Discussion
I’ve been in my current role for 4 years and it’s not bad - reasonable pay, some flexibility and I like working with my manager. I basically push a load of small projects along and manage some very clever data bods.
But I have itchy feet right now. In particular I feel the need to do something more practical. I’m a bit sick of sitting down all day, to be frank. However I know from working outdoors for most of my 20s that I’m not fit enough to do much manual work right now. I’m in the position to be able to afford a bit of a pay cut, if necessary, but I am tied down due to childcare.
I have two autistic teens who are going to need a lot of extra support to transition to adulthood, so maybe I should see if I can cut my hours and do volunteering on the side, to add variety Something that can be picked up and put down so I can do more with the kids. The plus side to staying is that it looks like my current employer may pay for me to do a level 7 Management apprenticeship next year. I was going to set up a new team but COVID put paid to expansion plans. .
I have considered contracting before, which would offer some flexibility. I have change management experience and qualifications but no project management certification - to be fair i wouldn’t want to be a project manager anyway
It seems churlish to grumble that my fairly secure job isn’t interesting enough, but breaking ground is what I get out of bed for. Conversely I look at how far my two kids lag behind their peers in terms of independence and how poor their mental health is and I think perhaps the job needs to take a back seat for the time being, and even the flexibility I already have isn’t enough .
How have others dealt with having itchy feet? Any advice on how things went? What about moving into contracting? What ducks should I line up if I want to follow that route?
But I have itchy feet right now. In particular I feel the need to do something more practical. I’m a bit sick of sitting down all day, to be frank. However I know from working outdoors for most of my 20s that I’m not fit enough to do much manual work right now. I’m in the position to be able to afford a bit of a pay cut, if necessary, but I am tied down due to childcare.
I have two autistic teens who are going to need a lot of extra support to transition to adulthood, so maybe I should see if I can cut my hours and do volunteering on the side, to add variety Something that can be picked up and put down so I can do more with the kids. The plus side to staying is that it looks like my current employer may pay for me to do a level 7 Management apprenticeship next year. I was going to set up a new team but COVID put paid to expansion plans. .
I have considered contracting before, which would offer some flexibility. I have change management experience and qualifications but no project management certification - to be fair i wouldn’t want to be a project manager anyway
It seems churlish to grumble that my fairly secure job isn’t interesting enough, but breaking ground is what I get out of bed for. Conversely I look at how far my two kids lag behind their peers in terms of independence and how poor their mental health is and I think perhaps the job needs to take a back seat for the time being, and even the flexibility I already have isn’t enough .
How have others dealt with having itchy feet? Any advice on how things went? What about moving into contracting? What ducks should I line up if I want to follow that route?
Contracting does bring variety and challenge. However my own experience from periods of freelancing work is that I found it less, not more, fulfilling.
Partly this is because people only hire contractors for work they’re more than qualified for, so there’s less on the job learning. The main part I found though is that because it’s temporary there isn’t the same sense of being part of a team. Fully appreciate this will vary from job to job, and others night not find this, but I’ve always found it. Contracting also lacks the reliability of income a full time job which you may find stressful, and certainly makes it harder to plan ahead.
Some do contracting purely to fund other activities but my view is that working is a big part of your life and therefore it’s best to be doing something you like and are motivated by in your job. You also need some flexibility in your working pattern for your kids, and I think are more likely to find this in a full time job with a boss/company that supports you.
So I’d recommend finding a new job doing something more interesting/stretching than you are now. Alternatively, could you propose to your current boss an idea for a new project or for taking on some more responsibilities? Certainly the safest route.
Good luck!
Partly this is because people only hire contractors for work they’re more than qualified for, so there’s less on the job learning. The main part I found though is that because it’s temporary there isn’t the same sense of being part of a team. Fully appreciate this will vary from job to job, and others night not find this, but I’ve always found it. Contracting also lacks the reliability of income a full time job which you may find stressful, and certainly makes it harder to plan ahead.
Some do contracting purely to fund other activities but my view is that working is a big part of your life and therefore it’s best to be doing something you like and are motivated by in your job. You also need some flexibility in your working pattern for your kids, and I think are more likely to find this in a full time job with a boss/company that supports you.
So I’d recommend finding a new job doing something more interesting/stretching than you are now. Alternatively, could you propose to your current boss an idea for a new project or for taking on some more responsibilities? Certainly the safest route.
Good luck!
Edited by 67Dino on Monday 9th August 07:00
Thanks for the advice 67Dino. I do keep coming back to the idea of contracting but I hear you when you say it can be less fulfilling.
In terms of getting something new onto the table at work, I am pretty maxed out with projects, and the new initiative was supposed to be the new team, now on hold indefinitely. However on that note, I managed a pure management/strategic day yesterday, one where I didn't end up poring over and drafting design specs for hours. I haven't managed that in a long while and I felt quite energised actually. Maybe this is more about realigning things so I am playing to my strengths more - I can do detail and often seem to be the only one dogged enough to get into the complexities of things - but I've naturally got a systems thinking type of brain, I think, so it does get wearing.
In terms of getting something new onto the table at work, I am pretty maxed out with projects, and the new initiative was supposed to be the new team, now on hold indefinitely. However on that note, I managed a pure management/strategic day yesterday, one where I didn't end up poring over and drafting design specs for hours. I haven't managed that in a long while and I felt quite energised actually. Maybe this is more about realigning things so I am playing to my strengths more - I can do detail and often seem to be the only one dogged enough to get into the complexities of things - but I've naturally got a systems thinking type of brain, I think, so it does get wearing.
oldbanger said:
Thanks for the advice 67Dino. I do keep coming back to the idea of contracting but I hear you when you say it can be less fulfilling.
In terms of getting something new onto the table at work, I am pretty maxed out with projects, and the new initiative was supposed to be the new team, now on hold indefinitely. However on that note, I managed a pure management/strategic day yesterday, one where I didn't end up poring over and drafting design specs for hours. I haven't managed that in a long while and I felt quite energised actually. Maybe this is more about realigning things so I am playing to my strengths more - I can do detail and often seem to be the only one dogged enough to get into the complexities of things - but I've naturally got a systems thinking type of brain, I think, so it does get wearing.
Sounds promising. Sometimes we see limitations but when we look closer they are nowhere but in our own heads. Oops, came over all philosophical there…In terms of getting something new onto the table at work, I am pretty maxed out with projects, and the new initiative was supposed to be the new team, now on hold indefinitely. However on that note, I managed a pure management/strategic day yesterday, one where I didn't end up poring over and drafting design specs for hours. I haven't managed that in a long while and I felt quite energised actually. Maybe this is more about realigning things so I am playing to my strengths more - I can do detail and often seem to be the only one dogged enough to get into the complexities of things - but I've naturally got a systems thinking type of brain, I think, so it does get wearing.
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