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.
I’m 41 and feel completely unsuited to my job temperamentally. I believe I am good at what I do, in that I get results, but my employer prefers people in my role to be less assertive and refrain from input in group situations. They also constantly check that work conforms with colleagues’ and managers’ wishes.
I am more of an incisive, results-oriented problem-solver who works best independently, seeking input only when it is needed. My situation is compounded by the fact that I look the same age as other team members (in their early to mid-20s) when I have many more years of experience so I don’t feel the need to check what I do with others all the time.
Although I have won my company some of its biggest deals, I’ve been told I must change my way of working and I know the change will be about as successful as a giraffe doing the backstroke. I recognise that I am unsuited to the job because I don’t have the personality traits to follow routine processes blindly.
How can I change my career to something more suitable when my CV has these types of “comply and repeat” roles? I can’t afford to drop my salary level or pay more than a few hundred pounds for training – I feel trapped.
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.
