job stifling my personality

[dreamer0202]

I need help! I know that in these economic times, I am lucky to have a job (and a fairly high paying job for my age, too). But I hate what I do! Basically, I come in every day, sit down, and do the same thing (mostly formatting spreadsheets full of numbers). I work for an investment firm. This job bores me to tears. I'm not able to be creative, I have literally no flexibility, no potential for advancement (small company), and no variety. I NEED variety in my day. I got a second job as a foster care youth specialist, and I love that job (that's the field I got my degree in - psychology), but the schedule is crazy and I'm tired all of the time and have no time for hobbies. If I got a full time job in the field, it would pay about half of what I'm making now. I could afford the pay drop, but I'm not sure I would be happy with that. I've thought about going back to school for nursing, because that would give me the variety I need, allow me to still feel like I was doing something good for humanity, and I would have human interaction. I think I would be a good nurse, but I'm not sure if I would like it because I've never done it. And even if I decide to pursue that route, I still need a meantime solution before I lose my mind here.

 

Someone please help me decide what to do! Thank you. I feel like, figuratively speaking, my personality has been shoved in a closet and I haven't had the opportunity to use my best skills (creativity).

[riley123]

In my view, there will always be a 'good' reason not to do something. In this case it’s the economy. You're right, it's terrible and you are lucky to have a job.

 

But there are no guarantees in life. Who knows for sure if you'll ever have the opportunity to look for another job. If something else would makes you happier then you should do it.

[MollyElise]

If you can afford to work full time in what your degree is and it would make you happy, I think you should go for it. You aren't happy with what you have now, and you've got extra money.

[m tandy]

As a university student, I find it's easy to forget I'm actually living life, and not just preparing to! On one hand, someday you might look back and say "I wish I'd saved more money," but on the other hand, you might look back and say "one of the low points of the last decade was when I totally burned myself out with that terrible job and didn't let myself live the live I wanted."

 

You're probably better off taking the job you prefer, if it leaves you time for hobbies. If you have a choice between hobbies, chose the less expensive ones to make up for it. There are a lot of things that are really enriching that don't take much money to do.

 

As a final thought, I've heard bad things about nursing, and met a few people who quit nursing. It looks like a really stressful job. I know one woman who works 12-hour shifts all the time, and at bizarre hours.

[dreamer0202]

Thank you all for the advice! I think I should go for the job in Psychology. If it doesn't work out, I can always try nursing.

 

On a side note, m tandy, I've heard bad things about nursing too, but a lot of the "bad things" that I've heard are actually very attractive to me. For example, 12 shifts aren't so bad when you only have to work 3 days a week! Right now, I work two jobs, so I have 14 hour days. But I still have to work five days a week... so 3 twelve hour shifts sounds like a breeze! And I know it would be stressful, but I'd be busy and have a lot of variety in my day. I really don't mind stress as long as the day goes by quickly.

[riley123]

Good luck!

 

Reminds me of the motto:

 

"When you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life."

[COtuner]

Enjoy the opportunities while you have them. I can never go back to do what I really want to do because of financial concerns. Golden handcuffs are a reality for many of us, especially in this age of cost cutting and outsourcing.

[dreamer0202]

COtuner,

 

no way to cut back on expenses and pay off some debt to make your dream happened? after today, i'm totally convinced its worth it

[thejigsup]

I guess I'm lucky. I love what I do and they pay me okay for it. You have to love what you do, but you have to be a realist and know that you need money to survive. Try to do both.

[CaptainPlanet]

I think I would be a good nurse, but I'm not sure if I would like it because I've never done it. And even if I decide to pursue that route, I still need a meantime solution before I lose my mind here.

 

I wanted to be a scientist or an engineer but it didn't happen. I ended up as a retail clerk and am a soon to be monkey in the public service. I dunno what I will do but it looks like maybe some accounting study but I'm not even sure about that. I still want to be a scientist but I can't work on that right now because I need money. I'll probably get a second job and just collect the pay check.

 

So yeah, life really sucks and people are very stupid so don't listen to probably 80% of them.

 

Honestly I think you should just study nursing. As far as I can tell investment industry is full of criminals people who are part of the elite. Nursing you can make a real impact on people's lives and get to do some very interesting study. You could even become a doctor or a researcher or any other number of interesting things. You don't have to stop with nursing that much I know.

 

With investments from what I can tell is the best you will ever be is a paper pusher or a glorified receptionist unless you get in really early and get in with the right people. Its all part of an elitist club.

 

So I'd say go for it if you've got the money and are happy with your work experience. Personally I need to go off and work a nice 9-5'er and pick up a few workplace skills before I do any more study because my old jobs have just killed me and I need a rest. Just depends on what you personally want to do.

 

Maybe get some work experience at a hospital first.

[dreamer0202]

Thanks for the advice, CaptainPlanet. I think what I've decided is to try out a lower paying position in Psychology and see how that goes. If I find out that's not for me, I can continue to work there and work on my nursing degree. I totally agree - the investment industry is full of scum!!!

 

I wanted to be a scientist or an engineer but it didn't happen. I ended up as a retail clerk and am a soon to be monkey in the public service. I dunno what I will do but it looks like maybe some accounting study but I'm not even sure about that. I still want to be a scientist but I can't work on that right now because I need money. I'll probably get a second job and just collect the pay check.

 

Have you thought about trying for an apprenticeship in engineering or an internship in research? My boyfriend hates school and is not motivated in his classes, so he's going this route. I'm not sure how things are in Australia, but here, you can get an internship or an apprenticeship in the industry and try to work your way up from there. It would get your foot in the door, get you some extra cash in the meantime, and you could take a break from your studies. Just a suggestion