If you are working, what careers are you in?

I have had so many jobs in the past. I seem to stay in the job for a couple of years before moving on to something totally different.

Currently I am a police officer. I struggled for over 2 years in the job for loads of different reasons that all affected my asd. At the time I didn’t know I had asd (very recently diagnosed).  I had a major burnout and was off work for sometime. Now currently trying to work out my own limitations and what I am capable of doing work wise with the help of my work.

Sometimes you just need to try different things, even though it might be outside your comfort zone the only way you will know is to try. It also helps if you have the support of colleagues and bosses 

I'm the same, I do a job for a while, then lose interest and move on. I've had jobs in banks, libraries, printing, charities, travel helplines, accountants, schools, colleges, publishers, life coaching, probably others too. I've got an odd CV now.

I'm the same, I do a job for a while, then lose interest and move on. I've had jobs in banks, libraries, printing, charities, travel helplines, accountants, schools, colleges, publishers, life coaching, probably others too. I've got an odd CV now.

As the time is counting down, I'm actually getting much more annoyed and emotionally unstable at the injustice of it all.

That's such a bummer. I hope at least planning life 2.0 brought you some joy. And hope you're finding some value in things again at the moment, or some sense of serenity.

We've worked really hard for life 2.0 - almost finished the house, daughter finished education, finances all set - then they gave me 6 months.      It's going to be life 2.1 for my wife & daughter.

I'm excited for you. I had my Shirley Valentine moment when I turned 47 and have talked about life 2.0 ever since. "Now or never" is my mantra and I'm excited about what life has to offer. Life can be an open horizon even going into old age with the right role models and mental models. 

I think it's a sign of intelligence: you've learned all you're going to learn in a job, so move on instead of getting stuck vegetating in the same old job for years.

I think, as I said, I desperately need to move out of this tiny village, where everyone was born here and lived here all their lives. It's like Stepford.

3 more years til my daughter finishes her education, then we'll be free and can move around. Hopefully covid will have ended by then too. 3 more years. I'm hanging my hopes on that. Moving to a bigger town with new horizons, a fresh start. The cry of the mum/wife since time began: when is it my turn?

I am the exact same. My CV is quite long. Started in a bank myself. I have done admin, security, HR, recruitment, vet work and then ended up in the police. Generally stay 2 years in a job and then feel the need to move. 

I think it’s hard because people don’t really understand and see you as a job hopper but I just get to the stage I need to move on!

Thanks for that message, KKC! Well, I find you very interesting and I’m a real person so this can be sort of “in real life” right? :-)

I’m glad you were able to find that freelancing work. That’s wonderful. And yes I’m doing well. I hope you are too. :-)

Elizabeth

Thanks for your compliment. I just wish I could find people in real life who thought I was interesting. Most people I meet just stare blankly at me. I need to move out of this tiny village! I'm hoping to move asap.

I solved the problem of having difficulty applying for jobs by freelancing as a proofreader and editor. It's lonely working at home but at least I don't have to struggle with applying for jobs office politics and one-upmanship.

Hope you are doing well

P.S. KKC, you sound like a super interesting person!

Elizabeth

Hi, KKC!

I absolutely love that you mentioned CVs. Mine is lengthy and I am always aware that for some potential employers that might be a red flag. I’ve just trusted the universe, however, that I would always just get the work I was meant to have with an organization that wasn’t put off by that.

I think having a CV with multiple entries including ones that relate to work of only a year or less at a time can be counterbalanced by having solid references. But still, it takes courage to move forward with job applications, knowing that it’s possible the people reviewing the CV might make false assumptions based on multiple job entries.

Side note: I don’t think I would be capable of staying in one job for more than two years. Perhaps I should think differently but I like variety. My longest time at one job was eight years, but that was as a self-employed person. In that capacity, I didn’t have to deal with office politics or answer to a supervisor. It was heaven, but I didn’t like the stress of an unpredictable income, dealing with an economy in recession, etc. 

The predictability of a regular, if smaller, paycheque soothes the (irrational) anxiety that I carry related to finances. (Another topic.) 

Elizabeth

Me too about the CV! I've divided it into sections: Admin, Charity, Education, Publishing. And a section called Full Time Mother with all the jobs I do in that area.

I have an odd CV too! Lots of jobs, lots of industries. I've been "let go" more times than I care to count as it would make me feel sad. I just lump jobs together as "temporary work" after a few years otherwise my CV would be very long. I've had my current job for 18 months, the third longest ever. My employer has autistic family members and seems very chilled out with me.