Have you ever left a job you've been in for donkey's years?

[Woolmercardington]

As per thread title.

I've just handed my noticed in at my learning assistant job at an FE college that I've been in for just over 19yrs! Started there when I was 25!

I've wanted to leave for a good number of years and, as I work part-time, I managed to find an admin job a couple of months ago that fit around my current hours, so I could test the waters. I was thinking of holding out until next summer but the thought of going back after Christmas just filled me with gloom.

We are a fairly large team and many have come and gone, but the ones who have gone have tended to do so after less than 5yrs. Everyone else has been there 16-25yrs. Quite a few are at the end of their tether but are sticking it out till retirement. We are all part of the furniture.

I'm not career orientated. I don't want to climb any ladders, I just don't want to feel my soul is being sucked out of my body every time I'm there. But to be fair, it's not a horrible job or environment, I was just massively fed up.

It's such a strange feeling, though. It's quite surreal knowing I won't ever be going back after Christmas. Don't think it's really sunk in. I always though I'd feel this massive sense of relief and would want to skip out the door, but I suppose the end of an era is sad, regardless.

Has anyone else left a long-term job? How did you feel when you handed in your notice and how did it feel when you actually walked out the door for the last time? Did you enjoy pastures new or have any regrets?

 

[Pinkblush]

My last job I did for twenty years and I had the same boss for those twenty years. We got on really well which is one of the reasons I stayed so long. The last two years there things deteriorated. There was a restructuring and I ended up with more work for the same pay. In the end I was sick of seeing new people with less experience starting on more money than me. I grew resentful of having more work too and it effected my mood both at work and at home. It was november two years ago that I just kept thinking I don't want to come back in after the christmas break. The thought depressed me so much. So without having another job to go to I gave my notice in. I felt such relief at not having to return after christmas. It was a weight lifted and my mood improved greatly. But then I also had the new worry and stress of not having another job. In the end I contacted an agency after xmas and got work within two weeks. I had a six month contract. I felt like a fish out if water those first six months. It was difficult to settle after being in one job so long. My second booking was also for six months and at the end they offered me a job. It was ten grand more than my last job and even tho I do have fond memories of the old job I've never looked back. I'd say the hardest part was settling in. I was desperate to get to that point where you've got your feet under the table and you feel part of the furniture.
Good luck with your new job

 

[Web30]

I left my first job after 9 years which was huge for me, really felt i was going to be thier forever. When i was pregnant i knew i couldnt go back as it was a zero hour contract and i needed to know hours for childcare / money.

No one even cared by that point all my work friends had left and moved on anyway so i would have felt weird being thier with new staff.

Love my job now, have set hours and it works for us.

 

[Reverend]

Yes. I had been with an employer for nearly 25 years (and I'm only 43). I did start in a junior level and rose (very quickly at first and then stalled). After 10 years I didn't want to be promoted any further as I a) loved the job I was doing, and b) next step up would have meant becoming a line manager which is not my blag at all.

Anyway, I had pretty much been doing the same job for 8 years, and I really loved it. I couldn't wait to go in every day as It was so much fun, but then they decided to have a reorganisation and my job( not me personally) was made redundant, but I was told this in front of a dozen others and I was really crushed. I think they were scared of a potential lawsuit, and immediately offered me another job with a lot of soft soap attached when offering it me (we don't want to lose you etc, but I suspect they were just intending to slot me into something and for me to accept it).

I was crushed, and the new job I did was sooo boring. I wasn't the only one finding this, and no training was being given. Within 2 months I called up someone I used to work with and asked if there was any jobs going where he now worked, which there was. The CEO interviewed me, and offered me a job (with loads more money and better conditions). I signed a contract, and handed in my notice, and at the old place of work my line manager and his line manager were shocked, as I had a ton of expertise and was the only one who knew what to do on several systems. They had just assumed I would just fall into line as I had been there so long and they could mine me for information. A lot of my original job had been given to my line manager whom I had warned several higher members of staff he would not be able to cope with certain tasks as they were very stressful and needed someone who was into details to a high amount.

I started my new job in January, and in my old workplace, there was a big event happening in that month. My former line manager went off sick (with stress like I warned them he would), and they had no idea what to do, and although I had given them some notes, some of the staff they bring in temporarily for this event were having to call me to ask what to do when they had a problem as they couldn't find anyone at my former employer who could give them an answer, and my new colleagues were finding this very funny every time they called. In the end they begged my new employer if they could borrow me for a couple of days to help them prepare for next events. My new and old employer did have a business link, so they agreed.

In the past several of former colleagues had been telling me to get out, but I didn't care about the money (to a point!) as I enjoyed the job. Within 3 months my former line manager had quit his job (he was in post for 5 months, most of which he was off sick), and HIS line manger also left within 1 year. Although I was angry at them at the time, I now recognise they were used as 'useful idiots' by higher people to make changes for changes sake, and neither knew it.