Advice on my situation
Discussion
Feeling very lost about this.
I'll be as brief as I can. The dept I am part of at work is now a zombie department. It used to be a kind of R&D Skunkworks. We ran out of funding and then existed on project work off the back of the tools we developed. Now that has dried up, team has dispersed. My boss and one other are now involved in something different and actually my boss will be "managing" this new thing very shortly. That just leaves me unaccounted for.
As I was the one tying up the last projects, I missed out on the new thing and now they've got their team and there isn't room/funds for one more. As well, I was rather needed to keep plates spinning in one of our test departments. To that end I had arranged with the test dept to transfer back to them in a new role as a specialist to help with their future direction. However, out of the blue the business is rescinding the role/offer as they have decided not go forward with their planned direction.
I contacted the hiring manager and he said the same and that he'd have more information what has transpired "next week". That was 2-3 weeks ago. Radio silence from all involved. My current boss is too busy to help. I've been scratching around for things to do (because I am not the type to sit idle) but it's becoming harder.
So I am free wheeling, I am of no fixed abode with no real manager. It was all going so well, and now I feel like I've fallen down a very deep crack.
I just don't know what to do. No one seems interested. I have been trying to think my way out of this and continually drawing blanks; I don't know what I want, where I want to be, what I want to be doing, 5 year plan? what's that! It's just an impenetrable fog, an aimless white space, it's exhausting. I thought about taking several months out just to reset but I am almost convinced I'd get to the end of that being none the wiser.
I need to figure out what I want. And for some reason I can't. I've looked at maybe going for an MBA or perhaps employing a career coach, but I can't say I get a feeling it would be money well spent. Thought about pivoting to something new, but what? I look at my CV and my life's work and can't join the dots on what skills and experiences I can bring that people would want.
How do you figure this s
t out? At 40 I feel like just sleepwalking, hoping things right themselves, isn't well advised.
I'll be as brief as I can. The dept I am part of at work is now a zombie department. It used to be a kind of R&D Skunkworks. We ran out of funding and then existed on project work off the back of the tools we developed. Now that has dried up, team has dispersed. My boss and one other are now involved in something different and actually my boss will be "managing" this new thing very shortly. That just leaves me unaccounted for.
As I was the one tying up the last projects, I missed out on the new thing and now they've got their team and there isn't room/funds for one more. As well, I was rather needed to keep plates spinning in one of our test departments. To that end I had arranged with the test dept to transfer back to them in a new role as a specialist to help with their future direction. However, out of the blue the business is rescinding the role/offer as they have decided not go forward with their planned direction.
I contacted the hiring manager and he said the same and that he'd have more information what has transpired "next week". That was 2-3 weeks ago. Radio silence from all involved. My current boss is too busy to help. I've been scratching around for things to do (because I am not the type to sit idle) but it's becoming harder.
So I am free wheeling, I am of no fixed abode with no real manager. It was all going so well, and now I feel like I've fallen down a very deep crack.
I just don't know what to do. No one seems interested. I have been trying to think my way out of this and continually drawing blanks; I don't know what I want, where I want to be, what I want to be doing, 5 year plan? what's that! It's just an impenetrable fog, an aimless white space, it's exhausting. I thought about taking several months out just to reset but I am almost convinced I'd get to the end of that being none the wiser.
I need to figure out what I want. And for some reason I can't. I've looked at maybe going for an MBA or perhaps employing a career coach, but I can't say I get a feeling it would be money well spent. Thought about pivoting to something new, but what? I look at my CV and my life's work and can't join the dots on what skills and experiences I can bring that people would want.
How do you figure this s
t out? At 40 I feel like just sleepwalking, hoping things right themselves, isn't well advised.One of the unspoken but key benefits of employment is purpose. Having a purpose in life is a powerful thing. It sounds to me that you have had your purpose removed and this is the root of your malaise, despite the fact you are still employed. But the fact that you are still employed says to me that your employer may still have a purpose for you and perhaps, they just haven't figured out what exactly that is yet.
Solution? Well, if it were me, i'd become a pain in their side to determine what their plans for me are, or determine if they have a plan at all. Nobody is telling you anything so you need to get them to talk. Make this your mission. That alone gives you a temporary purpose and will hopefully lead to clarity on your immediate future. Whether that is inside the company or out, you at least have your immediate future defined which will give you the confidence to make clearer and better choices going forward.
Hopefully that makes sense and good luck.
Solution? Well, if it were me, i'd become a pain in their side to determine what their plans for me are, or determine if they have a plan at all. Nobody is telling you anything so you need to get them to talk. Make this your mission. That alone gives you a temporary purpose and will hopefully lead to clarity on your immediate future. Whether that is inside the company or out, you at least have your immediate future defined which will give you the confidence to make clearer and better choices going forward.
Hopefully that makes sense and good luck.
Otispunkmeyer said:
I need to figure out what I want. And for some reason I can't. I've looked at maybe going for an MBA or perhaps employing a career coach, but I can't say I get a feeling it would be money well spent. Thought about pivoting to something new, but what? I look at my CV and my life's work and can't join the dots on what skills and experiences I can bring that people would want.
How do you figure this st out? At 40 I feel like just sleepwalking, hoping things right themselves, isn't well advised.
I've been in a similar place before (the lack of direction and motivation) and taking a new role, with a different company, in the same industry has often been enough to recover my enthusiasm. Sometimes, you are just no longer in the right place/company and it saps your enthusiasm for the whole field.How do you figure this s
t out? At 40 I feel like just sleepwalking, hoping things right themselves, isn't well advised.So I guess my point is, it might just be your surroundings and not your actual career that needs to change
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
In my experience, the reality is not quite as good as it sounds. Yes you get paid to do nothing but the feeling that your skills are being allowed to atrophy and the anxiety that you might eventually get found out for doing nothing, really takes the shine off it.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
I've thought about it a lot and if I was in my 50s and had enough to retire whenever I got found out, I'd do it, enjoy myself, go racing/testing on workdays, and not care about getting rusty or getting found out. In your 40s, you just can't do that.
LennyM1984 said:
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
In my experience, the reality is not quite as good as it sounds. Yes you get paid to do nothing but the feeling that your skills are being allowed to atrophy and the anxiety that you might eventually get found out for doing nothing, really takes the shine off it.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
I've thought about it a lot and if I was in my 50s and had enough to retire whenever I got found out, I'd do it, enjoy myself, go racing/testing on workdays, and not care about getting rusty or getting found out. In your 40s, you just can't do that.
StevieBee said:
One of the unspoken but key benefits of employment is purpose. Having a purpose in life is a powerful thing. It sounds to me that you have had your purpose removed and this is the root of your malaise, despite the fact you are still employed. But the fact that you are still employed says to me that your employer may still have a purpose for you and perhaps, they just haven't figured out what exactly that is yet.
Solution? Well, if it were me, i'd become a pain in their side to determine what their plans for me are, or determine if they have a plan at all. Nobody is telling you anything so you need to get them to talk. Make this your mission. That alone gives you a temporary purpose and will hopefully lead to clarity on your immediate future. Whether that is inside the company or out, you at least have your immediate future defined which will give you the confidence to make clearer and better choices going forward.
Hopefully that makes sense and good luck.
You're right, I do need to prod them harder. The immediate levels above me are generally quite useless with this sort of thing, they're very evasive. But I am also very familiar with the guys in the exec realm so maybe I will accost one of them next time I see them and just ask if they've got 5-10mins to listen. We're not a massive company and they're not locked away in some ivory tower. That would at least give some immediate clarity and might elminate a few options on the next steps. Thanks.Solution? Well, if it were me, i'd become a pain in their side to determine what their plans for me are, or determine if they have a plan at all. Nobody is telling you anything so you need to get them to talk. Make this your mission. That alone gives you a temporary purpose and will hopefully lead to clarity on your immediate future. Whether that is inside the company or out, you at least have your immediate future defined which will give you the confidence to make clearer and better choices going forward.
Hopefully that makes sense and good luck.
LennyM1984 said:
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
In my experience, the reality is not quite as good as it sounds. Yes you get paid to do nothing but the feeling that your skills are being allowed to atrophy and the anxiety that you might eventually get found out for doing nothing, really takes the shine off it.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
I've thought about it a lot and if I was in my 50s and had enough to retire whenever I got found out, I'd do it, enjoy myself, go racing/testing on workdays, and not care about getting rusty or getting found out. In your 40s, you just can't do that.
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
When I've not had much work I would learn new skills from other people and ask others if they want help. Problem is next round of job reductions you would be high up the list. start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
Sounds like they are trying to find a cost-effective way of managing you out because your face doesn't fit. All attempts at moving to other departments/joining other teams are instantly met with either "we''ve got enough people already/that job is not available anymore". Their collective reluctance and avoidance of wanting to discuss the issue speaks volumes.
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
Do this, while you look for something else.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
Then do your new job at the same time for as long as you can
https://sites.google.com/site/forgottenemployee/
AB said:
Do this, while you look for something else.
Then do your new job at the same time for as long as you can
https://sites.google.com/site/forgottenemployee/
Which, if you are PAYE wouldnt happen because you wouldnt have a P45 for the new employer and that would raise questions, p46 completion (new starter checklist) and then eventually lose both jobs because employer A sees a tax code change notification and the dishonesty is out. You dont want to be fired for dishonestyThen do your new job at the same time for as long as you can
https://sites.google.com/site/forgottenemployee/
Edited by craigjm on Friday 29th May 17:57
craigjm said:
Which, if you are PAYE wouldnt happen because you wouldnt have a P45 for the new employer and that would raise questions, p46 completion (new starter checklist) and then eventually lose both jobs because employer A sees a tax code change notification and the dishonesty is out. You dont want to be fired for dishonesty
It was tongue in cheek but I'm sure you're right, I've never tried it.Edited by craigjm on Friday 29th May 17:57
AB said:
craigjm said:
Which, if you are PAYE wouldnt happen because you wouldnt have a P45 for the new employer and that would raise questions, p46 completion (new starter checklist) and then eventually lose both jobs because employer A sees a tax code change notification and the dishonesty is out. You dont want to be fired for dishonesty
It was tongue in cheek but I'm sure you're right, I've never tried it.Edited by craigjm on Friday 29th May 17:57
I just didn’t want him following that advice 
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
I completely agree with this. Work from home and get other things done. Consider even using the spare time to retrain if you really want out.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
craigjm said:
LennyM1984 said:
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
In my experience, the reality is not quite as good as it sounds. Yes you get paid to do nothing but the feeling that your skills are being allowed to atrophy and the anxiety that you might eventually get found out for doing nothing, really takes the shine off it.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
I've thought about it a lot and if I was in my 50s and had enough to retire whenever I got found out, I'd do it, enjoy myself, go racing/testing on workdays, and not care about getting rusty or getting found out. In your 40s, you just can't do that.
On the subject of next moves... this is really another sticking point for me because I just don't know where to look. I've essentially come down to LinkedIn Jobs being about the best place to look but getting it to feed you something relevant is difficult.
Otispunkmeyer said:
craigjm said:
LennyM1984 said:
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
In my experience, the reality is not quite as good as it sounds. Yes you get paid to do nothing but the feeling that your skills are being allowed to atrophy and the anxiety that you might eventually get found out for doing nothing, really takes the shine off it.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
I've thought about it a lot and if I was in my 50s and had enough to retire whenever I got found out, I'd do it, enjoy myself, go racing/testing on workdays, and not care about getting rusty or getting found out. In your 40s, you just can't do that.
On the subject of next moves... this is really another sticking point for me because I just don't know where to look. I've essentially come down to LinkedIn Jobs being about the best place to look but getting it to feed you something relevant is difficult.
Edited by craigjm on Monday 1st June 19:16
craigjm said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
craigjm said:
LennyM1984 said:
scotlandtim said:
ideal solution:
start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
In my experience, the reality is not quite as good as it sounds. Yes you get paid to do nothing but the feeling that your skills are being allowed to atrophy and the anxiety that you might eventually get found out for doing nothing, really takes the shine off it.start working from home, quietly slipping into the forgotten bracket, where everyone else thinks you're doing something else, for someone else - do nothing, draw a salary - jobs a good 'um, quite literally!!
I've thought about it a lot and if I was in my 50s and had enough to retire whenever I got found out, I'd do it, enjoy myself, go racing/testing on workdays, and not care about getting rusty or getting found out. In your 40s, you just can't do that.
On the subject of next moves... this is really another sticking point for me because I just don't know where to look. I've essentially come down to LinkedIn Jobs being about the best place to look but getting it to feed you something relevant is difficult.
Edited by craigjm on Monday 1st June 19:16
However, bit of an update... apparently compulsory redundancy notes went out on Monday. And yesterday we got the email about VR. On first pass this kinda seems like a bit of a win-win; either I get out with ~6months money - OR - they decided they do need to keep me around and as such will have to actually formulate some kind of proper role.
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