I need some advice.

[Nix]

Serious advice please chaps.

I'm stuck in a rutt, I mean really stuck and I don't know what to do.

I'm currently working a rubbish job on 25 hours a week that feels like it's destroying me inside. Customers try to turn you over, the company is poorly run and what's more, the company also thinks you're out to get them. You're not valued whatsoever, but I'm only there because after a year of being unemployed it's all I could find. I've worked there 10 months now and after some events this last week, I've well and truly reached the end of my patience; I need to walk. I really can't stay there any longer. I'll snap. I won't go into details, but that's the lay of the land.

The problem is, there isn't any other work around. I mean seriously, there isn't. If anything I fear it's now in a slightly worse state than it was when I was on JSA as two of the major local employers have recently closed shop and made hundreds of new people redundant. If there was more work around, I wouldn't be stuck on ~£650 a month and unable to get any more than 25 hours per week which honestly, simply isn't cutting it. How am I ever supposed to do anything on that? I can't look to move out, and saving for anything takes a very long time.

There are three major reasons why I haven't told the company to do one and walked as of yet:

1. I need the money. Although financially much better than I was a year ago, I still have to meet payments for debts accrued whilst a student on a monthly basis. It's not much longer till it's all gone either.

2. The idea of being out of work again petrifies me. I don't mean in the hiding under the duvet as a young child sense, but I do mean in the sense of I was utterly miserable last time and don't want to even contemplate that fate again.

3. I have holidays and things planned in the not so far future. I obviously need to save money for this, so can't be dealing without a regular wage. That, and come New Year, I will need some form of income to be able to contemplate my escape from this hell hole of existence I've found myself in.
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Anyway, having spoked to a friend who was recently made redundant, he's still finding it near impossible to get back into work. As much as I don't wish to be in such a position, I feel I'm being pushed in equal measure to leave and find something better. I don't want this, I don't deserve it and I sure as hell have too much pride to put up with it. I don't want to be unhappy anymore.

Tomorrow I'm going to do the rounds around the local agencies in person once again, but as I've said, I do doubt that they have anything substantial going. True, they were effectively useless last time I used them. I've made the decision to find something better (if it exists) and move on. However, here lies the rub: should nothing present itself, what do I do? What can I do? I can't stay like this much longer, something I fear is going to snap. I'm either going to walk and find myself poor, or I'm going to get very, very angry. I don't want either.

So please chaps, any advice? I need change here and I need it soon. I can cope with my current job till about winter at the absolute most, but the idea of being there come New Year is a very bad one. I need at the very least, something to focus on, something to make this prison sentence worthwhile. Please, bear in mind that I don't make huge sums of money and probably manage to save £150-200 a month at the very most if I don't spend anything, and until New Year all these savings are effectively already spent anyway, what can I do?

Saving for further education or travelling, etc. will take far too long and I'm unwilling to wait any longer. This is the fork in a road. I need to do something because I fear if I don't, I never will. I'm not getting any younger either.

 

[cm1179]

i was made redundant very recently and have applied for maybe a dozen jobs and haven't heard anything from any of them yet - it is very tough and competitive so you are lucky you are still in work but i would say if your job is getting you down then i'm afraid you'll just have to grin an bear it but if it is changing you as a person then get out cos it's not worth it and you'll work out the consequences somehow

 

[Steve2000]

It's been pointed out to me a few times within the last year or two that I'm getting increasingly miserable as I get older (54 this year). My wife reckons most of it is down to me working near constant long hours in miserable jobs ever since age 14, and never actually taking time out to enjoy any of the finer aspects of life.

You end up not living, just existing. If you want to do something interesting, now's your chance.

 

[The Funktopus]

I can only offer my sympathies mate. I find myself in the same situation, although I am older as I turn 27 in October so I fear my age is more of a factor in limiting my options.

The chemical industry is massive around here, and thinking back I would have loved to have gained a trade and done a job working with my hands in a technical role, such as a process operator, maintenance technician or an electrician, but stupidly did not pursue it when I was young enough to do an apprenticeship. I have however applied for a Cadetship with a few training companies who work within the Merchant Navy. If all goes well, I'll begin studying marine engineering in January on a sponsored HNC/HND course interspersed with spells at sea training on the job. That, for me is the light at the end of the tunnel that keeps me plodding onwards on the treadmill that is life for me at the moment.

I wish you the best of luck in your search mate, and I hope you find yourself somewhere you want to be soon.

 

[Nix]

You end up not living, just existing. If you want to do something interesting, now's your chance.

I really do agree. Problem is, I'm all out of ideas.

 

[LOAM]

Have you considered looking further afield for work ? If there nothing where you are and your not happy there what have you got to loose ? I was in a similer position in teesside 10 years ago, great mates, living at home, dire job in a company that hated us as much as we hated them.

I moved to Nottingham, took the first job I could (estate agent) then looked to get back into Architecture once down here, 10 years on I'm married to the best women in the world living in the suburbs and life is sweets.

 

[Nix]

Have you considered looking further afield for work ? If there nothing where you are and your not happy there what have you got to loose ?

I'm all ears if you have any suggestions. Quite frankly, I'd prefer to move away for work.

 

[Heliospherez]

If your job is making you feel that bad - it's time to leave.

No employer is worth getting stressed over these days (as most employers don't give a monkeys about 1 single employee) - and you sound as though you genuinely want to work and have considered moving/travelling to find a job.

If it was me - and I had no ties.... I would hand in my notice.. and start researching places/countries to check out the job markets in. There are loads of other countries that pay decent wages for hard working & enthusiastic workers - just make sure you understand the Visa requirements. And just remember - if you do move - the first few months will be hard..... but after that the rewards will most likely be miles more than the dead end jobs you can expect back here.

 

[Castiel]

Can you move from your current location. I don't know where you are but things are not so dire employment wise here in the South. My wifes a chartered accountant and she says that businesses are recruiting across the board currently.

Is retraining an option, I dont know what you currenty do, but have you thought about other occupations, if you're in IT, how about something completely different like bus-driving or lorry driving, there are shortages of both.

 

[LOAM]

What's your line of work nix? You said you had been to uni? What were you studying ?

 

[Nix]

I'm currently stuck working for a bookmakers.

I have a BSc (Hons) in Geography.

I'd love to move for work, but I'd need to have the work first. I simply haven't got the financial backing to support myself/move out at the moment.

 

[Castiel]

I had a little re-read of your original post and noticed that you are also considering something that might help you cope with the job you currently have.

Some years ago I was seriously injured and as a result became depressed, not clinically but not far off. I found that when I took my injury away from being the main focus of my life it helped immensely.

Try something to shift that focus, maybe a hobby or activity like Tai Chi or something similar. I don't think I am explaining myself very well, but I hope you get my drift.

Try not to do anything rash, or that will leave you financially worse off as that will not help you.

 

[Castiel]

I'm currently stuck working for a bookmakers.

I have a BSc (Hons) in Geography.

I'd love to move for work, but I'd need to have the work first. I simply haven't got the financial backing to support myself/move out at the moment.

Where are you based currently?

 

[LOAM]

Yeah that's understandable but you need to make that focus you on looking whilst you work, it will be more bearable if you have a goal. Geography can take you into all sorts, surveying, urban planning, cartography, GIS (what ever that is).

What area interests you or do you not want to continue down the geography route?

 

[Nix]

See, I'm already doing that just to survive the job. I really don't enjoy it and I dislike the majority of alcoholics and idiots I have to deal with on a daily basis. But that's why I need something to focus on, something to think "That's where I'll be in x month's time." and just count the days. The problem is, I fear if I just take my focus away from being there, I'll just get comfortably and never leave.

I need change just as much as I need to be happier. I don't wish in 5-6 years time, turn 30 and look back and think "Well, you wasted that didn't you." because currently that's all I'm doing and not through choice either. It's because I'm stuck.

I feel like I'm wasting my life. I need to do something.

Where are you based currently?

South Essex.

Yeah that's understandable but you need to make that focus you on looking whilst you work, it will be more bearable if you have a goal. Geography can take you into all sorts, surveying, urban planning, cartography, GIS (what ever that is).

What area interests you or do you not want to continue down the geography route?

To be honest, if we were talking ideals; I'd like to be out and about doing stuff 75% of the time with a desk/office for the rest. The idea of being stuck in an office 9-5 day-in, day-out until retirement just reminds me of sitting in school looking outside the window as it's raining longing for something else.

Town planning et al. is of course, always an option, but I would need to do a masters in the area and if truth be told, I find it all a little dry. I've always enjoyed the other side of geography such as geopolitics, history, etc. Geography is, after all, a study of the world.

Unfortunately, I didn't do any GIS on my course. My 'expertise' would be better suited to the social sciences. Many lecturers suggested through my work that I'd be a good journalist, but again... money.

I've e-mailed a few IT firms to see if they would be interested as despite not doing IT, I still have strong aptitude, but unfortunately I get shrugged off. I wish I could say looking towards graduate work is the answer, but I didn't hear back from a single company last time around.

 

[mjt]

Unless it's totally unbearable, don't quit until you've found another job. It's not really worth the risk. You never know how long you might be out of work for.

 

[wozza2k]

You could skip the holidays and self indulgence to save money to move out. You haven't said what you want to end up doing either or do you not have an idea??

 

[LOAM]

Your only as stuck as you make yourself nix, go get some career advice, and tomorrow start the search. Do it, make it happen, it's not easy though and actually moving is the hardest part, but it will also be the making of you. Being thrown into the deepend is very daunting but very rewarding.

 

[Castiel]

Maybe a simple change of job, even going from the bookies to a supermarket or another type of non-profession would help you short term and allow you to focus on your long term goals. At the very least it will get you out of the rut you find yourself in.

I'll ask the Wife tomorrow (shes asleep) whether she has any contacts or ideas in and around South Essex, you never know.

 

[Nix]

Unless it's totally unbearable, don't quit until you've found another job. It's not really worth the risk. You never know how long you might be out of work for.

Not yet, but it will be, very very very shortly. Hence the panic setting in.

You could skip the holidays and self indulgence to save money to move out. You haven't said what you want to end up doing either or do you not have an idea??

The holidays have been the only thing keeping me going this far. It's not an option I'm afraid.

No, I don't which is why I'm stuck. I just don't know.

Your only as stuck as you make yourself nix, go get some career advice, and tomorrow start the search. Do it, make it happen, it's not easy though and actually moving is the hardest part, but it will also be the making of you. Being thrown into the deepend is very daunting but very rewarding.

I agree, which is why I want to change. Where do I get the advice from?

I'm not scared of moving or jumping in the deep end, especially as it's what I want. The problem is, I can't move without knowing I'll have work when I do as I don't want to just end up back here again having tried and failed because I couldn't pay the rent!

Maybe a simple change of job, even going from the bookies to a supermarket or another type of non-profession would help you short term and allow you to focus on your long term goals. At the very least it will get you out of the rut you find yourself in.

I'll ask the Wife tomorrow (shes asleep) whether she has any contacts or ideas in and around South Essex, you never know.

Yes, that's what I thought too, which is why I'm hoping I can find something in the agencies tomorrow. Even a full-time, regular 9-5 job would be better than this as I'd have more money so I could save for things faster. That, and I'm sick to my back-teeth of evening work and working weekends. I want a life outside of work! For what I'm paid, it's just not worth it, it really isn't. It was only a stop-gap as it was better than being unemployed.

The problem being - as I've said - is that there's just not much going and far too many people applying.

Thank you Castiel, it is appreciated.