Peaked out but nowhere else to go

[Anonymous]

I've been with my org for several year, have enjoyed the work and the salary is great, but I really don't see much else for me. I'm not one of the team members in line for a promotion; I'm not a manager in the making, never wanted to be, and I just don't have the personality (I'm not one of the talkative ones during Zoom meetings bantering away and then gushing about the projects, can't make myself do it.) I take the paycheck and go home.

I've looked around for other job possibilities, but the market out there sucks and the field I'm in (marketing/creative) pretty much offers only lateral moves that pay less for more work at this point.

So, here I am. I'm stuck until I retire. The raises are decent so that's motivating enough to stay. I have been hoping for an internal lateral move just to change things up, but my division isn't hiring and people are not retiring (several staffers in their 60s are hanging on until 67-70, from what I understand). And management hasn't been filling the roles that do open up when the occasional person leaves or retires.
Anyone in also in position out there have good survival skills to share? I don't think I'll get laid off anytime soon, but I feel like I could also become the older woman management wants to dump for a shiny new penny. I participate in trainings when required but just don't have the interest in going to loads of conferences and staying late with pre-teens.

[Anonymous]

You’re not stuck until you retire; apply but it does take longer now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re not stuck until you retire; apply but it does take longer now.

I know-- there's just so little to apply to. I came across two jobs today that maybe I will apply for just to see what happens. The salaries are much lower though. If my kids were out of the house, I'd take the cut, but not now.

[Anonymous]

OP again. More about the culture-- this is a place with a lot of alliances, close friends and family who hire each other, legacy jobs, that sort of thing. And when management doesn't like you, you disappear in the dead of night, basically, never to be heard from again. They turn on people quick when they want them out with "Larla is no longer with our org" messages and absolutely no discussion of what the heck happened to Larla.

[Anonymous]

You can also frame this as pretty positive: you're comfortable, you enjoy the work, and you are paid above market as indicated by the fact that the other jobs in your skillset pay less. You get regular raises and you don't have to deal with the BS of managing people. I am not the type to always feel like I need to be moving up, so I would be very happy with this arrangement.

I hear you on the office politics and the fears about being an older worker who may be targeted, but if it were me, I'd stay the course. Grass isn't always greener. I've been in this situation and coped by finding the humor in the silliness of all the personalities. I had a few work friends to gossip with (in hindsight, not a great thing but it didn't hurt me) and would also tell my SO about all the nonsense that goes on. So when things happened I was thinking "oh, this will be a good story."

[Anonymous]

How many years experience do you have and what is your salary?

If you’ve managed to not be a supervisor and you make a decent salary you’re a bit of a unicorn.

[Anonymous]

I guess you enjoy other aspects of your life, Op. Create other non-work goals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many years experience do you have and what is your salary?

If you’ve managed to not be a supervisor and you make a decent salary you’re a bit of a unicorn.

Not OP but I am a unicorn-- and it is very lonely and stifling as a unicorn. Try moving externally and the recruiters HR team think I am lying with how much I make. My base is 350k, bonus and incentives is another 150k on average

[Anonymous]

OP here. Ugh. We have a new manager who was moved from another section, and this person has a rep for being awful. It's known that she's targeted people and pushed out a few. Now she's messing with me, nitpicking over things like PPT fonts. I understand our section's managers are tasked with downsizing the team (ideally through retirements, but if not, who knows how they'll do this). I had a few runs ins with her earlier in my career here, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's looking to nudge me out.

[Anonymous]

You do know for SS normal Retirment age is 67. And although Medicare is 65 is you have a stay at home spouse she needs to be 65 to get Medicare.

A man for instance with a two year younger wife working till 67 is pretty normal as that is his full SS and his wife now old enough for Mediare.

Also if you went to Law School or Medical School you had a delayed start to career or if you suffered layoffs over years your savings may behind track.

My BIL still works at 69. He got laid 2001 for a year and in 2008 laid off again for almost two years. He had to do early wirthdrawls 401ks and HELOCs back then. So he is catching up. He plans to retire at 70 for full SS. So what. Is he just supposed to quit cause someone 50 wants his job.