Career Burnout/Stress - My next step?

Hiccups_2

Walcott wrote: »

I'm not in IT but I resigned having been a practice accountant for 6 years. I resigned because I got fed up of idiots that I called colleagues and clients that were also idiots. Working office hours, I was getting home after 10pm regularly.

One day something in me just went. I just couldn't take it anymore. I was paid well, had an excellent CV and worked for a very large, industry leading firm. Yet for all the effort I put in to teach myself every single detail, I would come up against clients that used buzzed words to hide the fact they were morons with a brown nose that would otherwise not even be fit to be employed. And don't even get me started on the colleagues I worked with. My impression of accountants is that there are no average ones. Just dumb or very talented.

My breaking point came when my assistant resigned and was replaced by someone so thick I actually questioned the point of my whole career.

I feel your pain. I've witnessed the kind of people you describe many times over, all of the incompetents managing to brown nose their way upwards. The worst kind are the managers who don't have a clue, but don't want to admit that either, so they repeatedly make bad decisions that impact on the workforce who have to work harder and longer to save the company (and their jobs) from the manager's screw up. Our industries, businesses and the country as a whole would be so much better if these people accepted their shortcomings and stuck to work that they could actually do.

Hiccups_2

teabelly wrote: »

Were they in IT or another fast moving specialist field? Irrelevant to the OP if they weren't.

IMO, large gaps would be less important in fields that were fast moving. All you would need is to ensure that you were up to date with the current technology. You could take a course to brush up the latest technology, your past experience would demonstrate that you have experience in the industry at the very least and you could demonstrate an eagerness to utilise your newly learnt skills.

I see very few job adverts for people who have knowledge of BBC computers, nonetheless I'm sure such people do exist.

As the OP attests, it's usually the older employees who have difficulty keeping up to date and adapting to newer technology.

jamiekeen

thanks for all the advice - really appreciate it.. I'm still going to take some time to think about my next step but a time-out sounds like a good idea.

jamiekeen

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

but I'm joining the OP on burnout. I'm starting to hate IT now and just want to get the hell away from it.

It is weird that burnout seems to be the 'norm' within IT - you'd think there would be some form of legislation to help companies prevent burnout for their employees

scheming_gypsy

The only way to prevent burnout, is to get rid if the users....... without them I'd still enjoy it.

Tykva

I was in a same situation, I had savings so I could afford to. But the last week of my work I was offered a freelance job in a completely different area. My salary is like 4 times less, but Im happy so far(6 months now). Try the link above for some tips. Good luck!

Tykva

Shoey1610 wrote: »

Not in IT, but I experienced burnout in a job late last year. I just ended up not being able to stand doing it any more. I took 6 months off (and I know that I am very lucky to have been able to do this), played around with some voluntary work and finished my OU degree. I am now three months into a new role in a completely different sector and I truly love it. I think it is down to giving myself some space to think about what I was really good at and would find satisfying.

If you can afford to take a sabbatical, I highly recommend it. You're a long time dead and I wouldn't swop the happiness I have now for anything.

Your experience is very interesting.As its just the same what my husband doing at the mo. He worked as a mechanic for 15 years, now quit to do degree at OU in green engineering. The problem is to find a job in a related area before the graduation, as degree takes 6 years and he is in his second year only, approaching 40. Do you have any tips on finding a job while switching careers? Thanks!!

Tips and advice from all r more than welcome. Thanks a lot!

ValHaller

teabelly wrote: »

Project management for large web projects would seem the logical next step. This way you use your knowledge to do it better than those that know the project management side but are a bit lost with the technical side.

If stress is the problem, project management is not the answer.

A lot of stress is about not meeting expectations and feeling unable to control the environment to match expectations and delivery.

As a project manager you are left with the same fundamental problem but you are relying on others to meet the objectives, so you have even less control.

scorpio_biker

I'm going to step in with a reply. I work in web development too, and I've been in IT for 30 years next year. I've been lucky so far, moving from operations to programming, through development and support, keeping my skill set improving. And while I work for a reasonable company with good conditions, and in a great team, the stress can be quite excessive. The pressure on us to get jobs done, and the lack of time we are given to do them is getting ridiculous. (I've always wondered why other departments ask us for estimates on work then totally ignore them?? Anyone know? :huh:)

However, I could probably manage that ok if it wasn't for the speed at which my skills have to change. The web arena is so fast moving, and for me as a lifelong procedural programmer the switch to dotnet/OOP is the biggest challenge I have faced, and one I'm not sure I'm going to overcome.

For me, a senior role and a junior role aren't that different and it wouldn't make any difference to me to take a step down. My existing knowledge and skill set would still be utilised as much.

So I have a similar dilemma, as I'm watching my younger colleagues pick up the new technologies, and I'm still struggling to get my head round it. But on the plus side I am approaching retirement so if I can just keep going until then.... :rotfl:.

Management isn't really an option for me, I'm not "that kind of person" so I either stay and see it through if I can, or switch careers I guess. Not quite sure what to though, bit late in the day really.

Not sure what to suggest in your case OP, if you can afford a short timeout it's probably a good plan, take a step back and survey the horizon so to speak. But I just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one feeling that way.

fufu_banterwaite

jamiekeen wrote: »

Personally I am thinking about taking a 'sabbatical' from work for a few months (I've got enough savings to last me for some time) - and in this time try to get myself back in shape both mentally, physically and emotionally. I'd hope after 3-6 months I'd be mentally ready to jump back into a new role fully refreshed.

Without a doubt do this. Go travelling, explore new places, meet new people, relax and see a different sunset everyday. I was in a similar position and spent 18 months working and travelling from 2009 to 2011 and it was the best thing I ever did.

Not sure how old you are but if you are 35 or under you could still get a working visa in New Zealand. New Zealand is a great country, very laid back and lots of chance to get fresh air and do something active.