Stuck between a rock and a hard place
Discussion
Wondering if anyone can give advice or point me in the general direction of what I should be looking at doing as I think I'm on the verge of changing jobs, although this will inevitable be an issue.
I work at a large ISP/TV broadcaster working in their call centre. I've been doing more or less the same job for over ten years and I'm very good at it, securing raises ranging from 3-6% every year and am currently on around £22k basic and another £2k on top as bonus.
This is where I feel I'm unable to jump ship. Anywhere else, even if I push for a higher wage, doing the job I am, would likely entail a substantial pay cut. I dislike my job, it's boring, mundane and I honestly could do it with my eyes closed.
I have no spare cash to learn anything new or study, it more or less requires me to either suck it up and be terminally bored (which usually means me saying exactly what I think which doesn't often go down well in a workplace of seemingly relentless positivity). There's little scope to move sideways in the company at all either and, if anything, doing the same thing, more or less, doesn't appeal to me. Boredom is becoming a growing issue and recently around two dozen people have left, mainly citing boredom, repetition and increasing demands from upper management. Where the hell do I go? Leadership roles don't interest me. I find it difficult enough to motivate myself never mind others!
I work at a large ISP/TV broadcaster working in their call centre. I've been doing more or less the same job for over ten years and I'm very good at it, securing raises ranging from 3-6% every year and am currently on around £22k basic and another £2k on top as bonus.
This is where I feel I'm unable to jump ship. Anywhere else, even if I push for a higher wage, doing the job I am, would likely entail a substantial pay cut. I dislike my job, it's boring, mundane and I honestly could do it with my eyes closed.
I have no spare cash to learn anything new or study, it more or less requires me to either suck it up and be terminally bored (which usually means me saying exactly what I think which doesn't often go down well in a workplace of seemingly relentless positivity). There's little scope to move sideways in the company at all either and, if anything, doing the same thing, more or less, doesn't appeal to me. Boredom is becoming a growing issue and recently around two dozen people have left, mainly citing boredom, repetition and increasing demands from upper management. Where the hell do I go? Leadership roles don't interest me. I find it difficult enough to motivate myself never mind others!
I felt the same a while ago.
It clicked that I couldn't do the job I wanted as it didn't exist - pay rises and promotions in my field are plentiful... to a point. To continue forging a career, I needed to change mindset.
Management, in my career, is where career progression and further promotion become available. I fly a desk primarily, and manage people and work flow.
I'm still the go-to guy for shop-floor engineering stuff if the guys can't figure something out (the part of my job I love). But it won't last forever.
I don't particularly like paperwork, computers and meetings, but the pay is better. I can enjoy cars, bikes and excursions more frequently note than I could before.
And for me, that's the rub. I like twirling spanners on the 'shop floor. But I like the ability to venture further in my trips, drive nicer cars, ride nicer bikes and live more comfortably all more than I like the extra job satisfaction my previous position afforded.
You don't like your job.
You don't want to go for a management steam.
Assuming you don't want to completely start over...
Why not give the management thing a shot? If you have little experience of it, you might find you like it. Even if you don't, it will probably provide a greater challenge and simulate you at work that way.
And even if those things are not correct, the chances are you will be more handsomely remunerated.
It clicked that I couldn't do the job I wanted as it didn't exist - pay rises and promotions in my field are plentiful... to a point. To continue forging a career, I needed to change mindset.
Management, in my career, is where career progression and further promotion become available. I fly a desk primarily, and manage people and work flow.
I'm still the go-to guy for shop-floor engineering stuff if the guys can't figure something out (the part of my job I love). But it won't last forever.
I don't particularly like paperwork, computers and meetings, but the pay is better. I can enjoy cars, bikes and excursions more frequently note than I could before.
And for me, that's the rub. I like twirling spanners on the 'shop floor. But I like the ability to venture further in my trips, drive nicer cars, ride nicer bikes and live more comfortably all more than I like the extra job satisfaction my previous position afforded.
You don't like your job.
You don't want to go for a management steam.
Assuming you don't want to completely start over...
Why not give the management thing a shot? If you have little experience of it, you might find you like it. Even if you don't, it will probably provide a greater challenge and simulate you at work that way.
And even if those things are not correct, the chances are you will be more handsomely remunerated.
It's management's responsibility to motivate where you work OP? That's new to me.
In all my experience of working in various industries both UK and abroad, I can hand on my heart say that motivating the staff has never been on the radar of management and more often than not it's simply money flowing up and the s
t rolling down.
If there's one thing your post shouts is negativity. That won't get you anywhere. All you list is negative points and closed doors that you can't/don't want to try walking through. Maybe take a look at that first off and change the mindset. If it's more serious like the start of depression then get help from you GP.
Good luck.
In all my experience of working in various industries both UK and abroad, I can hand on my heart say that motivating the staff has never been on the radar of management and more often than not it's simply money flowing up and the s
t rolling down.If there's one thing your post shouts is negativity. That won't get you anywhere. All you list is negative points and closed doors that you can't/don't want to try walking through. Maybe take a look at that first off and change the mindset. If it's more serious like the start of depression then get help from you GP.
Good luck.
Retrain in something you do enjoy and start a new career path.
If you can't afford this on your current salary, look to cut your costs so that you can. Or if it's possibly, get a promotion into management for the extra money - save enough, and then retrain.
You're a long time dead (and £24k is not a lot of money).
If you can't afford this on your current salary, look to cut your costs so that you can. Or if it's possibly, get a promotion into management for the extra money - save enough, and then retrain.
You're a long time dead (and £24k is not a lot of money).
First off get yourself a decent single page CV, written in the third person starting with your details, a personal profile, your job history (and importantly the skills you have learned, the courses you've done etc) along with your education and a short interests section, get someone to look over it and tweek it.
You will have more transferable skills and experience than you think. Then get yourself on Indeed and online generally and start applying for jobs that might be a little outside your comfort zone. Go along to a few interviews, prepare but perhaps go in without too much expectation and get used to the process - I suspect you might surprise yourself.
Finally - go for it! Good luck!
Oh and there are plenty of training courses and study at home things you can do to improve your employability too.
You will have more transferable skills and experience than you think. Then get yourself on Indeed and online generally and start applying for jobs that might be a little outside your comfort zone. Go along to a few interviews, prepare but perhaps go in without too much expectation and get used to the process - I suspect you might surprise yourself.
Finally - go for it! Good luck!
Oh and there are plenty of training courses and study at home things you can do to improve your employability too.
Trailhead said:
Retrain in something you do enjoy and start a new career path.
If you can't afford this on your current salary, look to cut your costs so that you can. Or if it's possibly, get a promotion into management for the extra money - save enough, and then retrain.
You're a long time dead (and £24k is not a lot of money).
For basic call centre work it is. Starting wage is £15.5!If you can't afford this on your current salary, look to cut your costs so that you can. Or if it's possibly, get a promotion into management for the extra money - save enough, and then retrain.
You're a long time dead (and £24k is not a lot of money).
Decide what it is you want to do, enjoy doing,and like doing, and then go and do it.
I say that as an engineer that enjoys hands on, and hates meeting and 'management'. After 25 years of it, I was sick to the back teeth of it. One day something happened that got right up my nose, and on the spur of the moment,I handed my notice in. I started an auto electrician business. And that's doing OK and has been for 6 years now, Hugely better lifestyle than previously, though probably harder work, and more hours, it never seems like it somehow.
I say that as an engineer that enjoys hands on, and hates meeting and 'management'. After 25 years of it, I was sick to the back teeth of it. One day something happened that got right up my nose, and on the spur of the moment,I handed my notice in. I started an auto electrician business. And that's doing OK and has been for 6 years now, Hugely better lifestyle than previously, though probably harder work, and more hours, it never seems like it somehow.
Some honest advice from DoubleTime and some constructive advice from Trailhead and elanfan.
In a nutshell, it's time to get out of your comfort zone and do something radical. Something that's uncomfortable to you. Do you want to stay on this path for another 20 years? 40 years?
When I was 23 and had spent 7 years doing everything from postman, warehouse operative, and waiter to call centre (which I did for 3 years, I know exactly the life you live), it dawned on me that my job was stressful, paid awful and was a complete dead end. Those in more privileged roles didn't work necessarily harder than me, but were getting 2-3 times the pay. I decided I couldn't stay put and took ownership of my problem.
You need to research potential pathways. These could be working in a similar organisation, a different one, reaching for roles that are slightly out of reach, getting engaged in the multitude of activities to bolster your CV e.g. if you like marketing, why not get involved in digital marketing, complete some online courses and get Google certified, for instance. Or you could go back to study-- this isn't a ticket to a great career, but it could certainly be the difference between interview and no interview.. It's like a funnel: look across everything, then slowly narrow it down. There is a plethora of info online - job websites, quora, udemy, news sites
As DoubleTime said, the truth is your organisation does not care about your personal development. It's an empty tick box on your personal review. At best, they care about this stuff for management and specialist roles - people who can really add value. Low grade employees don't make that cut.
You're gonna be working until you're in your 70's. Do you really want to stay put? Put a plan together. Think medium to long term. The fruits will come but be prepared to feel a bit of pain in the meantime. It will be worth it.
In a nutshell, it's time to get out of your comfort zone and do something radical. Something that's uncomfortable to you. Do you want to stay on this path for another 20 years? 40 years?
When I was 23 and had spent 7 years doing everything from postman, warehouse operative, and waiter to call centre (which I did for 3 years, I know exactly the life you live), it dawned on me that my job was stressful, paid awful and was a complete dead end. Those in more privileged roles didn't work necessarily harder than me, but were getting 2-3 times the pay. I decided I couldn't stay put and took ownership of my problem.
You need to research potential pathways. These could be working in a similar organisation, a different one, reaching for roles that are slightly out of reach, getting engaged in the multitude of activities to bolster your CV e.g. if you like marketing, why not get involved in digital marketing, complete some online courses and get Google certified, for instance. Or you could go back to study-- this isn't a ticket to a great career, but it could certainly be the difference between interview and no interview.. It's like a funnel: look across everything, then slowly narrow it down. There is a plethora of info online - job websites, quora, udemy, news sites
As DoubleTime said, the truth is your organisation does not care about your personal development. It's an empty tick box on your personal review. At best, they care about this stuff for management and specialist roles - people who can really add value. Low grade employees don't make that cut.
You're gonna be working until you're in your 70's. Do you really want to stay put? Put a plan together. Think medium to long term. The fruits will come but be prepared to feel a bit of pain in the meantime. It will be worth it.
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