is very much a rat race. I engineered a move back up north to Manchester which is home.
Basically, get out of London and move up north. The air is cleaner, the people are nicer and everything is cheaper. My health has improved no end since I came back too - and I don't get off a train or tube every day secretly hating everyone I walk passed.
Could you work part time and / or move? I used to work from home - 7 years - but the consultancy work I used to changed so that I would have needed to be on client sites. So, I closed down my business and went to work for one of the clients. I do 3.5 days a week compressed into three so I'm away from home two nights a week, but the time off with the family makes a big difference. And because I'm away more than at work, I can cope better with the BS that drives a lot of the employees mad.
The downside is the big cut in Salary, which means when I park up in a morning I have by far the worst car in the car-park. That said I'm off out on my bike in 20 mins for a 40 mile ride to enjoy the sun so there are compensations. My father takes the piss and claims that I've semi-retired
The downside is the big cut in Salary, which means when I park up in a morning I have by far the worst car in the car-park. That said I'm off out on my bike in 20 mins for a 40 mile ride to enjoy the sun so there are compensations. My father takes the piss and claims that I've semi-retired
I'm in more or less the same place as you are, although I still quite like London as a place. I've just passed the big 5-0.
I've come to the conclusion that the Industry sector is a big part of the problem. Banking just isn't a fun place to be any more. I used to really enjoy my job, and now I hate it. I don't think it's the actual company, as I changed Firms 3 years ago and I've grown to hate the current place just as much.
I definitely get the point about weekly train tickets. I'm on monthlies at the moment, but I used to buy an annual card.
I'm not sure things would be any better working for a bank in Bournemouth, Birmingham, Glasgow or the next "near shoring" location of choice.
I've come to the conclusion that the Industry sector is a big part of the problem. Banking just isn't a fun place to be any more. I used to really enjoy my job, and now I hate it. I don't think it's the actual company, as I changed Firms 3 years ago and I've grown to hate the current place just as much.
I definitely get the point about weekly train tickets. I'm on monthlies at the moment, but I used to buy an annual card.
I'm not sure things would be any better working for a bank in Bournemouth, Birmingham, Glasgow or the next "near shoring" location of choice.
rhinochopig said:
Could you work part time and / or move? I used to work from home - 7 years - but the consultancy work I used to changed so that I would have needed to be on client sites. So, I closed down my business and went to work for one of the clients. I do 3.5 days a week compressed into three so I'm away from home two nights a week, but the time off with the family makes a big difference. And because I'm away more than at work, I can cope better with the BS that drives a lot of the employees mad.
The downside is the big cut in Salary, which means when I park up in a morning I have by far the worst car in the car-park. That said I'm off out on my bike in 20 mins for a 40 mile ride to enjoy the sun so there are compensations. My father takes the piss and claims that I've semi-retired
This! Edge your way out.The downside is the big cut in Salary, which means when I park up in a morning I have by far the worst car in the car-park. That said I'm off out on my bike in 20 mins for a 40 mile ride to enjoy the sun so there are compensations. My father takes the piss and claims that I've semi-retired
I recognise alot of what you say.
i have been in banking from 17 to now , 43.
was great when i was in my 20's. Ok in my 30's. Now i hate it.
c wharf is a soleless hole
.
my place has set up a Poland outsourcing set up , so my role is now very emasculated and the set up is just hateful.
the management at my place couldn't run a bath.
mortgage is gone , but i really have lost any love i had for my work in the last year . redundancy has been mooted , bring it on , a years salary please.
there might be a job coming up internally , but different enough to be a new start. So pinning my hopes on that!
good luck and heads up. I do this for my kids now and if i feel down i look at their picture on my desk.
i have been in banking from 17 to now , 43.
was great when i was in my 20's. Ok in my 30's. Now i hate it.
c wharf is a soleless hole
.
my place has set up a Poland outsourcing set up , so my role is now very emasculated and the set up is just hateful.
the management at my place couldn't run a bath.
mortgage is gone , but i really have lost any love i had for my work in the last year . redundancy has been mooted , bring it on , a years salary please.
there might be a job coming up internally , but different enough to be a new start. So pinning my hopes on that!
good luck and heads up. I do this for my kids now and if i feel down i look at their picture on my desk.
Edited by davidc1 on Tuesday 24th June 23:03
OP, very similar situation to mine. I was 40 and just decided I didn't want to work in the City anymore. I rented the house out and moved to Dubai. Well, it was supposed to be New Zealand but I got a job here...then lost it....then got a new one....then resigned....still thinking what I want to do when I grow-up!
Seriously, do whatever makes you happy. Advice is great, but we'll all different and want different things, so what works for one, will not work for another.
Seriously, whatever makes you happy.
Good luck.
Seriously, do whatever makes you happy. Advice is great, but we'll all different and want different things, so what works for one, will not work for another.
Seriously, whatever makes you happy.
Good luck.
As above. I'd written out a long post about my experience as I'm making the same change as you at the moment, then I re-read and thought 'this bloke isn't me, so why is this relevant?'.
Sounds like you'd be fundamentally happier out of the job rather than in. You've worked hard for 30 odd years, so it seems madness to extend that if you aren't enjoying it anymore.
Sounds like you'd be fundamentally happier out of the job rather than in. You've worked hard for 30 odd years, so it seems madness to extend that if you aren't enjoying it anymore.
cheers all - I hope that I don't come across like a total wker saying this but it is 're-assuring' to read I'm not alone in my thoughts and issues!! I suspect my 1st course of action should be to find a new job just to ensure that it's not mainly the job that's causing this (to be fair I'm massively convinced that this is not the case, but it seems foolish not to verify!) and then just sit down and have a period of reflection and discussions with SWMBO
ker saying this but it is 're-assuring' to read I'm not alone in my thoughts and issues!! I suspect my 1st course of action should be to find a new job just to ensure that it's not mainly the job that's causing this (to be fair I'm massively convinced that this is not the case, but it seems foolish not to verify!) and then just sit down and have a period of reflection and discussions with SWMBO What would happen if they made you redundant tomorrow?
I ask this because redundancy changed my life.
Not banking, but engineering. I hated the job I was doing, then pay was okay, but pants really, and it was a relief when they picked me as one of the 10% lucky ones.
The thing was that it FORCED me to take a long look at my skills, and my abilities, and somehow I've ended up doing stuff that I much more enjoy.
I ask this because redundancy changed my life.
Not banking, but engineering. I hated the job I was doing, then pay was okay, but pants really, and it was a relief when they picked me as one of the 10% lucky ones.
The thing was that it FORCED me to take a long look at my skills, and my abilities, and somehow I've ended up doing stuff that I much more enjoy.
OP, let me know how you get on, I am in the exact position as you are, banking operations in the city, commuting up from London, although I hit the the big 40 next year.
I was offered redundancy a few weeks back and opted for a slightly different role instead. I have regretted that decision ever since and cannot go back. I feel like the life is being drained away as I drag myself up and down to work and back.
I feel your pain, but I can't even make my mind up about what I want to do and event what I can do, I have been in banking for 20 years!!
I was offered redundancy a few weeks back and opted for a slightly different role instead. I have regretted that decision ever since and cannot go back. I feel like the life is being drained away as I drag myself up and down to work and back.
I feel your pain, but I can't even make my mind up about what I want to do and event what I can do, I have been in banking for 20 years!!
eric twinge said:
...but I can't even make my mind up about what I want to do and event what I can do, I have been in banking for 20 years!!
this as I alluded to in my post above is my problem - I'm thinking that they only organisation I can transfer my skills to is the government (ie civil service,local council etc). The thing I can't do is rush into it (much as I'd like to think it saying "fk-it, I quit" is not the answer, I do need the exit strategy). I'm currently just thinking of being a "wage we" (not that I'm one of the high flyers or stunningly well paid) for 5 more years and then bloody well retire instead - short term pain with a definite end-game in sight. 
irocfan said:
I'm currently just thinking of being a "wage we" (not that I'm one of the high flyers or stunningly well paid) for 5 more years and then bloody well retire instead - short term pain with a definite end-game in sight.
This worked for me when I hit 50 - realised it all had to stop, so made a retirement plan. This gave every last £ a lot more context, I downsized our home and saved like hell. It made work tolerable.e" (not that I'm one of the high flyers or stunningly well paid) for 5 more years and then bloody well retire instead - short term pain with a definite end-game in sight. 6 months to go.
I was in a similar situation. Good salary but stuck in a job I'd been doing for 15 years because I had no desire to climb the ladder.
I took the chance to get out through redundancy and went contracting. The pay is better, but I never know how long I've got in one place. Work is variable, and I love the fact that I can't get comfy/stagnant somewhere.
I'm currently at work across the other side of the country to my home, living in a hotel, and will be working nights all weekend. Its still better than hating my old 9 to 5.
Work out where you want to be, make a list of things you need to do to get there, start ticking things off that list on Monday
I took the chance to get out through redundancy and went contracting. The pay is better, but I never know how long I've got in one place. Work is variable, and I love the fact that I can't get comfy/stagnant somewhere.
I'm currently at work across the other side of the country to my home, living in a hotel, and will be working nights all weekend. Its still better than hating my old 9 to 5.
Work out where you want to be, make a list of things you need to do to get there, start ticking things off that list on Monday
I am an AVP at a major bank. Work in GTO (Infra) and within Business Management...
I resigned a few weeks ago and have decided to move out of banking altogether and get back into Finance in Industry. After 2 years it was becoming really draining. RTC /CTB blah blah. What happened to good old fashioned P+L, Balance Sheet work..?
And the politics and the schmoozing. Who knows? maybe in the future I might get back into it. But right now...I want out..
I am 32 years old, CIMA/ PRINCE2 Qualified
I resigned a few weeks ago and have decided to move out of banking altogether and get back into Finance in Industry. After 2 years it was becoming really draining. RTC /CTB blah blah. What happened to good old fashioned P+L, Balance Sheet work..?
And the politics and the schmoozing. Who knows? maybe in the future I might get back into it. But right now...I want out..
I am 32 years old, CIMA/ PRINCE2 Qualified
Edited by HannsG on Tuesday 8th July 12:17
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