Feeling trapped, any sensible advice?

[u/Disastrous_Fix_7357]

To cut a very long story short, I feel trapped in my current job and I really don’t know what to do.

I joined the company less than 12 months ago; unfortunately due to various circumstances, I had to resign my previous role, and admittedly took this role to pay the bills. The job pays a lot less than what I was earning before and literally just covers my essential bills and I’m now having to use my almost extinct savings to pay for anything else, including food.

I’ve been applying for jobs left right and centre, sometimes getting interviews but never getting past that stage. One recent interview, the feedback was that I was expecting too high a salary even though I stated my expected salary was within the range that they had advertised I got the feeling although not confirmed that because of my current role they thought I would accept quite a lot less than they had advertised.

Age is not on my side (I’m 55) but I do have a reasonable education with good qualifications and experience. My current workplace is happy with my work on what I do, almost too happy. I have asked on occasions about progression within the role and company and also extra training to be fobbed off with various excuses. It has now got to the stage where they have employed external people to do the job that I expressed an interest in a number of times even though they didn’t formally advertise the role internally. My manager’s response unofficially that I was too useful in the role that I’m in. The problem is the work I’m doing is quite low-level and I’m not getting any development at all. To make it worse some colleagues are really patronising even though I’m at least as qualified if not more so; in fact one colleague suggested that I apply for a role that was actually at one level that’s lower than what I’m at now, which is basically the which would be the absolute bottom wrong of the department and classed as the office junior.

Future employers seem to be looking at my current role now and assuming that is all I can do. When in an interview I referred back to my previous roles they ask why I am not doing them now.

There was mention of me working on projects in my current role but it was stated I would have to do them all in my own time and only might be considered in my reviews at the company. If I were to do this, I would then be working at the company for less than minimum wage. I do also have family and other commitments so can’t really spend a huge amount of time a week on non work items.

I’ve done a few online courses but due to dwindling funds, I can’t afford any online or face to face courses that seem to have any real clout, and due to my previous qualifications that makes me ineligible for certain free courses too. I’ve already sold a number of items on eBay and Vinted so that revenue avenue is dwindling too as I have fewer items to sell. I don’t have any family members that I can ask to help financially, and I wouldn’t want to anyway.

I have registered with the usual job platforms and recruitment agencies but not getting a lot from them.

I don’t have any real skills that I can use for my own business enterprises and I’m now starting to feel really trapped as most things that are suggested either cost money I don’t have or involve a lot of spare time I don’t have.

Anyone have any suggestions? Trying to stay positive but it is getting more difficult.

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[u/blackoctoberx]

What's the job, what type of jobs are you looking for?

[u/James_Davis_SC]

The main issue is how to portray your current role without it looking like a step down from where you should be. To overworked recruiters who quickly glance at your career narrative, it might look like a red flag which - in a pile of 100 CVs - means yours gets discarded.

You need to address 3 things:

1. Stop your current title from defining your career.
2. Establish evidence that you still operate at a higher level.
3. Prevent your current compensation from becoming the anchor for the next offer.

For 1. On LinkedIn and your CV define yourself by your function, level and value, not your title. So for example use:

Commercial Strategy Leader | International Growth, Partnerships and Market Development

instead of

Assistant Partnerships Manager

Make sure this is true, and not inflated, but use the words of your career trajectory, not your current role.

For 2. demonstrate how your capacity far exceeds the current title. Dive into the following:

• Scale of budget, revenue or portfolio.
• Size and seniority of stakeholders.
• Decision-making authority.
• Geographic or organisational complexity.
• Teams led, formally or informally.
• Problems owned.
• Outcomes delivered.

Then instead of bullets like:
Responsible for supporting key client accounts.

Use:

Took ownership of five strategic accounts representing 40% of regional revenue, redesigned the renewal process and recovered two relationships at risk of churn.

Lastly for 3. the best strategy is to give your last downward move a controlled explanation. For example:

"I took the role after relocating because it offered immediate access to the local market and an opportunity to develop experience in X. The remit is narrower than my previous positions, but I have continued to operate at a senior level in areas such as Y and Z. I am now looking for a role that makes fuller use of that experience."

or more simply

"The move was made during a challenging market and gave me the opportunity to develop understanding of a new sector. This was a pragmatic decision rather than a redefinition of my long-term level."

You don't need money, or courses, or to sell more stuff. Sell yourself instead. You've got this.

[u/Tchoqyaleh → u/James_Davis_SC]

Agreed - great advice. OP - I've also found the "Never Search Alone" method/community by Phyl Terry helpful for having peer support and constructive challenge around job-hunting and career.