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 work for a brand, design and innovation agency. At 31 and with five previous jobs, I’m stuck between staying somewhere safe yet unchallenging to stop yet another notch on my CV, or moving on to somewhere more fulfilling.
Creativity is my oxygen, and I thrive on new ways of thinking, pushing boundaries and daring work. That’s exactly why I got into this field.
Last year, after a difficult period of late nights with my old employer, I chose somewhere more stable. It has nice people, free breakfast and it’s a profitable business that’s in a good location. There are no egos, I leave work at 5:30pm on the dot and my line manager is a pussycat. I’ve been in this job for 14 months.
But I have that itch. The work is conventional and made to please clients. I’m without work for one third of the week. New ideas are not welcomed. Ambition is not encouraged, and I’m paid around £10k less than the industry average. I have traded creative freedom for gentle safety.
I’m not sure if I have Goldilocks syndrome and can’t settle or be grateful for what I have, or that I should really try hard to find that place where there’s the energy I crave.
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.
