Learning to be happy in a bad situation

[Checkthebatteries]

I'm feeling really trapped and depressed at work. I have two degrees in fields that are related and am scheduled to finish my part-time postgrad studies next year in a more abstract but somewhat elated field.

However, I can never get a job in the areas I want, no matter how many qualifications I get. So I take something else, hate it and change jobs. I have a CV containing six of these entry level jobs unrelated to each other or my qualifications. Plus degree assortment that is beoming more unrelated. I never like my jobs because they are in areas I don't find interesting. Now I’m in a part-time job I've had for 4 years and I hate it.

I saw a career advisor last year for a small fortune. She reviewed my CV, told me what jobs I should apply for to build my career, how to explain my different jobs ect. So I started looking for work a year ago and I have not got one interview. I spend so much time on so many applications. I saw a second advisor for free at university. They had different ideas on CV writing. Asdid did the next career advisor. And so does every career forum. I applied for jobs that I am overqualified for related to my career interests but still got rejected. I ensured my CV ect. and LinkedIn are updated. Networking was useless plus I have social anxiety. I volunteer lots but that's a dead end.
I am really depressed. I cry all the time. I told my therapist but it didn't help. I can't afford my income, I suck at my job, and it's stressful and unfulfilling. I don’t like the people, the work and it's boring, Career development is nil (I am so sick of entry level work that I won't move up in). I avoid my friends because I am sad and my job and the failure to find a new one after so long is embarrassing. What’s worse is any nice people are leaving for other jobs so I feel like a failure and lonely without even one interview. My friends have get better work recently with careers. 5-10 years ago I got interviews for at least 30% of jobs. Now I can’t get one for career starter jobs. I have no experience in the fields I like - just degrees from 5 years ago- and a disjointed career/study history of 14 years that can't be explained away. I'm just unemployable stuck in this depressing job forever. I get no sleep and work makes me ill. But I need the money. My studies suffer too as it feels like a waste to study when I won't be able to get a job.
Any advice on how to learnt to be happy in a job you hate but will be doing for the rest of your life?

[geoff]

Hi Checkthebatteries, and welcome.

I am sorry for the situation you are in, and I hope I don't upset when I say this, and if I do please tell me.

I think you've partly answered your own comment ' I can never get a job in the areas I want, no matter how many qualifications I get', and ' I have no experience in the fields you like, just degrees from 5 years ago', then by
then having a piece of paper hanging on a wall means nothing now and in a few years, especially as you are unable to get any work, so are they worth doing.

Don't compare yourself to your friends, because you look different, your personalities are not the same as are your circumstances.

Maybe how you to look at a different job and perhaps I can give you an example (which certainly may not be like your situation) if you have a masters in a drafting licence but have no idea of how to use your hands then you maybe wasting your time, but however, it doesn't stop you from being a window cleaner.

If you stop studying then you can always go back to it at a later stage.

Best wishes.

Geoff.