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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

I’m 24 and unhappy in my dull arts admin job. How do I move my career on?

Portrait of bored young businesswoman
I’m worried that I’ll never progress to more challenging work ... Photograph: John Lund/Drew Kelly/Blend Images/Getty Images

I don’t feel challenged in my job. I’m nearly 25, with a creative arts degree and an extremely positive, determined attitude. I have a great CV, packed with short-term contracts with some brilliant arts organisations. However, I worry that I will never progress to more challenging, sustainable and significant work than my current arts administration role. I often find myself miserable on a Sunday evening because of the prospect of going into work and spending 15-to-20 hours of my 40-hour working week with nothing to do and the other 20 organising my manager’s email or photocopying. I frequently ask if I can support the team more in any areas but it never seems to amount to anything more than proofreading. My concern is that this role won’t give me the experience I need to further my career. My dream job is to work in learning and engagement, delivering and producing projects that help children and families engage with arts and creativity. Is it normal at my age to be so unhappy in my role?

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