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[Misc] The Great Resignation and career changes
- Thread starter BBassic
- Start date
I recognise a lot of that…..one of the reasons I looked for a way out in the last restructure was because the ‘Brains Trust’ running the organisation kept forcing us down routes we knew made no sense - they completely lost the plot. Having to explain to the frontline business why we were doing things a particular way, whilst they, and we, knew it was all bollocks was hugely frustrating.
As regards ‘career’, it’s an odd thing really. I spent maybe 25 years pushing as hard as I could for promotion (if I didn’t, I’d have been quickly left in no-mans land), but the last 5 years actively avoiding it/refusing it as I could see that the level of BS and politicking at the next level would have driven me insane.
Same company
Have worked for similar institutions and would agree re people becoming ‘institutionalised’…….I was just that myself in my early 30s but events transpired to force me to leave the company (something to do with a Black Horse) I’d been with since I left school.
In my last firm when I first joined I inherited a team that a few with 40+ and literally dozens with 25+ years service. Paid well, low pressure, reasonable bonuses and benefits (including pension) and the organisation was so big people could simply hide away.
Reagulls
Well-known member
- Jul 22, 2013
- 774
I've not read all the thread but talking to many different trades as I do, it is really difficult to find staff at the moment.
I'd love to ask on here as it may suit someone, or their offspring or a relation and a bonus if they are a fellow Brighton fan [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] - is that allowed in any way shape or form please?
I'd love to ask on here as it may suit someone, or their offspring or a relation and a bonus if they are a fellow Brighton fan [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] - is that allowed in any way shape or form please?
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,990
A few people have recruited/been recruited through NSC and I've only ever seen positive results. [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] will be in touch to tell you how
SeagullinExile
Well-known member
All well and good for the folks in these jobs. But it kills other sectors like hospitality, a huge hit to the economy.
Comrade Sam
Comrade Sam
More concerned about the hundreds of thousands, maybe more who have lost their jobs because of Covid. Personally 5 years ago I got to a point in teaching where I was going to either kill myself, my Head Teacher, the Head of education in my borough or the minister for education. My wife told me to follow her into part time supply teaching. My life is so easy now that the only stress is who'll be signed by Brighton on deadline day. I even went back to decorating for sh*ts and giggles. It did help that we have no mortgage.
Will be interesting to see how this pans out - not convinced at this stage. Places like Canary Wharf will be massively hit for sure in terms of hospitality, but from what I’ve seen lately ‘local’ hospitality is absolutely mobbed, and very stretched because of a lack of staff. Hotels are full, decent restaurants are heavily booked, pubs are full of people.
I made all my changes pre-pandemic.
I left teaching at 30. Did a one year MSc in mechanical engineering and ended up becoming a fire engineer. First company as a fire engineer was ok but work load got worse and worse for not great pay. Decided to leave and joined a small consultancy set up by a guy who left a big consultancy so that he could be in charge of the type and amount of work he does. Having that approach for himself means his company is very good at looking after its staff. There’s nothing like being valued and listened to at work.
As an aside one of the things that pushed my company’s founder into setting up his own business is when he was speaking to the partners of his company at the time and on him dropping down to 4 days a week to split childcare with his wife one said ‘I thought you were ambitious’.
I left teaching at 30. Did a one year MSc in mechanical engineering and ended up becoming a fire engineer. First company as a fire engineer was ok but work load got worse and worse for not great pay. Decided to leave and joined a small consultancy set up by a guy who left a big consultancy so that he could be in charge of the type and amount of work he does. Having that approach for himself means his company is very good at looking after its staff. There’s nothing like being valued and listened to at work.
As an aside one of the things that pushed my company’s founder into setting up his own business is when he was speaking to the partners of his company at the time and on him dropping down to 4 days a week to split childcare with his wife one said ‘I thought you were ambitious’.
I’ve worked for the same company for 20 years. On the whole, Its been fun but Long term the prospects are not so good. it’s a young person’s industry and Now I have a family I can’t drop everything for an exciting opportunity.
This left me in a quandary.
I found the prospect of ditching my job for the unknown, too daunting. At the same time I could see problems ahead.
So I ended up procrastinating for years and it caused me a lot of stress. I think I was waiting for a eureka moment when the path to a new career would materialise.
It never did.
Last year I enrolled on an evening course in something very different but with transferable skills. I’m now in year two. I’ll see how it goes.
I found it helpful to not think of a career change as one drastic decision. Better to blend it in, and gradually phase in the new career.
This left me in a quandary.
I found the prospect of ditching my job for the unknown, too daunting. At the same time I could see problems ahead.
So I ended up procrastinating for years and it caused me a lot of stress. I think I was waiting for a eureka moment when the path to a new career would materialise.
It never did.
Last year I enrolled on an evening course in something very different but with transferable skills. I’m now in year two. I’ll see how it goes.
I found it helpful to not think of a career change as one drastic decision. Better to blend it in, and gradually phase in the new career.
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keaton
Big heart, hot blood and balls. Big balls
- Nov 18, 2004
- 9,983
I think that's it, poor to average places near stations and business parks, sectors etc will be hit. But people will still want to eat and drink out and they'll have more money and time to do so
Dick Swiveller
Well-known member
- Sep 9, 2011
- 9,593
Very interesting how many people are similar. My toys went massively out of the pram last week when the new boss (because Covid convinced the old one retiring was a good option) just became too much of a CJTC. Waiting to find out if they are willing to find me something different at the same place or if it is time to move on. Not quite the same but I had been agitating for some kind of change before all of this came to a head. But I am not risking my health after running myself ragged for the last year to be treated like trash by an untalented no mark.
Great thread.
I am also working out my notice. I am 47 and due to recent events and losing both my parents I have decided life is just too short to be unhappy.
I really like my job but the company I have joined has a toxic culture and the people in my team are just not on my wavelength and full of corporate BS. The leader is a narcissist control freak and generally not a very nice person.
I have also reached the stage where I have realised I just can’t handle being managed by people who don’t know what they are doing.
I have been a small business coach for many years and it’s about time I listened to some of my own advice.
Therefore I start my new business in November working for myself and having my destiny in my own hands. Going to be tough but I am up for it.
I also get to choose the people I work with.
I am also working out my notice. I am 47 and due to recent events and losing both my parents I have decided life is just too short to be unhappy.
I really like my job but the company I have joined has a toxic culture and the people in my team are just not on my wavelength and full of corporate BS. The leader is a narcissist control freak and generally not a very nice person.
I have also reached the stage where I have realised I just can’t handle being managed by people who don’t know what they are doing.
I have been a small business coach for many years and it’s about time I listened to some of my own advice.
Therefore I start my new business in November working for myself and having my destiny in my own hands. Going to be tough but I am up for it.
I also get to choose the people I work with.
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Go on, do it. What are you waiting for!
Lol.
I was made redundant at 45 and i decided to retire. After one year i could not wait to find a job the boredom done it for me. I do realise you will be older but i suggest you plan it out wish i did.
I'm now planning mine i was hoping next year but may have to delay it due to Covid travelling.
There’s a chap called Daniel Pink (Google him) who basically puts satisfaction at work down to three factors.
Firstly, freedom. Are you left to get on with things. No micro management. No being treated like a child. You’re able to make your own judgment calls.
Next, are you encouraged and given the time to learn something new? This can be small steps or giant leaps. Even it you’re not interested in becoming CEO, we all like to learn something new.
And lastly, is what you’re doing meaningful. That doesn’t necessarily mean saving the planet or anything. It just means, are you able to take a step back, see you actually done something that people appreciate or deliver something that someone needs.
If you can tick these boxes then you’ll find something close to happiness. The trouble is, many of these factors are out of your control which is why organizations need to heed them in how they design work for people and how they train leaders.
If you get these factors right, then it makes things like commutes bearable or worthwhile.
For me, we’ll I’ve been doing what I do for long enough and as a result, it doesn’t always feel like what I’m doing is meaningful and I don’t feel like I’m learning much. So, I have to get off my arse and do something about it.
The work routine for so many knowledge workers was broken. Travelling hours into offices in mega cities for 5 days a week was a waste of time. It put a strain on family life and created resentment. The shift to a blend of home working, office working, working in coworking spaces etc that is giving people so much more control (freedom) over how they organise their lives.
However, a total shift to working from home isn’t right. We are social animals. We actually perform better when we work around other people, so we need to spend some time in offices. And younger workers need this so they can learn on the job.
Cities will get reworked. Local towns and cities (like Brighton) will benefit from people working closer to their homes. Think of the money not spent in Prets in London by Brightonians that can now wander to local coffee shops at lunchtime.
As with everything this change has offered us - and the digital tools that come with it - our challenge is to use the technology and time to OUR advantage, and we have a track record of being sh1t at that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Firstly, freedom. Are you left to get on with things. No micro management. No being treated like a child. You’re able to make your own judgment calls.
Next, are you encouraged and given the time to learn something new? This can be small steps or giant leaps. Even it you’re not interested in becoming CEO, we all like to learn something new.
And lastly, is what you’re doing meaningful. That doesn’t necessarily mean saving the planet or anything. It just means, are you able to take a step back, see you actually done something that people appreciate or deliver something that someone needs.
If you can tick these boxes then you’ll find something close to happiness. The trouble is, many of these factors are out of your control which is why organizations need to heed them in how they design work for people and how they train leaders.
If you get these factors right, then it makes things like commutes bearable or worthwhile.
For me, we’ll I’ve been doing what I do for long enough and as a result, it doesn’t always feel like what I’m doing is meaningful and I don’t feel like I’m learning much. So, I have to get off my arse and do something about it.
The work routine for so many knowledge workers was broken. Travelling hours into offices in mega cities for 5 days a week was a waste of time. It put a strain on family life and created resentment. The shift to a blend of home working, office working, working in coworking spaces etc that is giving people so much more control (freedom) over how they organise their lives.
However, a total shift to working from home isn’t right. We are social animals. We actually perform better when we work around other people, so we need to spend some time in offices. And younger workers need this so they can learn on the job.
Cities will get reworked. Local towns and cities (like Brighton) will benefit from people working closer to their homes. Think of the money not spent in Prets in London by Brightonians that can now wander to local coffee shops at lunchtime.
As with everything this change has offered us - and the digital tools that come with it - our challenge is to use the technology and time to OUR advantage, and we have a track record of being sh1t at that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
dadams2k11
ID10T Error
Get in to hacking and become a Penetration tester. As long as you have network experience you should be ok.
It's fun and you get to hack stuff for job and won't get put in prison. Plus, if anyone p8sses you off, you can get revenge [emoji848]
Edit: And you mostly work from home.
The_Viper
Well-known member
Good. People should be resigning if they're unhappy, I have a few ideas as to how bosses can 'scramble' to keep their people though:
1. Adapt to a pandemic world allowing freedom to work from anywhere if your job is able to do that (obvs not trades or teachers or retail etc)
2. Pay them what they're worth
3. Listen to what your employees ACTUALLY want as opposed to thinking "we know this is what you want, so here's casual friday or heres a pizza lunch!" as opposed to some actual decent stuff
4. Lower your needs when it comes to degrees, with more people going to uni, employers are more than ever wanting more and more shit from their applicants. A person with a 2:1 or a 2:2 could do a good job if you give them half a chance, as opposed to snubbing them for people with 1sts and X amount of experience and wondering why you can't find enough.
Do all of those, and your problem is almost solved IMO.
1. Adapt to a pandemic world allowing freedom to work from anywhere if your job is able to do that (obvs not trades or teachers or retail etc)
2. Pay them what they're worth
3. Listen to what your employees ACTUALLY want as opposed to thinking "we know this is what you want, so here's casual friday or heres a pizza lunch!" as opposed to some actual decent stuff
4. Lower your needs when it comes to degrees, with more people going to uni, employers are more than ever wanting more and more shit from their applicants. A person with a 2:1 or a 2:2 could do a good job if you give them half a chance, as opposed to snubbing them for people with 1sts and X amount of experience and wondering why you can't find enough.
Do all of those, and your problem is almost solved IMO.
At the same age, having worked decades for exactly that sort of tw@t, I created a plan to leave for a far happier work-life situation.
A few years on, it was the best thing I ever did in every conceivable way.
Initially I missed the banter with workmates there about football or anything, but that was a tiny price to pay. I think we chatted so much as a remedy because the owner had created such a toxic and micro-managed environment.
Imo your business coaching background will ease the transition and you’ll make a success of it.
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Sorrel
Well-known member
The train commute was immeasurably improved over the pandemic; back when hardly anyone else seemed to be going to London I enjoyed often being the only person in the train carriage. Recently the trains are getting busier again and - horror of horrors - I've even had people sitting next to me for the first time since the pandemic began. The trains are ok when they work; it's when the trains are cancelled that they become so annoying IMO.
As for a work break - I had one until I was 30 more or less. Certainly I never had a full time permanent job until I was 30 - and then during my 30s I was paying a lot more attention to my family than I was to any sort of career. It's only been since I've been 40 that I've actually tried to "get on" at work and I think I've been fairly lucky as I've been able to do that since bothering to make an effort.
Working - as the OP says - since 17 I can well imagine wanting a change of scene/break twenty years later. I guess it depends on your finances/situation, but it would probably do good to look at some alternatives for a while; if nothing else it would encourage you to go towards the kind of work you find satisfying within the field you know. It's certainly much better to have a go at doing something else than to later wish you had tried.