Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I’m in my mid 20s and I graduated with a 2:1 in English and creative writing three years ago. Though my dream career is to be a writer, my initial intention had been to go into teaching as a more sustainable path, but it didn’t work out and I was then unemployed during the economic downturn.
I did, however, find my current job 18 months ago. It’s taken me all that time to see it’s not what I really want to do or be in at all. The other issue is that, when I started in my current role, I was taken on for a project that is still technically my main department, but which has been effectively side-lined because of a series of marketing flops.
Another department was moved to our office in the summer, and to say that the workload has been relentless and all-consuming is to put it mildly. Just to keep up with it all, I’m exhausted in my evenings and weekends, and seem unable to leave work at work.
My boss and the company MD have since had meetings with me in which I’ve told them I’m struggling, and they are offering me support, but I feel like it’s not enough and that I’ve failed since graduating.
I am looking around at new jobs, but I don’t know what to do next. I feel that, because I’ve spent so long now in a career that’s not fulfilling and is a waste of my degree, it’s too late to move into something more suited to my skills and abilities. But, at the same time, I know full well I am not in a position financially to just walk in and hand my notice in tomorrow, nor would I dream of doing so. I feel so stuck and I don’t know what to do.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
• This article was amended on 10 December.
