When your dream job disappoints..!

Not the job I was hoping for!

About 8 years ago, I was excited to change role. It turned out to be a case of ‘when your dream job disappoints…’

I had been looking for a change and, despite being anxious about not having had an interview for a while, I was successful in securing the role I wanted.

(Even the dreaded role play part of the interview went well!)

The new role started and I was really enjoying the work I was doing. I liked my new shared office with a beautiful view. I loved working alongside my new colleagues…

Then my grandmother got sick. Sadly she passed away. And at the same time I learned that I was no longer going to be working with the people I had wanted to work with.

I was devastated. I couldn’t seem to untangle the loss of my grandmother and the work changes in my brain or my emotions. For the first time I can remember, I came back from holiday with tonsillitis.

Rolling the dice

I bumbled along for a while and then, fortunately perhaps, I was forced to make a change. I needed to apply for a new role. Reorganisation of the department forced me to make a decision on whether to try to return to what I had previously been doing, or to try something new.

I took a chance. I ‘rolled the dice’. On the documents we had to fill in to reapply for roles following reorganisation, I said I didn’t want to rejoin my old team – I wanted to change role completely. Some of those closest to me thought I’d gone mad!

I then applied for two new roles. Two more interviews later and I was in the position of choosing between two offers.

(A couple of years later I once again communicated that I wanted a change – more on that another time!)

Looking back, I’m glad I made the decisions I made – even though some were thrust upon me.

A common experience?

From talking with my clients, I now know that I am not alone in finding that a role I really wanted turned out to be different in reality.

Through talking it through and careful questioning, I’m able to help them figure out whether they want to stay or to go.

If they want to stay, we figure out what needs to change to improve their current situation. If they want to go, we figure out what they want to do next – and how they want to leave their current role, team and colleagues, what they want their legacy to be.

When your dream job disappoints…

Are you in a role you thought you’d love? Is it not quite what you hoped it would be?

Are you considering making changes? Are you tempted to chuck it all in and potentially ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’?

[As an aside – my ‘baby’ turned 16 today – on the 16th :) ]

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below – or please get in touch via the contact form or call me on +44 7526 740486. Ask me about my special offer of 3-months concentrated coaching support to get you in a better place by Christmas!

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Best wishes!

Sian

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