[Misc] The Great Resignation and career changes

BBassic · Sep 16, 2021

The Great Resignation is here and no one is prepared
Around the world, workers are quitting their jobs in record numbers – and bosses are still scrambling to figure out how to keep them

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/great-resignation-quit-job

It seems a global pandemic is a thing which causes people to become introspective and reconsider what work, and life, means to them.

I'm one of them. I've been thinking recently about changing jobs but remaining in the same field (I.T.) When I look at what's out there though nothing excites me. It's just more of what I'm already doing in a different office that I might have to visit once a month depending on their attitudes to home working.

So, does that mean a career change? How the hell does one do that?

I'm nearly 37, been working since I was 17, and I've only ever been any good at what I'm doing now. Being good at something doesn't mean I enjoy it though and I'm not able to just trudge through my days and enjoy life outside of work.

Work is 40 hours a week - why would I want to be unhappy, or at least underwhelmed, for that amount of time, every week, for the next 30 years?

Got me wondering if any others on here are thinking the same. Or if anybody has done the career change thing. How did you do it? How did it work out?

Tom Hark Preston Park · Sep 16, 2021

Personally I could always hack the work.

It's the commute I always found vile and damagingly stressful

Tony the Pony · Sep 16, 2021

I'm definitely one. I enjoyed working from home during the pandemic, but when the firm said they wanted everyone back in the office full-time, I decided that I couldn't face the daily commute from Littlehampton to Brighton any more, so I resigned. I'm now serving out my notice period, and I've found a nice part-time job only 5 minutes walk from my home. Much less salary, but a much better work-life balance.

I suspect I won't be the only one.

BNthree · Sep 16, 2021

Significant % of people at my work have either left or are in the process of leaving. Mainly as so many white collar jobs now are remote working or are asking for just 1 day a fortnight in the office it means jobs that were previously too far to commute daily are now an option. Lots of people getting much better paid jobs but without the 2 hours each way commute that they would previously have had to put up with.

Nobby Cybergoat · Sep 16, 2021

Thinking about it, but still not sure what I would want to do more

StonehamPark · Sep 16, 2021

I resigned from my job 3 months ago and left for a permanently remote job which allows me to work anywhere in North America.

An initial pay cut, but it's allowed me to move and buy a property.

I have a few friends who have done very similar, or are actively looking for new options.

Frutos · Sep 16, 2021

I had a total career change in my mid-30s, although this was pre-Covid.

Used to work in retail management, had been in retail since I was 16 as I'd never really settled on what I wanted to do with my life. I was totally stuck in a rut, and it was moving up North to move in with my now-husband that kicked me up the arse to change.

I wanted a 9-5, Monday to Friday as that fits with his work, and ended up getting a 12 month fixed term job in a sector I'd never in a million years have imagined myself working in. The fixed term got made permanent, I've since been promoted twice and I genuinely love what I do, with a career path that should see me happily through the rest of my working life and keep me challenged and motivated.

My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner - I'm happier, healthier and enjoy life more now than I ever did before.

dazzer6666 · Sep 16, 2021

Interesting article. I was seeing a fair bit of this during lockdown, exacerbated where I was by a delayed restructure which left everyone in limbo for months not knowing whether they were staying or leaving. When the restructuring was eventually triggered, far more staff than expected - particularly at more senior levels - opted to leave through essentially voluntary redundancy. I was one of those - had a catch up with several of my former colleagues last week - not a single one regrets leaving for a second, whether they have retired early, are currently between jobs or have moved into something else.

The bit about reconsidering what work and life means is the biggest factor in our group for sure. Working from home is OK up to a point, but your time still isn’t your own.

zefarelly · Sep 16, 2021

I jacked in 'work' in 2007/8 to be a stay at home dad and run my own business ( fortunately Mrs Zef kept us afloat financially) In November 2019 I went back to work just as everyone else went home. It had its moments, but I'm so glad to be back at work. Like THPP The bit I hate is the commute, almost 90 minutes a day, a whole working day a week.

I've been looking for a job closer to home all year, but they just don't seem to exist, I could work from home half the time but I'm not allowed . . . I haven't asked about 4 day week, but I'd be happy with that. Its all very individual.

Guinness Boy · Sep 16, 2021

I moved jobs mid lockdown.

Though in the same sector I have gone from a large, unwieldy multi-national with a toxic management culture to a start up / scale up with absolutely fantastic people. I've swapped a 4 day a week long distance commute to working from home with a day or two a week in either The City or Marylebone (not compulsory but good for networking now the pubs are back open) and I'm getting paid slightly more for it. The work is far more varied and I'm both happier and healthier, spending time with my kids despite some long days.

I was hired specifically because I have very specialist skills and 20 years plus business knowledge in my sector so I was never going to change industries but the change back to a small, entrepreneurial culture has been incredible.

There are lots of opportunities to change sectors currently though if that's your thing. Just look at this from the Beeb.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-53685650

BBassic · Sep 16, 2021

Blimey, lots of people in similar places as me. That's comforting to know!

Trufflehound · Sep 16, 2021

Guinness Boy said:
I was hired specifically because I have very specialist skills

You have a very particular set of skills?

[yt]jZOywn1qArI[/yt]

rbridd · Sep 16, 2021

BBassic said:
The Great Resignation is here and no one is prepared
Around the world, workers are quitting their jobs in record numbers – and bosses are still scrambling to figure out how to keep them

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/great-resignation-quit-job

It seems a global pandemic is a thing which causes people to become introspective and reconsider what work, and life, means to them.

I'm one of them. I've been thinking recently about changing jobs but remaining in the same field (I.T.) When I look at what's out there though nothing excites me. It's just more of what I'm already doing in a different office that I might have to visit once a month depending on their attitudes to home working.

So, does that mean a career change? How the hell does one do that?

I'm nearly 37, been working since I was 17, and I've only ever been any good at what I'm doing now. Being good at something doesn't mean I enjoy it though and I'm not able to just trudge through my days and enjoy life outside of work.

Work is 40 hours a week - why would I want to be unhappy, or at least underwhelmed, for that amount of time, every week, for the next 30 years?

Got me wondering if any others on here are thinking the same. Or if anybody has done the career change thing. How did you do it? How did it work out?

To counterpoint some of the other answers… I didn’t move when I was seriously thinking about it when I was in my early 40’s.

Out of the subsequent 16 years working, I maybe had 2 or 3 which I enjoyed working at the job I had.

I retired as early as I could.

I now look back at those years and consider them wasted. (Except for the pension which I built up in those years).

Swansman · Sep 16, 2021

I dont know how to get a job and I've been thinking about changing that.

Baldseagull · Sep 16, 2021

Guinness Boy said:
I moved jobs mid lockdown.

Though in the same sector I have gone from a large, unwieldy multi-national with a toxic management culture to a start up / scale up with absolutely fantastic people. I've swapped a 4 day a week long distance commute to working from home with a day or two a week in either The City or Marylebone (not compulsory but good for networking now the pubs are back open) and I'm getting paid slightly more for it. The work is far more varied and I'm both happier and healthier, spending time with my kids despite some long days.

I was hired specifically because I have very specialist skills and 20 years plus business knowledge in my sector so I was never going to change industries but the change back to a small, entrepreneurial culture has been incredible.

There are lots of opportunities to change sectors currently though if that's your thing. Just look at this from the Beeb.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-53685650

I have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.

I won't find you, or kill you, but I might promise to turn up at 9 on a Monday to fix something and then just not bother and turn my phone off. Nightmare.

Baldseagull · Sep 16, 2021

Swansman said:
I dont know how to get a job and I've been thinking about changing that.

Write a book about G Potter, he will be big news when we win the Champions League next season.

BBassic · Sep 16, 2021

Baldseagull said:
I have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.

I won't find you, or kill you, but I might promise to turn up at 9 on a Monday to fix something and then just not bother and turn my phone off. Nightmare.

Broadband engineer, perhaps?

Barnet Seagull · Sep 16, 2021

I've also been in IT for 20 odd years, however, I've come to the realisation that I'm never really going to enjoy work, (regardless of what it is) and what I do now pays the bills, gives a reasonable work/life balance and is in a good company and among good people.
With jobs and moves I weigh up 5 things.

Remuneration,
Manager,
Work/Life Balance,
Career,
The Work itself.

As long as I'm positive about 3/5, I stay. As soon as I feel it's tipping to 2/5, I'm done.

Kosh · Sep 16, 2021

I too am currently working my notice after nearly 11 years with my current employer... I've just turned 40 and felt it was stick or twist time... I'd grown apathetic, lethargy had set in and although elements of my job (outdoor based) are brilliant, things have changed with regard the direction of travel within my directorate. Ultimately I just can't agree with what I consider to be overtly commercial decisions taking precedent over sustainable growth, especially in the face of an environmental crisis.

That and corporate BS is out of control, as is this nonsense regarding so called work life balance and 'caring employer' shtick which grinds my goddamn gears.

Naturally I thoroughly relished handing my notice in, particularly as my line manager is an odious creep who I won't miss in the slightest. Obviously my resignation letter was a verbose and flowery trek through the foothills of my mind.

My new job is much more suited to my core beliefs and as a hippy, I'll be happy - which is all I want.

Yeah, I was at risk of becoming a total dick, just moaning all the time and not doing anything to change my circumstances. I used to take risks, I said I'd never get old and yet I'd already become a pale imitation of my younger self... I've rolled the dice and it feels ****ing great.

Oscar · Sep 16, 2021

I'm 48 and have been lucky to have worked from home running my own small business all the while being around for my son while he was growing up.

Post lockdown, I find myself increasingly stressed about money, the future and having worked on my own for so long. I quite fancy a change but have rather lost confidence in terms of job hunting and all that comes with that.

I'm not sure what the answer is but this thread has at least made me feel a little less like I'm the only one going*through a mini-crisis.

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