GlumNewspaper5015's journey

I'm currently feeling overwhelmed and burned out in my role as the sole HR person and executive assistant at a small school district with around 100 employees. When I accepted this position, I expected more support from the superintendent and a pre-existing structure in the HR department. However, I've discovered that I am essentially building the HR function from scratch while also managing the day-to-day responsibilities. Every day feels monotonous, reminiscent of that SpongeBob episode where Squidward's life becomes repetitive. I find myself creating tracking systems and workflows, and frequently checking in with principals and directors to address issues with our collective bargaining agreement. My boss has a policy that requires all employees to respond to emails within 24 hours, which sounds fair until you're inundated with over 50 emails daily. Many of these emails require extensive research and communication, consuming a significant portion of my time. Additionally, being significantly younger than my colleagues adds another layer of difficulty, as I sometimes feel dismissed or questioned due to my age. I've been applying to jobs in the private sector, tech, and biotech industries for the past couple of months without much success. I'm at a crossroads, wondering if I should continue pursuing a different work environment or if this is just a challenging phase in my career.