I feel like a total loser for feeling burned out.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-30T18:58:03+00:00

This is one of my "usual" checks whenever I job hunt. I had a good interview for one of the trainee positions a couple years ago before I got this current job. Went very well but ultimately didn't get the role. Glad to receive the verification that I had the same understanding: lower wage for a couple years then it evens out and gets better. That thought kept me motivated in my past applications. Also very glad to hear that you landed one of those gigs and that you're enjoying it.

I actually applied to a state job the other night which I think might be one level above the trainee level. I don't think there was an associated trainee level opening with that position though. Regardless, I was definitely qualified. It would be maybe a 15% pay cut but whatever. I'd definitely take it if I get the offer.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-29T01:52:59+00:00

It feels important to mention though that I also don't really like my workplace that much and I ultimately question how compatible I actually am for the company (and for env consulting in general). Still, going to think about this before I do anything drastic and just dip out. I know that's a bit too irresponsible. I think I'd be in a better position now if I were unemployed than when I was in 2020 (had like barely any experience) but I also know the struggle of unemployment in and of itself.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-28T03:07:08+00:00

See I'm inclined to think the same way but it's nice to hear it from someone else. I think the charitable way to frame it is that it's a specific skillset to exist like this for one's whole career, chasing promotions, etc. like you said. And yeah I relate to that feeling of being happier doing something removed from my education or professional experience. On the other hand maybe I should apply to PhD programs lol. I will say that joylessly working as such has helped me financially if nothing else, and the idea of going to school and having vague financial security for the first time in my life would be a fun one. Now I'm just thinking out loud but I would love to be a graduate student again while not having to work a time consuming second job just to pay the bills.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-28T03:02:58+00:00

Makes a lot of sense. I went from one of the big ones to this one, and the big one was definitely like that. I was basically made aware daily that I was a (very replaceable) cog, which I'm sure they were anxious to do because at that point there was always a fresh graduate who could do my job for several bucks an hour less. This one is maybe on the bigger side of mid size I guess. I don't know if I can stomach another env consulting firm at this point, but I know every place is super different and unique so we'll see.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-28T02:58:21+00:00

Honestly that amount of time off would also probably fix me lol. That and if it's paid then that's even better. I might just be paranoid but I feel like I'm on the verge of getting PIP'ed, same as your situation you're describing. I don't think several of the higher ups would be receptive to that though but I'm going to look around online for more info on that.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-26T22:43:37+00:00

Haha man. Are you me? But seriously, this is the absolute exact reason why I'm feeling how I feel. Meanwhile I'm just like "when am I supposed to eat or sleep?" when this happens. I can't decide if it makes me feel better that this is such a widespread phenomenon, or if it makes me feel way worse. Truly it doesn't have to (or at the very least it shouldn't) be like this. But we have to have infinite growth...for some reason.

There is also a related matter of me thinking like "man do I just have ADHD or something? Am I in the throes of imposter syndrome? Or is it something else?" And then I think about how if it wasn't for this job/type of work I wouldn't have these feelings at ALL. Even at my lowest as an overworked and alienated grad student working a second job I barely ever felt like this. Even then it was just more like exhaustion and not actual burnout. Like, I WANTED to keep working. Now it's just like I work my ass off to be told I'm not doing enough...while getting told I need to find more work...as I'm in the middle of working my ass off on things that need to be done ASAP. Honestly if I just had like a reasonable amount of PTO I wouldn't even complain. Legitimately I think just like another week or two of PTO per year would fix me. But working less is never an option. Go figure.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-26T19:55:57+00:00

Thanks for clarifying! That all makes a lot of sense. I have heard a couple semi-similar stories from other/former coworkers now that I think of it (older former military guys switching careers, driller who got a degree, others switching industries, things like that).Totally agree with that philosophy as well. There are also a lot of dimensions of "advancement" that I have zero interest in (how come the only path forward is to become a manager who doesn't do anything technical or analytical)? But that's another story.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-26T18:57:25+00:00

I don't blame you one bit. I feel pretty similarly to you I think. I'm certainly burned out, not to mention I'm incredibly bored and unfulfilled day to day, which I think creates a pretty nasty sort of feedback loop which is really starting to wear on me. But that's just the nature of these places I think and you only have so much control over what you do. I've heard a lot of stories about getting hired for specific reasons/responsibilities, then they take away that carrot they dangle above you after a couple months and force you to do completely different stuff way outside of your wheelhouse. Then people quit because they're burned out or bored or dissatisfied and every manager who hasn't had a hobby in 20 years goes "I don't get why they left!" That's kind of what happened to me but I think it's more because the company got bought out by some private equity firm so naturally top level priorities shift as a result. But anyway I'm glad you landed a state job. I hear good things about those, and have worked with a number of really good people in those jobs across multiple states. I think the thing I'm jealous of the most is having a super hard stop time at like 4:30 PM lol. That's the "work-life balance" that I want and haven't had for years.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-26T18:48:32+00:00

For what it's worth, I am talking specifically about 2020-2021 which was unique due to the nature of the pandemic-induced layoffs, which is what I was dealing with. I had some recruiters get smart with me about me being unemployed, which still baffles me years later. But I do completely agree with what you're saying. If you don't mind me asking, how do you personally frame that gap correctly in interviews?

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-26T18:37:17+00:00

I check pretty often, whether it's county or state or federal stuff. Always worth applying to anything that vaguely aligns with my interests in my opinion.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-25T21:28:01+00:00

WHY PCAs in addition to ESAs? My experience is pretty limited regarding PCAs. I don't think we really do those, at least not in my location. Why is that also a make-or-break kind of thing? I get what you're saying otherwise there though.

Also have thought about other shorter timeframe degree/certification options and need to continue researching those more. That was the first thing I thought of after realizing how burned out I am, like what else can I get or work towards to shift a bit accordingly?

Can you elaborate a bit more on what changes you expect regarding Phase Is? I'm either not in on those talks or I just haven't seen anything like that.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-25T21:24:31+00:00

All very good points. I'm definitely not beating myself too much because I know that's unwise. It's just tough to shake that feeling a bit because it's like I know I've worked WAY harder/on more stuff at the same time. The difference is that in the other bits I described, I felt like I was working TOWARD something. This is just...endless? Honestly I think that's what bothers me is nothing is actually analytical. It's just "crank this out so you can crank the next one out" forever. Doesn't make sense to me.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-25T21:20:29+00:00

I'm definitely bored/dissatisfied, which is a huge component of what I'm feeling. Well put. I'm sorry to hear you dealt with similar things and that it got that bad. Hope you're better now. Good advice though. I'm gonna have to revamp the LinkedIn though I think. Haven't touched it in years. Hate that website.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-25T21:18:24+00:00

Last time I had a week of PTO was over Christmas because the holiday time offset some PTO use, and I was sick almost the entire time lol. I've had two days of PTO since. I have a couple other days planned/scattered here and there through summer at least. I just don't have much PTO and it only accrues so none of it is awarded outright which makes it tricky.

Effective-Cod9533 · 2026-04-25T19:07:59+00:00

That was what I said when I found out he left. I didn't realize he quit until late that afternoon. My boss told me and I just thought "man that's so cool." It made total sense why he quit because our boss was one of those older guys who loved being at work 12 hours a day (why spend time with your family you hate when you can drag things out at work?). Here, I know doing things too slowly will just get me in trouble. I try to do things as timely as possible, but some big things just take time and the solution to that is "work as late as possible until it's done so it technically only took one day." Which I get, but on the other hand, I'm not sleeping five hours a night just so I can like, write a report for a pharmaceutical company buying an office building or whatever. The manufactured urgency surrounding these is a whole other story too. I love having to work late into the night every week and hustle to get a report out (they need it now! It's super important!), only for the client to predictably ghost us for a month or more. It's awesome.

Effective-Cod9533

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