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 have a history of poor career decisions, which is why I need your advice. After a few years of various short job experiences, I realised I needed to seriously focus on a career path. I decided to study HR and managed to get a job in recruitment team of a media company.
I never wanted to focus on recruitment, as this type of role requires personality characteristics far from who I am. However, I thought it could be a good starting point to later shift to a different type of HR activity, so I rolled up my sleeves and performed the best I could.
During the past four years in this role, I have realised it is quite hard to get out of recruitment. There was no possibility to do so in this media company, so I moved to a different one in which making the move after a while seemed more plausible.
After a few months in the new role, however, I find myself facing a great struggle. I know I am not performing as well as I should, as I have started feeling burned out by the constant pressure and contact with candidates and hiring managers.
I dread candidates’ calls, emails and requests, and tough meetings with hiring managers. I sometimes find myself avoiding these situations or procrastinating. This cannot continue: my health is deteriorating, my self-esteem is low and I am not doing any justice to these candidates and hiring managers. But I need a job to sustain myself, so I cannot leave without a plan.
During these years I realised what I enjoy (and am good at) is connected to reporting, data analysis (or applicant tracking systems software that handles the recruitment process) and support for other people. I switch on when there is an issue with the system and I need to figure out how to solve it.
I need a role with less people interaction. It’s too early here to request a transfer to a more suitable role, as I have not been in the company long and have not been a superstar. And when I look at outside opportunities, I realise I don’t fit all the requirements for junior data/HR systems/business analyst roles.
I am trying to fill in the gap (taking Excel advanced online courses, for example), but I need guidance.
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.
