The Student Room Group

I'm dreading to start full time employment...

I've recently finished university and got my degree in which I got a 2.2, which is ok and I have since got a job which is due to start next week.

The thing is I'm dreading to begin this new job as I know I'll always be tired, it's a field I've never previously worked in and I'll only see my girlfriend at weekends and I know this is normal for most people to work a full week but is it normal to dread it this much?

I think a big factor will be being away from my girlfriend and living back at home after having my own space at university.

Any thoughts would be great

Scroll to see replies

Join the club.

I'm not sure how I'm going to cope with concentrating non-stop for 40 hours a week and I'm worried about not being any good at it/making mistakes.

The only good thing is that once I leave university I'll be moving in with my boyfriend and so I'll see him much more that I do at the moment. I can't wait for that!

Try thinking of something good about the situation - earning your own money?:dontknow:
I dreaded starting as well but you get used to it very fast and I never found I was that tired
Reply 3
Original post by doodle_333
I dreaded starting as well but you get used to it very fast and I never found I was that tired


Do you find you have much energy for other things? Do you think it will be easy to maintain my relationship with my girlfriend ?
Original post by Anonymous
I've recently finished university and got my degree in which I got a 2.2, which is ok and I have since got a job which is due to start next week.

The thing is I'm dreading to begin this new job as I know I'll always be tired, it's a field I've never previously worked in and I'll only see my girlfriend at weekends and I know this is normal for most people to work a full week but is it normal to dread it this much?

I think a big factor will be being away from my girlfriend and living back at home after having my own space at university.

Any thoughts would be great


Welcome to the world of work. I am afraid I have little sympathy for you - this is what life is like - having to get up and out and make a crust to get by.

At least you have a job - be grateful for that.

Life is about making choices - work hard and do well and your situation will change for the better.
Original post by Anonymous
Do you find you have much energy for other things? Do you think it will be easy to maintain my relationship with my girlfriend ?


plenty of energy, I prefer to go to bed slightly earlier than I used to but that's more about being used to getting up early but I do whatever I like, I rarely spend an evening just at home and go out on weekends too

it wont be as easy to be long distance that goes without saying, but there's no reason you can't make it work if you are both happy with each other, trusting and accepting
Original post by Anonymous
Do you find you have much energy for other things? Do you think it will be easy to maintain my relationship with my girlfriend ?


you didnt say how many hours youre doing. if it's 35 then it shouldnt be too hard. why dont you find a part time job.
Hmm, it might be hard to get used to, but it depends on the person. I dropped out of uni in 2010 and moved back home to get an office job where I started at 7.30am every day, with an hour commute on top too, and was flagging for a few months by about 1. That being said I did get used to it eventually, and the wages deffo helped! Don't worry, there are countless other people who time manage relationships around full time work, as well as leisure activities. I'm now working 44 hours a week and still have time for going to the gym two nights a week, plus studying for a degree part time too. You'll be fine, it just takes some hard work and a bit of getting used to.
(edited 9 years ago)
Me too! I'm going to be leaving the house at 7am and not getting home till almost 7pm! Plus I still want to fit in 2 gym sessions a week, and then socialising with new housemates... Doing chores and preparing food... There aren't enough hours in the day!
Original post by Anonymous
I've recently finished university and got my degree in which I got a 2.2, which is ok and I have since got a job which is due to start next week.

The thing is I'm dreading to begin this new job as I know I'll always be tired, it's a field I've never previously worked in and I'll only see my girlfriend at weekends and I know this is normal for most people to work a full week but is it normal to dread it this much?

I think a big factor will be being away from my girlfriend and living back at home after having my own space at university.

Any thoughts would be great


You know what's great about working full time? MONEY. It makes everything better and contrary to popular belief, it does buy happiness.
Having less free time isn't so bad when you realise you can now afford to do what you want with it.
Just found this thread because im in this situation now working full time.

I dont care if i get negative reaction, full time work is the absolute worst thing on the entire planet.

Money does NOT buy you happiness, and thats fact. If it did the richest people would be the happiest, so youd never have millionaires with depression would you. Happiness doesnt come from buying stuff, it comes from having a contented life situation in all areas, not blowing your money because youre living in silent desperation. You buy stuff to make you happy, you fall into the capitalist rat trap. Work work work, buy stuff stuff stuff, hoard it, its all a waste anyway, work some more, collect more stuff. Pointless. You always want more.

And its not like you even have a lot of money anyway, dont kid yourself when youve paid all your bills youll have F all. And thats after you broke your back for 5 days.

When people say "work to live", thats pretty much nonsense too, because you work way more than you do anything else. People strive for "balance" in their lives. To me, the notion of a "balance" in the sense of the word is so equal amounts of time is spent at both sides of the scales, so they literally "balance".

So you tell me how working 5 days out of 7, and working at least 40 hours a week is "balanced" by you spending a couple of measly hours in the gym a couple of times a week. Or one night and a few hours with a few friends. Thats literally the sum total of your life outside of work when you add commuting times, chores, errands, getting ready for work and other obligations in that are necessary. And youll also be shattered of course.

Add family into the mix, you wont even have that.

To do wholesome activities that will give you different perspectives on life, and a sense of satisfaction and achievement, you need TIME. and TIME is a commodity youll never have when you get your job. Youll run around forever and no amount of money will buy back all the time lost at your desk.

The whole notion of life as we live it is utterly absurd frankly. You get a mortgage for a house. Owning a house is supposed to be the pinnacle of your achievements, so you take out an enormous loan that you spend the majority of your life paying off. If your company slows down, you get fired, you lose it anyway at the drop of a hat. And for what? you sleep there and the rest of your life youre barely there.

Finally you become free of payments, you retire at 60-65. If youre lucky and can afford it.

Then what? Youre too old to do most of the stuff you wanted to do for your whole life which work has ruined, Your body aches, and all the stuff you hoarded is junk. Youve spent that much time at work, it institutionalises people to the point they dont know what to do with themselves when it ends. Theyve lived the same narrow life forever.

Im well aware that im venting, but having a full time job is the absolute worst part of life.
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 12
Original post by The_Exile
Just found this thread because im in this situation now working full time.

I dont care if i get negative reaction, full time work is the absolute worst thing on the entire planet.

Money does NOT buy you happiness, and thats fact. Happiness doesnt come from buying stuff, it comes from having a contented life situation in all areas, not blowing your money because youre living in silent desperation. You buy stuff to make you happy, you fall into the capitalist rat trap. Work work work, buy stuff stuff stuff, hoard it, its all a waste anyway, work some more, collect more stuff. Pointless. You always want more.

And its not like you even have a lot of money anyway, dont kid yourself when youve paid all your bills youll have F all. And thats after you broke your back for 5 days.

When people say "work to live", thats pretty much nonsense too, because you work way more than you do anything else. People strive for "balance" in their lives. To me, the notion of a "balance" in the sense of the word is so equal amounts of time is spent at both sides of the scales, so they literally "balance".

So you tell me how working 5 days out of 7, and working at least 40 hours a week is "balanced" by you spending a couple of measly hours in the gym a couple of times a week. Or one night and a few hours with a few friends. Thats literally the sum total of your life outside of work when you add commuting times, chores, errands, getting ready for work and other obligations in that are necessary. And youll also be shattered of course.

Add family into the mix, you wont even have that.

To do wholesome activities that will give you different perspectives on life, and a sense of satisfaction and achievement, you need TIME. and TIME is a commodity youll never have when you get your job. Youll run around forever and no amount of money will buy back all the time lost at your desk.

The whole notion of life as we live it is utterly absurd frankly. You get a mortgage for a house. Owning a house is supposed to be the pinnacle of your achievements, so you take out an enormous loan that you spend the majority of your life paying off. If your company slows down, you get fired, you lose it anyway at the drop of a hat. And for what? you sleep there and the rest of your life youre barely there.

Finally you become free of payments, you retire at 60-65. If youre lucky and can afford it.

Then what? Youre too old to do most of the stuff you wanted to do for your whole life which work has ruined, Your body aches, and all the stuff you hoarded is junk. Youve spent that much time at work, it institutionalises people to the point they dont know what to do with themselves when it ends. Theyve lived the same narrow life forever.

Im well aware that im venting, but having a full time job is the absolute worst part of life.


I disagree.

I am looking forward to working full-time. I will enjoy my job, and it will be my life.

I buy happiness all the time. I am a collector, and there is a huge difference between collecting and hoarding. I would also argue it is not junk.

The very few hobbies I have will fit easily around my full-time job.

The majority of people do not enjoy their job, and I would go as far as to say nobody would work given the choice (personally, I still would), because the want to spend their time on hobbies and/or with their family/partner, my hobbies are flexible, and nobody will distract me from my work.

So whilst I agree with your post in general, I am an exception and so I disagree.
Original post by KH94
I disagree.

I am looking forward to working full-time. I will enjoy my job, and it will be my life.

I buy happiness all the time. I am a collector, and there is a huge difference between collecting and hoarding. I would also argue it is not junk.

The very few hobbies I have will fit easily around my full-time job.

The majority of people do not enjoy their job, and I would go as far as to say nobody would work given the choice (personally, I still would), because the want to spend their time on hobbies and/or with their family/partner, my hobbies are flexible, and nobody will distract me from my work.

So whilst I agree with your post in general, I am an exception and so I disagree.


I agree with you in the sense that youre making an interest you have into your job by the sounds of it, which is good and healthy. Im coming at it from the point of view of someone who has a job "to pay the bills".

I come from the point of view that i hear many people say "Ill work to live" or that "working will fund my life outside of work". Im sorry, but thats just rubbish. There is more work than non work.

People can say "yeah well you work 40 hours you have 65 doing what you want". No you dont. Theyre arranged in such a way you CANT do what you want, and youre gonna be spending a heck of a lot more days at work than youre off.

Of course as well, if you have a very modest life outside of work which you have, and I am in no way suggesting thats a bad thing, then yes there isnt much to miss out on from that point of view.
Reply 14
Original post by The_Exile
I agree with you in the sense that youre making an interest you have into your job by the sounds of it, which is good and healthy. Im coming at it from the point of view of someone who has a job "to pay the bills".

I come from the point of view that i hear many people say "Ill work to live" or that "working will fund my life outside of work". Im sorry, but thats just rubbish. There is more work than non work.

People can say "yeah well you work 40 hours you have 65 doing what you want". No you dont. Theyre arranged in such a way you CANT do what you want, and youre gonna be spending a heck of a lot more days at work than youre off.

Of course as well, if you have a very modest life outside of work which you have, and I am in no way suggesting thats a bad thing, then yes there isnt much to miss out on from that point of view.


I am sorry. I completely misunderstood what you were saying, and now agree. I really do agree with your points.

I am not too sure what you mean making an interest into a job, I will be doing a job I enjoy.

Yes, I am aware my life is boring and I am equally aware it is a bad thing. However I believe my career needs my full attention because it is important for the future.

I hate the fact that after paying the bills there is not much left over. All that hard work for nothing. That is why I want my job to be enjoyable and rewarding.
Reply 15
While it may be true that "money does not buy happiness", ive found being financially secure & independent the closest to "happy" there is. Sure it can be draining but no job should be truly soul-sucking or you should quit. If you can find the right job with sustainable pay its nothing to be afraid of.
Ive worked full time for three years and am almost the opposite of you - dreading going back to education and having a stupidly tight budget all the time. :s-smilie:
Original post by The_Exile

Im well aware that im venting, but having a full time job is the absolute worst part of life.

I'm pretty much in complete agreement with you.

When you begin to work fulltime, you work your life away. You spend so much time in the office. You go home and get a couple hours and then you have to go to bed. You may have more money, but the time you have to enjoy it is very limited. It's more than likely going to get worse as you get older and get better jobs. All it means is more hours in the office and whatever else you have to complete at home.

It's ****, but sadly, that's life. For some reason, this became accepted as the norm.
Original post by Anonymous
I've recently finished university and got my degree in which I got a 2.2, which is ok and I have since got a job which is due to start next week.

The thing is I'm dreading to begin this new job as I know I'll always be tired, it's a field I've never previously worked in and I'll only see my girlfriend at weekends and I know this is normal for most people to work a full week but is it normal to dread it this much?

I think a big factor will be being away from my girlfriend and living back at home after having my own space at university.

Any thoughts would be great


I worked full time for an internship during high school and although it kind of sucked while I was working, the satisfaction of going home after a long day, not having homework to do, knowing I had a free relaxing weekend ahead of me was great.
I'm on a gap year at the moment and I'm working full time. My partner, who has finished his degree also works full time. It was an odd transition at first, but I grew into it fairly easily. I still get to spend plenty of time with my partner and doing the extra activities outside of work that I love doing.

You might think there is insufficient time, but if something is important then you'll make time.
I agree that you get used to it fast..

First few weeks I found exausting - especially as my job requires a lot of movement, and is not just sitting at a desk.

but you get adjusted quickly, and honestly, by a few months in, I was so used to the routine, that the idea of being commited to work for as little time as i was at uni, seemed very strange..

Also, and this ofcourse is not true for every job, but I actually find life overal far far less stressfull. My job is confined to a set amount of hours, and whilst those hours can be very stressfull, I am lucky that my work can never spill over them. So as soon as work is finished, I can relax and know that I have no more work to do for that night/weekend/holiday... whereas at university, it felt like there was always sometihng to do.. always a deadline coming, always an exam - there was never a time when I could just think 'right, I have nothing work-related to do'.. which now I do every night

Latest