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Stuck in a Rut

Hi there - I am currently working as a Marketing Assistant for a BTB FTSE 100 Company in Gatwick. I have worked for the company for 3 years - first of all as PA to the Marketing Director and due to the Company shuffling the business around I am now a Marketing Assistant. Alas, I am not keen on the organisation as it is too ruthless for me and I don't feel like I am going to progress within the Company as I am a bit too easy going and the Corporate environment bores me!! The role I am doing at the moment is mainly admin and I don't feel like I am learning anything new. Also, there are no other roles within Marketing I would be interested in within the Company.

I have, unfortunately, never had an "ideal job" and so am not sure which way to turn now. I feel like I am at a cross-roads and I don't want to go into another role where I will be eventually be bored and have no opportunity to progress within the Company.

I graduated from Brighton Uni back in 2000 with a BSc (Hons) in Biology and Computing. I took my first job as an Energy Analyst for an Energy Consultancy but this bored me. So, as I have always had an interest in the Medical Field I decided to do a year's course to attain an Advanced Diploma in Medical Secretarial Studies whilst working part time as an IT Assistant/Medical Secretary at a local doctor's surgery. I really enjoyed the role is it was varied and the nature of the business was to help people! Which is something that gives me great job satisfaction. Unfortunately, the money was not good enough and would never equate to much working in the NHS.

So, I moved to my current role thinking that it's a big Company and I would hopefully progress and pursue my career. It hasn't worked out that way!

Now, I have no idea what to do! I have been searching for a job for the past year but there is nothing that particularly takes my fancy. Most of the jobs advertised are sales/recruitment/telesales.... none of which interest me at all.

I still feel that the only way i would get job satisfaction is by helping people. I don't know whether to go and do another course or what direction to go into. The only trouble is that I don't live at home anymore and have mortgage etc. to pay...

What would you do?!?!

Comments

I kind of know how you feel. I have always wanted a job where I feel that I am making a contribution to the world, making it a better place in my own way. Its pretty difficult when you are work as an Insurance P.A but I realized that my job also consists of working with claims and in my own way I am helping someone through a period where they really need someone who actually cares.

You sound creative so you could try find a company that has a creative, vibey team. Even if you are not helping people directly you could try looking for companies that do charity work and expect their staff to be involved in charity.

If you are afraid of changing jobs now maybe it means you are not ready for the change and just feeling really restless. If you can, try approaching your boss and ask if you could start some project that encourages people at work to contribute to different causes that you have a soft spot for. After all it is always good publicity for a company to be fulfilling some social responsibilities.

Bianca - June 15, 2007 1:06 PM

Can I suggest:

Working for Charity doing something like:

Fundraising
Marketing

Salary might be an issue, but can you make do with a lower salary if you are happy in your job?

My friend works in this sector and loves what she does.... and I am slightly envious.

Ade - June 29, 2007 10:35 AM

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