Feeling trapped in NHS role and unsure what to do next!

HampshireH

If you are sorting out repairs etc you could consider a planning role such as in local council, housing association or company like mitie or kier where they are contracted to do repair works.

The role would be customer and trades  focused so lots of engagement, using your transferable skills for booking jobs, purchasing etc your customer service skills, organisational skills etc but also fast paced, and assisting those in social housing maintain their home which is very rewarding.

Quite often see vacancies in these sorts of roles and they pay quite well. Obviously no idea what you earn now. You will get normal holiday allowance a normal work place pension though. 

Alternatively something completely different, letting agent work requires independent working, good attention to detail, customer focus both tenant and landlord,  rent collection, arranging repairs, site visits for viewings and keys and contract signing as well as desk based work.

strawb_shortcake

In procurement we seem to have quantity surveyors come to us, so presumably would work the other way too. 

To preserve a good pension and holidays, perhaps look at what bits of the civil service are appealing, I think the Forestry commission would be interesting and could be a nice surroundings. The range of jobs I've seen on CS jobs have been very broad.

Defense would be quite interesting if you like things that go bang. 

Foreign office was always looked at as the best department if you want to work abroad. 

I've known civil servants that have had posts in Malaysia, Cyprus, Falklands, Saudi. I've got a friend that did a civilian tour in Afghanistan. 

As a CS I have had some great opportunities, and experienced things that I wouldn't of have done if it wasn't for my job. 
Very few jobs are going to exciting 37 hours a week

Klippety

theoretica said:

If you ignored the practical aspect of needing to be paid for it, what sort of thing would you like to spend the next 20 years doing? 

That really is the million pound question and is part of the reason that I'm feeling trapped. I have no idea what I really want to do for the rest of my working life. 

Klippety

strawb_shortcake said:

In procurement we seem to have quantity surveyors come to us, so presumably would work the other way too. 

To preserve a good pension and holidays, perhaps look at what bits of the civil service are appealing, I think the Forestry commission would be interesting and could be a nice surroundings. The range of jobs I've seen on CS jobs have been very broad.

Defense would be quite interesting if you like things that go bang. 

Foreign office was always looked at as the best department if you want to work abroad. 

I've known civil servants that have had posts in Malaysia, Cyprus, Falklands, Saudi. I've got a friend that did a civilian tour in Afghanistan. 

As a CS I have had some great opportunities, and experienced things that I wouldn't of have done if it wasn't for my job. 
Very few jobs are going to exciting 37 hours a week

What area(s) of the country were the Forestry Commission jobs in? 

strawb_shortcake

Klippety said:

strawb_shortcake said:

In procurement we seem to have quantity surveyors come to us, so presumably would work the other way too. 

To preserve a good pension and holidays, perhaps look at what bits of the civil service are appealing, I think the Forestry commission would be interesting and could be a nice surroundings. The range of jobs I've seen on CS jobs have been very broad.

Defense would be quite interesting if you like things that go bang. 

Foreign office was always looked at as the best department if you want to work abroad. 

I've known civil servants that have had posts in Malaysia, Cyprus, Falklands, Saudi. I've got a friend that did a civilian tour in Afghanistan. 

As a CS I have had some great opportunities, and experienced things that I wouldn't of have done if it wasn't for my job. 
Very few jobs are going to exciting 37 hours a week

What area(s) of the country were the Forestry Commission jobs in? 

They have several locations, I only recall Tetbury (Westonbirt) and Thetford. If you sign up to CS jobs you can set up alerts for jobs for your area and grade or pay range. If nothing else it gives you an idea of the breadth of jobs available.

There is a lot more flexibility in locations within the CS Post covid 

Marcon

Klippety said:

theoretica said:

If you ignored the practical aspect of needing to be paid for it, what sort of thing would you like to spend the next 20 years doing? 

That really is the million pound question and is part of the reason that I'm feeling trapped. I have no idea what I really want to do for the rest of my working life. 

Turn the question round: what do you NOT want to do - and you need something far more detailed than 'I don't want to be doing what I'm doing now'.

You say you want to do something 'exciting', but few jobs offer constant, or even regular, excitement. Maybe 'enjoyment' and 'job satisfaction' might be a better starting point?

Think through what might matter to you: the people? the employer (in terms of why it exists/what it does)? the day to day workload? the amount of holiday/pension?

Are you prepared to retrain - have you looked at apprenticeships? They aren't just for school leavers and some of them pay a decent wage.

Any hobbies on which you could capitalise?

bobblebob

I work in the NHS. There are many issues as an employee as you have stated some of them, but its great to progress your career

We have staff on Band 3 who have progressed to Band 5, 6 and beyond within a short period of time. Lots of transferable skills and always lots of jobs out there on internal notice boards

ABCDE1977

I feel your pain. I'm 61 - been in NHS non clinical Band 4 for 7 years. Wealth of skills and experience prior to NHS but career has been snookered (promotion - lol... not where I work in an ICB). Anyway - after realising I was lurching from one holiday to another and loathing my job I resigned and leave in a week. Taking that leap forced me to re-evaluate what I want and randomly I secured a role in the voluntary sector - sometimes you have to take the plunge as I realised my leave/pension wasn't going to define my life and how I felt for my 8 hours a day spent in the NHS. I feel happier and can't wait for the next challenge. Its a risk - but you only have one life. Good luck

Klippety

ABCDE1977 said:

I feel your pain. I'm 61 - been in NHS non clinical Band 4 for 7 years. Wealth of skills and experience prior to NHS but career has been snookered (promotion - lol... not where I work in an ICB). Anyway - after realising I was lurching from one holiday to another and loathing my job I resigned and leave in a week. Taking that leap forced me to re-evaluate what I want and randomly I secured a role in the voluntary sector - sometimes you have to take the plunge as I realised my leave/pension wasn't going to define my life and how I felt for my 8 hours a day spent in the NHS. I feel happier and can't wait for the next challenge. Its a risk - but you only have one life. Good luck

Well done on taking the leap. I think you have made the right call. It will be great to hear how you are getting on in your new job. All the best! 

Klippety

bobblebob said:

I work in the NHS. There are many issues as an employee as you have stated some of them, but its great to progress your career

We have staff on Band 3 who have progressed to Band 5, 6 and beyond within a short period of time. Lots of transferable skills and always lots of jobs out there on internal notice boards

There are plenty of jobs in the NHS, but to jump from my current Band 4 to a Band 5 they expect an awful lot for the extra £800 a year in my trust.

There's certainly no such thing as a free lunch given what they expect for the miniscule pay rise.