Bored in my job but trapped-now what?!"!?

sterl1ng

I've been a secretary for a bank for nearly 10yrs and really I hate it but problem is they offer great benefits, great money and close to home. The maternity is exceptionally good too and whilst I force myself to stay here my heart is baring the brunt. Maybe its the dept itself which im in, perhaps a proper shift internally is what I need but really i'm just petrified. My boss is nice enough but I'm too scared to communicate these concerns with him and i have found bit by bit i've become more quiet. I'm pretty sure he knows already how I feel but really the big change would petrify me but who knows, perhaps i'd be really happy too and excited!

I honestly am not sure what to do as I dont' want to rock the boat but i'm just really unhappy. I dont' really have any mates at work to speak to about this and really if I did they would probably tell on me! Sorry if I'm waffling.

Wyndham

It's all a bit vague. So, what in particular don't you enjoy,and also, what in particular do you enjoy? And if you could do anything, what would it be? Think about what skills you're looking to use or develop, then see if there is a way to do that from where you are.

If you go to your boss and say you a looking for a change, the obvious question will be 'to what', so you need to think that through.

Hope that helps?

beccals

Hi

I know how bad it feels to be in that situation, but it may be a good idea to sit down and make a list of things that you do like about your job and think about a new career involving those aspects.

If it's a new company entirely that you want to work for then you could consider doing an evening college course (if appropriate) but remember that having worked in a bank is a great thing to have on your CV and the fact that you've had the same job for so long looks really good to prospective employers too so you are very employable.

If you do decide to speak to your boss about changing departments make sure you have an exact plan in your head first.

Good luck

Treehugged

sterl1ng wrote: »

I've been a secretary for a bank for nearly 10yrs and really I hate it but problem is they offer great benefits, great money and close to home. The maternity is exceptionally good too and whilst I force myself to stay here my heart is baring the brunt. Maybe its the dept itself which im in, perhaps a proper shift internally is what I need but really i'm just petrified. My boss is nice enough but I'm too scared to communicate these concerns with him and i have found bit by bit i've become more quiet. I'm pretty sure he knows already how I feel but really the big change would petrify me but who knows, perhaps i'd be really happy too and excited!

I honestly am not sure what to do as I dont' want to rock the boat but i'm just really unhappy. I dont' really have any mates at work to speak to about this and really if I did they would probably tell on me! Sorry if I'm waffling.

If you're bored look for another job/promotion/department. Failing that take up an interesting hobby that you can look forward to away from work.

sterl1ng

The problem with changing to new company right now is it may be harder to get on property ladder as not stable employment then plus the benefits may not match. I did think that perhaps once I buy somewhere I could then see.

I guess its partly the same ole same ole that i'm bored with and really the people side too. A fresh start would be good but as to what I want to do i really have no idea. I'm thinking of career advice though not sure where to start.

sterl1ng

Yeah i'm thinking maybe move internally, i did that once before but really there wasn't much difference as both teams were very similar. I have to say though what the team does isn't interesting to me so I'm not hungry to learn more but then I did think what if i try maybe move into event mgt or hr and see how I feel then. I love being busy as it gives me a rush. Right now I feel like a slug and demotivated.

I guess change is scary but I'm starting to think it might be needed so perhaps look inside.

Why does the grass have to always be greener!:rotfl:

Treehugged

sterl1ng wrote: »

A fresh start would be good but as to what I want to do i really have no idea. I'm thinking of career advice though not sure where to start.

Excellent. List your skills, interests, sectors etc and take it with you. Though I'd've thought you'd be able to work that out for yourself.

You're in a better position than most wage slaves: Your employers sound like decent people and offer great perks, so you're in a good position whereby you can take your time.

Some wage slaves feel nauseated just at the thought of going in in the mornings :cool:

Good luck

sterl1ng

I wish it was that easy really but aside from knowing what i'm good at I need to factor in the wage too. I'm really lucky to have a good wage at the mo, i know its a bit below market price but still its ok for me and to say half that by doing something which involved my passion would not interest me in long run as financially i couldn't be as independent so in long run resenting my passion.

It would be great if i could sit with my boss and lay it on table telling him how I feel but its the 'then what next?' situation i need to then deal with, as well as the fear of not finding something in the bank with my boss wondering when i'll leave already as he'll want someone here that WANTS to be here, which is fair enough.

You'd think as his PA I could really talk to him but really I can't as too scared of consequence or making a big mistake.

marybelle01

Much as it is maligned, there is nothing at all wrong with being a "wage slave". OK, if you can get something better or find a new challenge, then fine. But it also sounds like there are an awful lot of "comfort zones" in your current position which you may have to sacrifice - some of which you may not know about until you have lost them (your next boss might be horrible, for example). Lots of people actually stick with jobs because the terms of employment suit them, long past the time when the job is inspiring them, and that's ok.

As someone else suggested, try looking for something or somethings outside work that can reinvigorate your life! Try some voluntary work - there's nothing like seeing how some other people have to survive to make you suddenly see a new side of a boring job. And it will give you new skills, new experiences - something to put on the CV when and if you decide to move on. It's even possible that your employer might support employee volunteering - some do - and that would mean you may get some work hours towards your volunteering, or help with expenses or something. My employer matches 5 hours, hour for hour, for employees volunteering - so for every 10 hours someone does they get 5 from the employer.

Jox

Have you got any holiday you can take to think about what you want to do?

What are your interests outside of work? Are there any courses related to this that you can take and perhaps start a sideline job in a field you are passionate about?

What would your friends and family say that you are good at?

I'm also a PA and my salary is good enough for me and I am happy with it but again am not especially challenged and my interests lie in alternative therapies and nutrition, I would like to study something related to this and perhaps pursue this as a sideline at the weekends maybe.

When you make a change in one particular area in life then a light is switched on inside and other things tend to change as well, e.g relationships / health.

jenniemiller177

Its a difficult one. I think you have to go with your gut feeling. If you are bored and you don't think it will change or you have been feeling like it for a while, then I would look at other options. There is nothing worse that being in a job you don;t like, however on the same hand if you move jobs, there is no saying that you will get everything you are looking for.
There are so many considerations to think about. What happened if you moved somewhere else and it didn;t work out?