I Dread Work... I Miss my Former Life

How come they didn’t give you any time to prepare? When did they tell you about it? I’d ask for extension. If you can’t get extension, then try to memorize the ones you don’t know. It can’t be all 70 questions.

At first my boss told me we wouldn't take the exam for another couple of months, then it was in another two weeks, and now it's Tuesday. Not enough time to prepare, and I cannot ask for an extension. We have to take the exam together as a group, with my whole team and department. Argh. I am now cramming.

So I think I've decided I want to go into SEO editorial work. There are jobs out there for SEO editors, and I found one that I want to apply for. I've already interviewed with this company for a strategist role, but they never offered me the position and also never turned me down. I had an initial great conversation with the CEO last summer.

So, I am wondering: should I feel guilty for wanting to leave my new position and apply for another this soon? I've only been there for one month and they're already losing one senior strategist this week. And I already know that in the end, you have to always look out for #1, which is yourself, and business is business and not personal... I still feel guilty though.

BUT, the thought occurred to me yesterday that maybe I SHOULD start looking again since i am not happy. And since I am all about being happy in life, how can I continue on in this job when I don't think I will be happy doing it??

The other issue I face is now my patchy work history over the last six months. I was laid off in February, then working just one part-time contract job (no benefits), I left that job after five months, and now I am thinking of leaving a job where I've only been employed for one month? How do I explain this?

It would actually be a miracle if this company decides to interview and consider me given the above. I would have to create a good story/reasoning around what has happened in my cover letter somehow. BUT, since I've already interviewed there, and since I qualify for the editor role, MAYBE they would consider me????

I think I am desperate to leave this company now. I am starting to feel that way....... at least yesterday this is where my thoughts led to kind of out of the blue, or suddenly.

The other possibility is I approach HR at my current company at some point and tell her that I am in the wrong position. But I doubt they will create a SEO editor role for me there. I don't think they need one exactly.

I just don't know.....

ARGH --- back to studying for this stupid exam!!!

If you think the SEO editor position would be a better fit for you, I say go for it. To explain the patchy work history, maybe say you were having health issues. It's illegal for them to ask you to elaborate.

TY.... I am honestly scared of stepping in this direction, but I just might do it. I suppose there's no harm in at least applying for the one position.

You could simply say that the current position is more technical and not a good foot. That SEO editorial fits your skill set better, which is why you are interested.

That's a great answer! Your typo made me giggle... not a good foot, hehehe.

I don’t see any harm in looking for a job that soon if it’s a better fit.

My daughter was SEO editor first year after finishing undergrad. She did well and that job had great perks (free stuff from specific manufacturers) but she didn’t really like the company and she went different route after that. But I thought it was an awesome job at the moment. I do remember she said no one was there for a long time though. It seemed transitional kind of job that people did on the way to something else. Maybe it was just her experience.

Can you do it long term, life long career, stable place to be until retirement?

That's what I get for responding through Tapatalk on my phone. Autocorrect...ug...

Wow, that's so coincidental!!! It's a rare type of job to land. That is too bad about your daughter's experience though. I think any job in SEO is a long-term career -- anything Internet related, and related to ranking websites on a search engine for traffic, sales and revenue would be.

argh. Lol.

Oh don’t feel bad, it was years ago when she just graduated. She had no intentions to have it long term and it’s not what her undergrad or grad degrees are in. She dislikes corporate world so that wasn’t something she’d ever do long term.

Would you be applying to new places or ask in your own place?

Ahhh Ok, I see.

There's one employer I know of who is hiring an editor. I've already interviewed with the company for a strategist role and had a good conversation (I believe) with the CEO.

So I will apply there at least, then see what also happens within my own company.

Maybe in time I can transfer into a different role -- not sure how that works?

They told me sometimes people end up in the wrong positions, and they find another, more suitable one for that person within the company. I just don't know how long is appropriate before I bring it up to HR??

I haven't gained clients yet, so I am wondering if I should say something before I do, or later down the road? I have no clue.

So there's a question for everyone:

How long is appropriate before I tell HR I think I'm in the wrong position???

I've been there for over a month (since June 25). I've worked on several side projects for colleagues. They have waited to give me clients until they think I'm ready. Plus, an employee is leaving soon, so I know they're shifting clients around and will do it all at the same time (maybe by the end of this week they'll announce the client shifts and who gets what, including me).

So when do ppl think I should tell HR? Before I gain clients and really start working in my role, or later down the road after a few months of working with clients??

I don't think you should do this unless you're ready to leave the company. They could be nice about it or they could terminate your employment. If the company is bleeding clients, they may not have new positions to shift you to. Can you think of how you can propose shifting your current position to be something that will gain the company clients and revenue?

Omg duh, I didn’t even think about that aspect of things. Thanks!!!

I saw my therapist last night. I got my client list yesterday. I woke up depressed.

WHY did I have to change my entire job in order to learn what I am best at doing, only to see that I was already doing in my last job what I do best and what I like to do best?

And I WAS happy in my last position. ARGH!!!!!! It is SO MADDENING to me.

And I did get that large beast of an ecommerce client as a part of my client roster. ARGH.

I am simply just not happy. I really believe I made a huge mistake. I am going to apply for that one editorial position I found and see if they'll even interview me. My therapist says there's no harm since I am still in the 3-month probationary period, and that goes both ways in a job.

What a freaking HUGE mistake -- all because I thought more money and a higher level position would be best.

Good on you all the same, golden_eve. You took a risk, you took a gamble, and that's okay. Hope everything works out for you and your happiness returns - it will. Do you have any 'as needed' kinds of meds to lift your spirits? Whatever the case, hang in there, you'll get through this don't worry. Just wanted to send you some support.

Thank u!!!

I have anti anxiety as needed meds which help!

So, another question:

I finally heard back from my most recent boss (whom I wrote to recently). I had said in my note that I missed working with them. In his response, he said they missed me too.

Now the question is: Do I write back and ask him if I can have my old job back??? But maybe ask if I can go back full-time and at a lower salary (since they decided to hire a more junior person, but full time)??? It's probably at least 20K lower.

I feel almost panicky to want to leave my new job. I would be kind of screwing them over if I left. UGH. They would be down one person and with a client list that needs to be dispersed among the few ppl they do have for this job.

I don't know..... I want to ask just to see if they would hire me back on, but I don't want to cause bad blood with the new company either. As it is, I am thinking of applying for that editorial job too.

Can you afford taking a job with 20k lower salary than what’s normally paid? It seems very extreme. 20k a year is a lot of money. Is that much less than what you get paid now? Why would you agree to that? I’d not call a potential employer and offer to get paid less. I don’t think it would look good. Like you don’t value yourself or don’t think you know your job to get paid decent. Now I understand taking small pay cut, like Id take small pay cut if I didn’t have to drive far anymore, like it would cut price of gas. But I am talking 1-2k not 20.

Leaving current employer isn’t a big deal if you have reasonable explanation: substantially more money or family change or move or health issue etc I wouldn’t worry about it.

Do they have vacancies? Is that the same employer that cut your full time hours? Would they even have full time hours now?

It's not the same employer who cut my hours. i was working part time for them and now since I've left they decided that they want to hire a more junior level person full-time at a lower salary than what I made with them.

Yes, I could survive on 20K less, but it IS a lot less. I am just assuming that's what they would pay a more junior level person.

Thing is, I don't feel qualified for the senior level role I am in. As I've mentioned before, those more junior to me seem to know a whole lot more than I do. I don't feel well prepared for this role or truly ready for it. I don't feel up to the challenge either, of having to learn SO much. Then again, I could potentially grow into my role over time. Let's say after one year.

I really just don't know what to do.

I’d be applying to jobs like editors etc and maybe go through recruiters? It’s ok to ask former employer if they have full time position opening. Wouldn’t right away tell him I would work for less money.

Thank you!

Could you survive on $20k less without living with your BF? I'd just want to be sure that I could survive on my own too.

I agree with Divine, you could see if the old employer might have an opening, but don't discuss salary or open with that you'd take a pay cut.

I think you need to consider long-term what taking a pay cut will do to you. It will make it harder for you to earn more in the future. It's difficult to take a pay cut, then expect in a future opportunity that you'll not only jump up to what you used to make but surpass it.

I understand the need to get out of the ill-fitting job, just don't make a rash decision that may affect your career long-term as you look for a better-fitting position.

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