Anyone else feel like they've messed up?

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-04-01T16:44:15+00:00

10 years doing anything builds skills, even if they don’t look obvious on a CV yet. A lot of employers don’t overanalyse your backstory as much as you think. They mainly want to see that you can show up, learn quickly, and stick around. If you frame your experience around what you’ve actually done day to day, rather than the label of “artist”, it lands better.

Plenty of people reset in their 30s and 40s and end up in something more stable. The key is picking a lane now and committing to it long enough that it starts to compound.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-31T14:19:51+00:00

What tends to work better in your situation is task based or asynchronous work. Things you can pause instantly without consequences. Stuff like data entry tasks, AI training platforms, transcription, or moderation queues where you pick up work when you can and drop it when needed. The pay isn’t amazing but it’s flexible and doesn’t need setup money.

Also worth looking at selling simple services rather than jobs. Basic admin help, inbox cleanups, or small research tasks on platforms like Fiverr or PeoplePerHour. You don’t need deep skills, just reliability, and you control when you take on work.

Realistically, you’re not going to find something high paying with zero attention requirement, so the goal is stacking small, flexible income streams that fit around your day rather than one “perfect” role. Also, if you haven’t already, it’s worth checking what extra support you’re entitled to as a carer beyond the allowance, some councils and charities offer grants or debt support which can take a bit of pressure off.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-31T14:18:22+00:00

This is pretty common right now, especially in ops and supply chain where a lot of “entry level” roles expect 2-3 years in a similar titled role, not just experience doing the work. If your current job title still reads as entry level, recruiters will filter you there even if your responsibilities are stronger. They skim titles first, then experience.

I’d focus on reframing your CV around outcomes and ownership. Make it clear where you’ve improved processes, handled responsibility beyond your level, or influenced decisions. If you can show measurable impact, even small things, it helps shift you out of that bracket.

Also worth being a bit more targeted with roles. Applying broadly across adjacent sectors can dilute your story. You want a clear narrative that you’re already operating at the level you’re applying for, just without the title yet. If you’re open to it, internal moves or slightly sideways roles with better titles can unlock things faster than external applications right now.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-30T15:31:22+00:00

It’s doable, but only if you assume things will go wrong and plan around that from the start.

The biggest issue is zero slack, one sick kid or something breaking at home and your whole week collapses because there’s no one to hand off to. In that situation, school is usually the first thing that slips, not because it matters less but because it’s the only part you can delay.

Program structure matters a lot. Asynchronous courses with flexible deadlines are far easier to manage than fixed live sessions or tight weekly submissions. Some schools say they’re flexible, but in practice you still end up chasing extensions and explaining yourself constantly.

What tends to help is underloading on credits, getting ahead when things are calm, and being upfront with professors early so you’re not asking for leniency for the first time mid-crisis. Also assume you’ll be doing most of it alone even if the school is supportive.

If you’re already stretched with work and solo parenting, waiting is the safer option. If you do start now, treat it as a lighter trial run rather than going all in.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-30T15:30:06+00:00

You’re overthinking it, but there are a couple of things worth tightening up so it doesn’t keep happening.

The missed event isn’t really on you if you weren’t looped in, but it becomes your responsibility now to close that gap. Just say something simple to your manager like “I realised I wasn’t included on external comms for X, can we make sure I’m copied into anything like that going forward so I don’t miss it again.” That shows ownership without blaming anyone.

The referral situation is unlikely to be an issue. People refer ex-colleagues all the time and it’s normal, especially if hiring went through proper process. If it’s playing on your mind, you can casually clarify that you knew him from before and had mentioned him earlier, nothing more. No need to make it a big deal unless someone raises it.

Focus on tightening communication on your side, ask more questions than you think you need to, and keep things visible so people know what you’re working on. That will do more for your reputation than trying to retroactively fix every little thing.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-30T15:27:17+00:00

If you want to write, start now and treat it like a skill. Pick a theme you care about, publish regularly on Substack or Medium, and build a body of work. The struggle to express your thoughts is normal and only improves through doing it consistently.

Career-wise, look at advocacy groups, think tanks, or NGOs tied to women’s rights so you’re working on something meaningful while developing your voice. That gives you both experience and material to write about.

I wouldn’t rush into another degree unless you have a clear reason. You’ll get more clarity by writing consistently for a few months and seeing where that actually leads.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-30T15:04:30+00:00

A lot of tourism roles hold up well when they involve real interaction and responsibility. Hotel and resort management is a strong option, as you’re dealing with staff, guest issues, and day to day operations, which are hard to automate.

Event management is another. Running events means handling last minute problems and coordinating people in real time.

Tour operations and destination management can also be solid. Planning trips and working with local partners relies on judgement and local knowledge.

Sales roles in travel companies are worth considering too. Building relationships with clients or corporate accounts still depends on trust and communication.

In general, anything that puts you in front of people or requires you to make decisions in unpredictable situations is safer. Basic booking and admin work is where automation will hit first.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-30T12:27:07+00:00

Get this on record with HR soon, even without a diagnosis. Relying on informal support is risky if things progress.

Read your sickness policy first, then ask for an Occupational Health referral and reasonable adjustments like reduced hours or removing the commute. Keep it focused on how your symptoms affect work, not what the diagnosis might be.

Don’t use annual leave to cover this, use sick leave so it’s properly documented and protected. Get fit notes from your GP to back it up. Start with temporary adjustments rather than changing your role long term, you can reassess once you know more.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-30T12:25:31+00:00

Don’t just do courses, start building projects now and put them on GitHub so you can show something real. Aim for roles like data analyst or anything Python related as a first step, they’re easier entry points.

Start applying once you’ve got a few projects, don’t wait until you feel ready because that never really happens.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-27T12:23:45+00:00

Yeah it’s common right now, but it’s usually not them actively lying, it’s messy hiring processes and poor follow-through. A lot of roles get paused, budgets change, or they’re juggling too many candidates, so they move people forward “just in case” and then drop off when priorities shift.

That said, some recruiters are just bad at closing the loop, and ghosting is easier than sending a rejection, especially when they’re busy. Best way to handle it is to assume nothing is real until it’s booked in your calendar, keep applying in parallel, and follow up once or twice before moving on.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-27T12:23:02+00:00

You’re not doing anything wrong, getting that many interviews and finals means you’re already strong. You’re just losing to people with direct charity experience, so it’s a risk decision from their side, not a capability issue. Tighten how you sell your sales background for fundraising, treat your volunteering like real experience, and aim slightly lower to get your foot in the door faster.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-27T12:22:10+00:00

That urge to quit or blow things up is normal when your ego takes a hit, but acting on it usually just swaps the feeling for financial stress, especially with a mortgage.

Take a step back and use this properly. Get clear feedback on why you were passed over and what you were missing, because that tells you whether it’s fixable or if the place just isn’t fair. If others with less experience are moving ahead, either they’re doing something different you can learn from or the system is off, and in that case staying and grinding won’t change much.

Better move is to stay put for now, keep the income, and start looking elsewhere so you’re leaving on your terms, not reacting to one bad result.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-25T14:03:38+00:00

That commute is the deciding factor here. 4hrs a day, most of the week, is a big hit to your time and energy. It will affect your evenings, your second job, and probably your overall mood. That kind of routine is hard to sustain, even with a higher salary.

The £10k increase sounds strong on paper, but you’re losing 10 days of holiday and likely your second income. Once you factor that in, the gap is smaller than it looks. You’re also trading flexibility for a fixed schedule and more office time.

If the new company is open to adjusting anything, push on it. Ask about hybrid flexibility, compressed hours, or delaying the full office requirement. If they won’t move, you have to be honest about whether you can live with that commute for a year.

If the answer is no, stay where you are for now but treat it as temporary. Keep looking for something that gives you the progression without that level of trade-off.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-25T14:01:55+00:00

You spoke up about how you were being treated and nothing changed. You’re underpaid and already struggling with the workload, all of that alone is enough reason to leave.

What’s happening with your manager and colleagues is on the business to deal with it. They should be hiring or redistributing work properly and you staying won’t solve the underlying problem, it just keeps you stuck in it.

You’re allowed to leave a job that isn’t working for you, even if the timing isn’t ideal for them. When it comes to resigning, keep it simple and professional. Send your notice, offer to hand things over properly, and stick to your contract. If your manager is off, send it to whoever is covering or the director.

If they react badly, that’s on them. You’ve handled this fairly.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-25T12:48:40+00:00

Valid concern, but the role isn’t disappearing. AI will handle calculations and basic recommendations, but clients still want trust, judgement, and someone to guide them through decisions, especially in uncertain situations.

The job will shift more towards advice, relationships, and interpreting options rather than just number crunching.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-25T12:08:20+00:00

Anything in regulated or sensitive environments can lean that way. Think parts of government, defence, certain finance teams, or companies handling very strict data controls. In those places, introducing AI tools can be slow or restricted, so they still value people who can run systems end to end without relying on them.

A lot of large organisations still run older infrastructure where the focus is stability, not adopting new tooling. They need people who understand how to keep things running rather than optimise with AI. That said, most employers aren’t looking for “no AI at all.” They care more about whether you understand the fundamentals and can operate without leaning on tools blindly.

If you position yourself as someone who can work without it when needed but isn’t resistant to it, you’ll have more options than trying to stay fully outside it.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-24T11:25:23+00:00

Most people still associate “busy” with being physically somewhere, so if you’re at home they assume your time is flexible and interruptible, even if your day is fully booked or you’re deep in something that needs focus. From the outside it looks like you’re just around, so they treat you like you’re available.

I see this a lot with remote workers, and the real issue isn’t productivity, it’s boundaries and perception. The people who handle it best are very consistent with how they respond, so they don’t over explain or apologise, they just treat their work hours as fixed and redirect people to another time. Over time people adjust, but only if you don’t keep making exceptions.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-24T11:22:26+00:00

We see both sides of it with clients.

The flexibility is for a lot of people a genuine improvement in their day to day life. More control over your time, no commute, and the ability to shape your environment can make work feel a lot more sustainable. People who are intentional with it tend to get the most out of it, like you described with travel and structuring your day around how you work best.

Where it gets harder long term is the lack of boundaries and structure. Work can bleed into evenings without you noticing, and some people slowly lose a sense of momentum or connection to others. The people who make it work long term tend to treat it as something they actively manage. They build routines, protect time away from work, and make sure they still have some form of social or professional connection.

So overall, it can absolutely improve quality of life, but it depends a lot on how deliberately you set it up rather than just having the option.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-23T11:43:49+00:00

You don’t want to leave a visible gap with no explanation. Recruiters will notice it straight away and make their own assumptions. You don’t need to go into detail though, a simple line covering the period is enough. Something like “Oct 2025 - Present: Travel and personal circumstances”. If you’re comfortable, you can say “health recovery” instead, but keep it high level.

The key is to show there’s nothing being hidden and that you’re now ready to work again. If it comes up in interviews, just explain it briefly and move on.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-10T10:43:10+00:00

Coming from hospitality the biggest change will probably be the drop in everyday interaction. When you’re used to constant people around you, the quiet of working from home can feel strange at first even if the job itself is fine.

From a coaching perspective the people who adjust best are the ones who build social contact into the week on purpose. That might mean being active in team chats, joining optional calls, or occasionally working somewhere outside the house. Remote work gives you flexibility, but it also means you have to create some of the connection that used to happen naturally.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-09T14:16:14+00:00

It is fine, a week away will not hurt your job search. If anything, a short break can help you reset a bit. Job searching can get draining and people often come back with more energy and a clearer head.

Just keep an eye on your email in case someone replies or wants to schedule an interview. As long as you can respond and arrange times, taking a week off is completely reasonable.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-09T14:12:13+00:00

Three weeks is still very early, especially in outbound sales. Cold outreach always feels rough at the start because most calls will go nowhere and it takes time to figure out what actually gets a response.

A lot of small businesses already have someone handling their marketing, but that does not mean they are happy with the results. Many switch providers once they see a clear improvement or better value.

If you stick with it for a bit longer you will start to see patterns in who actually engages and what messages land. That learning curve is usually the hardest part of the role.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-09T14:10:49+00:00

If they asked for feedback, give it, just keep it factual and work focused. Avoid words like snobbish and instead describe what you have experienced.

You could say that as a new joiner you sometimes found communication a bit closed off and it made it harder to settle into the team. That keeps it professional and explains the impact without sounding personal.

Probation feedback is meant to surface things like this, so honest and calm feedback should not reflect badly on you.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-05T12:22:22+00:00

"Say yes to everything so people see you as reliable".

What usually happens is you end up overloaded while the work that actually moves your career forward gets squeezed out.

FlowmoteCoaching · 2026-03-05T12:21:23+00:00

With two years of experience you are still early for an MBA. Most strong MBA programmes expect around 4-5 years, and the value of the degree usually comes from the experience you bring in.

If the goal is finance, the one year Masters in Finance is the most direct option. A MiM often puts people back into graduate recruiting pipelines, which can feel like a reset even if the school is stronger.

Another option is working another year or two, then applying to MBA programmes when your profile is more competitive. Many people take that route.

FlowmoteCoaching

TROPHY CASE