Discussion
OK, I didn't know how best to put that title, but I know in my parent's day there was a lot of "join the company, stay as you are or work your way up, then retire" linear careers.
Alternatively some people have a career path elsewhere that's quite standard and mapped out. Medicine or law etc.
I find myself in my 40's having generally done commercial and project management roles in engineering, across 17 years and 6 companies. I tend to get itchy feet around 2-3 years in.
I'm also becoming aware that I very probably have ADHD, which I recognise affects my interest in things, focus and decision making.
Honestly, I'm struggling to find "my place" in the world of work. What I do is fine and I earn reasonable money to pay the bills, but there's nothing that I'm particularly passionate about. If I, say, loved the idea of becoming a teacher (something I did briefly consider) or a train driver or working at a zoo then there would be something worth the sacrifices needed to make the change and I'd likely stick with it, but there isn't. I don't have kids, but I do have a mortgage to pay and a wife who would be affected if I just binned it all off and decided to be an apprentice. Not that I want to, but as with most people, there's a minimum practical amount that I need to earn. No tortured artist for me!
I'll probably spend the rest of my working life bouncing between mid-management positions every few years. Part of me thinks that's a bad thing because I know people are supposed to either settle for what they have or find "their thing". But then again, what if it isn't? What if I accept that I'm just not cut out for that and carry on as I am, flitting about a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none?
I don't really know the point of this post. I guess to see if anyone else feels the same, or if nothing else to get my thoughts in a line by writing it out.
Alternatively some people have a career path elsewhere that's quite standard and mapped out. Medicine or law etc.
I find myself in my 40's having generally done commercial and project management roles in engineering, across 17 years and 6 companies. I tend to get itchy feet around 2-3 years in.
I'm also becoming aware that I very probably have ADHD, which I recognise affects my interest in things, focus and decision making.
Honestly, I'm struggling to find "my place" in the world of work. What I do is fine and I earn reasonable money to pay the bills, but there's nothing that I'm particularly passionate about. If I, say, loved the idea of becoming a teacher (something I did briefly consider) or a train driver or working at a zoo then there would be something worth the sacrifices needed to make the change and I'd likely stick with it, but there isn't. I don't have kids, but I do have a mortgage to pay and a wife who would be affected if I just binned it all off and decided to be an apprentice. Not that I want to, but as with most people, there's a minimum practical amount that I need to earn. No tortured artist for me!
I'll probably spend the rest of my working life bouncing between mid-management positions every few years. Part of me thinks that's a bad thing because I know people are supposed to either settle for what they have or find "their thing". But then again, what if it isn't? What if I accept that I'm just not cut out for that and carry on as I am, flitting about a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none?
I don't really know the point of this post. I guess to see if anyone else feels the same, or if nothing else to get my thoughts in a line by writing it out.
Wouldn't say going from job to job is a bad thing. There will be people at the other end of the scale treading water at one company never experiencing anything new or different. Don't think there are as many jobs for life any more working your full working life for one company.
I'd embrace the change. You must be good enough to be employable over so many jobs for so many years by so many different employers. I would be more looking at what you do when not working, rather than defining yourself by work.
I'd embrace the change. You must be good enough to be employable over so many jobs for so many years by so many different employers. I would be more looking at what you do when not working, rather than defining yourself by work.
crofty1984 said:
OK, I didn't know how best to put that title, but I know in my parent's day there was a lot of "join the company, stay as you are or work your way up, then retire" linear careers.
Alternatively some people have a career path elsewhere that's quite standard and mapped out. Medicine or law etc.
I find myself in my 40's having generally done commercial and project management roles in engineering, across 17 years and 6 companies. I tend to get itchy feet around 2-3 years in.
I'm also becoming aware that I very probably have ADHD, which I recognise affects my interest in things, focus and decision making.
Honestly, I'm struggling to find "my place" in the world of work. What I do is fine and I earn reasonable money to pay the bills, but there's nothing that I'm particularly passionate about. If I, say, loved the idea of becoming a teacher (something I did briefly consider) or a train driver or working at a zoo then there would be something worth the sacrifices needed to make the change and I'd likely stick with it, but there isn't. I don't have kids, but I do have a mortgage to pay and a wife who would be affected if I just binned it all off and decided to be an apprentice. Not that I want to, but as with most people, there's a minimum practical amount that I need to earn. No tortured artist for me!
I'll probably spend the rest of my working life bouncing between mid-management positions every few years. Part of me thinks that's a bad thing because I know people are supposed to either settle for what they have or find "their thing". But then again, what if it isn't? What if I accept that I'm just not cut out for that and carry on as I am, flitting about a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none?
I don't really know the point of this post. I guess to see if anyone else feels the same, or if nothing else to get my thoughts in a line by writing it out.
I could have written this about me - except I don’t have as many transferable skills as you.Alternatively some people have a career path elsewhere that's quite standard and mapped out. Medicine or law etc.
I find myself in my 40's having generally done commercial and project management roles in engineering, across 17 years and 6 companies. I tend to get itchy feet around 2-3 years in.
I'm also becoming aware that I very probably have ADHD, which I recognise affects my interest in things, focus and decision making.
Honestly, I'm struggling to find "my place" in the world of work. What I do is fine and I earn reasonable money to pay the bills, but there's nothing that I'm particularly passionate about. If I, say, loved the idea of becoming a teacher (something I did briefly consider) or a train driver or working at a zoo then there would be something worth the sacrifices needed to make the change and I'd likely stick with it, but there isn't. I don't have kids, but I do have a mortgage to pay and a wife who would be affected if I just binned it all off and decided to be an apprentice. Not that I want to, but as with most people, there's a minimum practical amount that I need to earn. No tortured artist for me!
I'll probably spend the rest of my working life bouncing between mid-management positions every few years. Part of me thinks that's a bad thing because I know people are supposed to either settle for what they have or find "their thing". But then again, what if it isn't? What if I accept that I'm just not cut out for that and carry on as I am, flitting about a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none?
I don't really know the point of this post. I guess to see if anyone else feels the same, or if nothing else to get my thoughts in a line by writing it out.
Like you I’m not really drawn to anything/have no particular passion so it’s hard to make a big decision to drop £ and re-train.
I can’t get another job (have applied for lots) but earn a good salary so can’t complain. I think I have resigned to the strategy of waiting until I am made redundant and then I will be forced to re-train
Not sure what the answer is - if you find out, let me know!
No harm moving roles from time to time, but I do think it is a problem if you feel your are spending much of your life doing something that doesn’t make you happy.
It is easy to get a stuck in a rut, and assume nothing better is possible, but actually there are way more options available than you think. Rather than start with the barriers, I’d start by just having a serious think about what job or industry you’d like to be doing in 10 years (sure there are related jobs to yours in some amazing industries). Dream a little. Once you have got the answer, you can then plot the moves to get there. It’ll be scary and difficult, but it is possible, and it’s really living.
By way of example, a friend of mine in his late 30s found himself stuck in a well paid marketing job and dreaming of being an airline pilot. It seemed impossible but he decided “you only live once” so worked out a plan. Over the next 7 years he funded his own training whilst still working. He is now in his late 50s and in his dream job flying 777s for BA.
I did something less dramatic but similar myself years ago when I quit a well-paid career track to start my own firm. Making this kind of change was scary, risky, but it’s a way more satisfying way to live. Just avoiding all the lows and highs of life results in boredom, and seems to me a terrible waste of the one go we get at life. In another universe, my friend could still be doing marketing…
It is easy to get a stuck in a rut, and assume nothing better is possible, but actually there are way more options available than you think. Rather than start with the barriers, I’d start by just having a serious think about what job or industry you’d like to be doing in 10 years (sure there are related jobs to yours in some amazing industries). Dream a little. Once you have got the answer, you can then plot the moves to get there. It’ll be scary and difficult, but it is possible, and it’s really living.
By way of example, a friend of mine in his late 30s found himself stuck in a well paid marketing job and dreaming of being an airline pilot. It seemed impossible but he decided “you only live once” so worked out a plan. Over the next 7 years he funded his own training whilst still working. He is now in his late 50s and in his dream job flying 777s for BA.
I did something less dramatic but similar myself years ago when I quit a well-paid career track to start my own firm. Making this kind of change was scary, risky, but it’s a way more satisfying way to live. Just avoiding all the lows and highs of life results in boredom, and seems to me a terrible waste of the one go we get at life. In another universe, my friend could still be doing marketing…
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