Should I apply for a stressful job?

I have a Certified Public Accountant license that I worked so hard for, but it's just sitting on my wall at home collecting dust.

I'm currently making a whopping $12.75 an hour.

I could be earning at least DOUBLE if not more if I were to apply for a job at a CPA firm. Assuming that anyone is hiring, I'm not even sure of that.

The biggest problem: tax season. The hours get crazy, and it is very stressful. It's also a bad season of the year for my illness just as it is.

The only tax season I have worked so far (2008) was followed by my very worst mental break I ever had. Spent the entire summer in and out of the psych hospital. Multiple suicide attempts, and a mania.

But we are broke. $75,000 in debt, thanks to me and my manic spending habits, losing my job over my illness, medical bills, and this worthless job I have now.

I worked my ***** off for that CPA and now it's worthless.

We're in a small town, and relocating is not really feasible.

I'm not management material, so using my CPA in a corporation (not a CPA firm) is not really going to work. I'm just not going to be somebody's boss. So why did I get the CPA, I have no idea. Maybe in a bigger city it would be worth something.

What would you do?

I would look into and apply for what jobs there might be in a CPA firm and then see how it goes between now and December? If it looks like tax season will be tough, then you can go back to a $12.75/hr. job? But you can't really know how it will be this time, a couple years later, until you look around, apply, see what has happened with the economy (whether anyone is hiring) and see how you're feeling, now.

Is there anything you can set up for online work? I guess you'd have to have scanners and printers and all that....but is that an option for work that you can control?

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Hi Martina,

I can really relate to your post. I am trying to think of something I can do for more that $8 (gasp) while I go back to my studies... I can't believe I used to make a salary. But back then I was a registrar and that was way stressful.
Anyway... I was thinking. Is it possible for you to segway into something related to your degree that could earn a bit more but is still less stressful than being a CPA? What about teaching accounting? Or tutoring math... or adding in some math tutoring appointments to augment your current job? Maybe even tutoring college kids who are studying finance? Sending good thoughts your way.

E

I was wondering if you could do the work from home during the most stressful time. That way you could manage the hours , stress, sleep needs etc. I know its tempting the better money but sometimes if the body won't allow it, its not worth it, been my own experience.

I'm wondering if working with a psychotherapist now would help you with dealing with the stress later. You had one unpleasant experience but it isn't a given that it would happen again as you learn more about how stress works for you, the person you are.

I think it would be wonderful if you were able to master that stressful time, which fortunately has an end. You would then be free to fully participate in all areas of the profession you chose and worked very hard to accomplish. I see this as one hurdle, and a very intimidating hurdle, that is frightening, but that could be explored and understood in psychotherapy so that it would become something much less intimidating. It could become a part of the work cycle that you dislike, but that you can get though and celebrate the relief of it being over.

I don't know if this will help you since you live in a small town, but I just graduated with an accounting degree and I had the same fears of going to work for a CPA firm. I just started a job with state government for the department of revenue. I'm using my accounting knowledge, making decent money and great benefits, with a very stress free environment. Government jobs have the protection of unions that CPA firms or corporate may not have...and they treat us very well. 8-4:30pm, flexible scheduling, NO overtime ever, lots of holidays and vacation.

I would look into the local government options available in your area. They pay decent and offer an alternative to stressful jobs at CPA firms.

I've continued to think about this. Are you able to tolerate adverse conditions for a while, keeping the end goal in mind? If so, you might be able to psych yourself up about taking the stressful job.

You'd probably need to make a list of affirmations to draw on as you work at this job. Remind yourself of the end goal, that this stress won't be forever, that you are learning and will make mistakes, that you'll feel ill at ease while you learn the ropes of that particular company, etc.

Validate your working there by noting the increased financial value too.

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

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Hi Martina,
I can so relate to your dilemma. I was the Director of Student Services for a college before the symptoms of Bi Polar took me out of the game. I loved my work and was very good at it but I couldn't cope with the stress even outside the peak periods. It has been 7 years since I lost the security of a salary and the benefits that went with that.

After I had gone through my severance and a year of employment insurance benefits I was still not well enough to return to work. I began to market my skills as a consultant. It proved to be a good compromise. It allowed me to accommodate my symptoms while making a decent income from home doing the kind of work I loved and was good at. I also live in a small community. Most of my clients are within a couple of hours from home but most of my work hours are done from my home office.

Unfortunately things are really slow right now and not much work has been trickling in so I am having to think again about how I can market my skills. I applied for a few management jobs but when it came down to it I knew I would be bitting off more then I could handle if I took one of them.

You know best what you are able to manage without it causing more problems for you. I guess my message is to think outside the box and consider how you might market your skills as an independant contractor. It doesn't take much of a client list to keep you working enough to pay the bills.

I have downsized my living expenses considerably over the years just to take the pressure off of how much income I need to bring in. I am in the process of selling my home to get out from under a mortgage. I will attempt to find more modest accommodations with the equity I am left with from the sale.

It is stressful to not have the steady salary but I know trying to show up for work everyday would be even more stressful. I read somewhere on the boards the advice given to one of our members about job searching. The pdoc said to pick a job she can do even when her symptoms are flaring. That makes sense to me. As much as I would like to imagine myself back running a devision again or even taking on a less stressful job in the college it isn't in the cards for me right now. Instead I think outside the box to find something between the salary job and the low paying working wage that allows me to utilize my skills on my terms and conditions.

Maybe you can think about how you can market your skills, build up a steady client base and accommodate your health issues at the same time.

Hello Martina,

You have good responses here. Only you know how it makes you feel to think about this issue. Which is more stressful? Thinking about working or thinking about the debt?

That may sound simplistic but when it comes down to it they are the two issues you are facing at the moment. As Echoes said if you are working with a therapist you could ask about working through this, and knowing your issues clearly now you may be able to work around them

But you could also do tax returns from home as sanity has suggested; I hope you are able to decide,

Rhiannon

Hi Martina,
I can relate to what you're saying. I have a couple of degrees that are hanging on the wall and I feel awful for not using them. I used to be a Youth & Family Counselor for 6 years before the symptoms of bipolar became so severe I had to go on disability leave and when my leave ran out, I was not well enough to return so I was let go. After a lot of work and time, I felt ready to go back to work and decided to take a job I knew would be more stressful but it also paid better than my last job. I lasted 8 months before my severe symptoms returned and I had to leave that job. I haven't worked since the Fall of 2008. I'm not sorry that I tried, although I am sorry that I became ill again. If I hadn't tried, I would always wonder if I could have done it. Now I know that I cannot work in the social work field and that I need a job with very little stress and pretty stable working hours. It may not pay as well but being ill doesn't pay at all. Of course, that's just my experience, you need to decide for yourself. I truly hope I've contributed something valuable to the already helpful advice. Best of luck in whatever you decide!

Whew, that's really tough situation. I have been in that predicament before. I graduated a Bachelor Degree in Education with flying colors. I ever dreamed of being a teacher. But in our country, teachers has the average salary and benefits. Unlike working in a corporate industry, aside from higher salary, there are a lot of benefits. Teaching is a fulfilling job, yet so stressful. Working in an admin office is fun yet I cannot fulfill my dream. I opted to work as admin to support my family with all those finances. What I did is I weighed the circumstances of the two and i finally decided to have the admin work. Maybe someday, if I am financially stable, I can fulfill my dreams. My family matters the most.

Hi Martina,

Whew, that's really tough situation. I have been in that predicament before. I graduated a Bachelor Degree in Education with flying colors. I ever dreamed of being a teacher. But in our country, teachers has the average salary and benefits. Unlike working in a corporate industry, aside from higher salary, there are a lot of benefits. Teaching is a fulfilling job, yet so stressful. Working in an admin office is fun yet I cannot fulfill my dream. I opted to work as admin to support my family with all those finances. What I did is I weighed the circumstances of the two and i finally decided to have the admin work. Maybe someday, if I am financially stable, I can fulfill my dreams. My family matters the most.

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Alluring Lady