I was in a boring job for a few years and finally left and I am so much happier. I feel challenged, it's interesting, i' m productive and useful. It's much better. I would recommend job hunting.
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I think the OP raises a good point that I struggle with myself: where are the jobs that actually take up a full work week but don't leave you bored for hours a day or take up evenings/weekends? Because I've found that to be a hard balance too. When I was child-free, it was no biggie to work 10-12 hour days (sometimes without much pay) plus weekends and travel. But now, at 40 and with a masters degree and a 4-year-old, I feel like I've paid my dues to a point and shouldn't have to work crazy long days anymore. I've love to work a solid 8-hour day, get my (not huge) paycheck and go home. OP, I hear ya. Being bored saps your energy, and it's hard to get motivated again when there are busy times. good luck.

I agree with the other PPs that I would think hard about leaving a 100k job in this economy just because of boredom. I would however plan for whatever “next steps” you may want in your career because it does not sound you will stay in this office your whole life; try to set up some info interviews just to explore some other areas -- much easier to do those when you’re not actively looking for a job. If you’re in a specialized area, could you seek out opportunities to write articles, or better yet to do speaking engagements -- if you end up opening your own business, those engagements may help you in the long run because they’ll give you more visibility to potential clients. Or could you take on an active role in a local bar association or alumni association?

Anonymous wrote:I'm seriously wondering whether one of my colleagues wrote this.

Talk to your supervisor about getting more work, because many government managers are terrible at managing and don't realize when their attorneys are bored. Or your office may just be going through a lull and it will improve. Or they overhired to maintain their FTEs. My advice -- keep the job until the market improves (and your toddler is older). Find other ways to maintain your skills and keep yourself marketable, like writing an article relevant to your agency's practice area during your downtime or doing pro bono (that would have to be outside work, because using government resources for pro bono is not permitted).

This. There is always work to be done, and if you cannot identify it yourself then ask for it. I guarantee there are long-term projects and improvement initiatives your supervisor would love to have done, clients who need more help, training programs to put together, and if nothing else then yes a research paper or article like PP suggests. I also am a government attorney, and there is a huge difference between the bare bones of my job description and what I actually do. Be proactive, think about what needs to be done or what people would value that is not being done -- if you're serious about hanging out your own shingle, you will need this skill in a big way so practice it now.

Anonymous wrote:OMG, you folks have no clue as to what goes on in the federal gov't. At my place, there are folks (professional jobs) who do nothing but read the newspaper, surf the net and work out in the office gym (all make over $100). Our admin folks have absolutely no skills, no education, no responsibilities and do absolutely nothing job-related and get paid $50 - $60k and they let them flex time (ie. every other Friday off)....

She doesn't work for the fed govt.

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. This thread is crazy to me. I do not even have time to go the bathroom most days.

Crazy to me too. I have a doctoral degree in a professional field and make about half of what the OP makes. and I'm way busier than it sounds like she is.

Teacher here. This thread is crazy to me. I do not even have time to go the bathroom most days.

Anonymous wrote:OMG, you folks have no clue as to what goes on in the federal gov't. At my place, there are folks (professional jobs) who do nothing but read the newspaper, surf the net and work out in the office gym (all make over $100). Our admin folks have absolutely no skills, no education, no responsibilities and do absolutely nothing job-related and get paid $50 - $60k and they let them flex time (ie. every other Friday off)....

Wow!

OMG, you folks have no clue as to what goes on in the federal gov't. At my place, there are folks (professional jobs) who do nothing but read the newspaper, surf the net and work out in the office gym (all make over $100). Our admin folks have absolutely no skills, no education, no responsibilities and do absolutely nothing job-related and get paid $50 - $60k and they let them flex time (ie. every other Friday off)....

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Yes I am married and could take the hit in income. I failed to also mention that I leave home at 7 and do not get home until 7 so rarely see my daughter even though I have an easy job. I have applied to the Feds with no luck and have not considered private practice because of the hours and my child. I have thought of starting my own practice since I am in a pretty specialized field and could easily match or exceed my current income while working fewer hours (30 - 40 hours). Plus this would allow me to work from home on days am not in court. I guess I am a little scared.

Because of the commute? So you don't work fr the federal government? I left a boring fed attorney job for a faster paced office. It's been a hard but good adjustment. My ideal would be something on between my current pace and my boring previous job. I'm hopeful Taft my hard work in my current position will help me transition at some point.

16:26 Wait you are certain you could start your own practice, make the same or more and work less? (But are you sure on fewer hours? Running your own business involves a lot of detail work.)

This is OP. Yes I am married and could take the hit in income. I failed to also mention that I leave home at 7 and do not get home until 7 so rarely see my daughter even though I have an easy job. I have applied to the Feds with no luck and have not considered private practice because of the hours and my child. I have thought of starting my own practice since I am in a pretty specialized field and could easily match or exceed my current income while working fewer hours (30 - 40 hours). Plus this would allow me to work from home on days am not in court. I guess I am a little scared.

Need more details. Are you married? Could you take a hit in income? Are you planning on more kids? I am similarly situated, except I make a bit more and am the primary breadwinner and am expecting a second child soon. If I'm still bored when dc2 is 1 or 1.5 and not just relieved to be keeping my head above water, I am either going to look around for a new job or get a really absorbing hobby and consider my job just a job. I know the grass isn't always greener.

I know someone who did the same thing. Did not work out for him. At 39 it will be hard to change. It is a cultural and production thing. See if you can talk to someone who has done it or is doing the work now. Informational interviews and ask hard questions about yourself.

Anonymous wrote:I went from a firm, to an in-house position that sounds like yours, to a govt position that is challenging (requires occasional evening or weekend work but not every week).

I think you need balance in your life, and having a 40 hour/week job is fantastic, but feeling like you are not using your skills or contributing to society is also an awful feeling. About a year or two into my in-house position I really started to go stir crazy, and I am very glad I left.

My in house position is much more challenging than my government job was.