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Stuck in a rut career wise - want to move forward, all help/advice welcome.

I should give a brief bit of background here before I start. I'm 27, and four years ago this week I graduated with a 2:1 in English Literature and Creative Writing with English Language Teaching. The four years since have been interesting to say the least. I graduated when the economic downturn was at its worst (2012/2013) and I was initially pursuing a teaching career here in the UK. I shadowed in a primary school two weeks after finishing uni, but the set up of the teaching environment full time, and a rejected PGCE application coupled with several rounds of failed interviews for teaching assistant vacancies put that career path well and truly on the back burner.

I was unemployed for just under 18 months, constantly getting interviews and second or third rounds of interviews, never quite being good enough to be selected, until I finally got taken on by the company I'm with now, which in April next year will have been three years (I started with them in 2014).

I did have a role as a Membership Coordinator I was specifically taken on for at the time which, whilst not taking up the bulk of my working week, was my job title and which, even though it was in an industry I had no experience of (or particular interest in working in long term - motor insurance, in case you're wondering) I did well at as it utilised a lot of my creative writing and analytical skills. I just took each day as it came, as far as I was concerned, I was finally earning some money, and I was recognised a lot for the work I did as well, I won Employee of the Month on two occasions.

I was also working in other departments of the company during the week as well. Some departments I found easier to work in than others, and there was one I did work in last year which I did find hard going mentally, to the point that I privately sought out counselling from a therapist, which helped me feel better mentally for a while. But then there was a major shake up in our company at the start of the year.

A lot of the colleagues I worked with either got reallocated to our company's headquarters, were moved to other departments, offered severance packages or demoted. I was in the latter category and since March, I have been demoted back to the very bottom rung of the company, working on the call centre floor. I did at the very least however, keep my salary from my old job title. I didn't take the severance package because there wasn't any guaranteed security there and I've always been told it's better to be working whilst you're searching for a new job because you're more likely to be employed.

I know the role is really not ideal, not for my skills base or for my CV, but I'm a grafter by nature, whatever gets thrown at me, so I just knuckled down and hoped for the best. However, since I was demoted, I have had no end of trouble from my boss and our HR manager who have been on some kind of mission to get me fired from the company no matter how hard I work, how many calls I take, or how polite I am to people on the phone, even threatening a disciplinary on me during this summer, for trying to accuse me of doing something on a call which I didn't even do, but thankfully, with my dad and a family friend of his who works in employment law's help, I successfully cleared my name on. However, that time was incredibly worrying for me and I lost a lot of trust in them both and it sapped a lot of my confidence in myself.

Since I was in primary school, I've suffered with a mild of Aspergers syndrome, and all through school and uni I had SENCO learning support. It means I have some difficulties with learning and I absorb things in a different way to others, and I struggle with some social situations. Some days I cope better than others, other days I find it hard going. Since I disclosed this to my boss, it's almost like a stick that's being used to beat me with, despite numerous meetings during and since the quashed disciplinary from her and my HR manager telling me otherwise.

I'd say in the last two weeks - partly cause I've been on annual leave for most of it - I've had a better time and just focussed on the work, and just making that the focus rather than everything else going on around me. But I know I can't go on stuck in the same position I'm in now. I'm three years off turning 30 and more than ever I know I need to and want to make a change.

I'm just trying to do it the sensible way at the moment. I'm retraining in digital marketing and also in specialised proofreading and editing, doing accredited courses in both of those which are a couple of hours a week. I've been applying for new jobs as well ever since the demotion. I've had two interviews so far, neither of which I got, one was for a big company in London that would have used a lot of my skills base from the role I was demoted from. I also volunteer in my spare time for a leading cancer charity, doing collections for them every few months or so. And I have a blog that I showcase my writing on and my reviews of different music and books and things that I like.

I know I can't technically call myself a graduate anymore 4 years on, but I'm wondering if I should take the plunge and go after some graduate schemes. I've read other topics on here which seem to suggest it's only financial services - which I wouldn't particularly want to go into - that are really particular about how long it's been since you've graduated but I really don't know for sure. I would just really appreciate some advice because I just need some direction in my work life and something positive that will utilise my skills and my talents. I don't want it to be where I turn 30 and I've achieved nothing.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 1

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by SD09

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Have you looked at the charity sector for paid employment? They have roles for people who understand membership management, creativity (activities, literature, websites, getting their message across etc) and writing. Also universities (which are charities, and also have many similar roles)

I'd take a look at 3rd Sector jobs and specialist websites like that, try and leverage something out of your BHF volunteering as well - can you ask to spend a day at the regional hq/offices?