The Scenic Route: A Career That Doesn’t Follow the Map

People often ask what I do, but rarely ask how I got here.

I never followed a five-year plan. I didn’t climb the career ladder in any predictable way. But over time, I built a life full of odd turns, steady graft, and the occasional leap into the unknown. It’s not always been easy. But it has always been mine.

And if you’re reading this to understand who I am, whether as a person, a business owner, or both, this is the bit that matters.

Starting out (Twice)

Like a lot of people, I left school with little idea of what I wanted to do. I ended up on two youth training schemes. One in a legal office, the other with a loan company. Neither were glamorous, but both taught me that I liked responsibility, I liked routine, and I was good at figuring things out. They only lasted six months each, but they set the tone early. Just because something is temporary doesn’t mean it isn’t worth doing properly.

From there, I volunteered in a charity shop. That quickly turned into an Assistant Manager role. It wasn’t where I saw myself staying long-term, but it gave me my first real taste of managing people and running a space. I didn’t know it at the time, but those early lessons in people-wrangling would become surprisingly useful.

Across Industries and Into the Deep End

Next up was a record company. I worked as a Concert Administrator, organising artist logistics, chasing down details, and generally trying to keep the show on the road. It had its moments, but being the new face in a small, tight-knit team came with its own challenges. I never quite felt like I belonged. That wears you down.

So I changed direction again. This time I moved into the NHS. I became a Consultant’s Secretary at a large teaching hospital. That meant juggling admissions, clinic scheduling, and helping new junior doctors get their heads around referral forms and expense claims. I liked the structure, the purpose, and the fact that my job actually meant something.

But then came the first wave of NHS reform. A full-scale restructure of admin roles. Whole systems were centralised or shifted, and my post was one of many that disappeared in the shuffle.

The Prison Build Job. Yes, Really.

Possibly the most unusual entry on my CV is this one. Site Administrator on a new prison construction project.

I was responsible for version control of architectural drawings, document security, materials logs, and more. I had to sign the Official Secrets Act. It was cold, dusty, and a completely different world. And I loved it.

When that job wrapped up, I moved to another building firm. This time I managed the full office for a regional director. That included everything from health and safety documents to board-level travel planning.

Over time, the business changed. Priorities shifted. The team dynamics and the wider company culture made it clear it was time to move on. So I did.

Edinburgh: Academia, Admin, and a Crash Course in Politics

Moving to Edinburgh brought a string of interesting roles in higher education, royal medical colleges, and research admin. I handled student records, publication support, budgets, and enough academic egos to last a lifetime.

At one university job, things turned toxic fast. High staff turnover. Low morale. A manager who somehow stayed in post, no matter how many complaints were filed. You know the type. I stuck it out longer than I should have. Most of us did. But eventually, it just wasn’t worth it.

So I went back to the NHS. Different department, different vibe, and a genuinely brilliant manager. Supportive team. Clear boundaries. Decent structure. It was a breath of fresh air after the chaos.

For a while, it gave me back some perspective.

But then came the cuts. Budgets shrank. Posts were reviewed. Teams were reshuffled. Contracts weren’t renewed. Mine included. It wasn’t about performance. It was just a decision made further up the chain.

So, I left.

Then came a job with a church organisation. On paper, it looked promising. In reality, it was the same story again. Too much expected. No support given. And the expectation that you’d keep smiling through the stress.

That job ended with what I now call a rage quit. Not my most elegant exit, but possibly my most important one.

A Line in the Sand

After that, I made a quiet but firm decision.

No more environments that actively undermine my skills, time, or boundaries.

I didn’t want another manager with a martyr complex. I didn’t want to be praised as “indispensable” and then treated as replaceable. I wanted to do work that mattered, for people who valued it. And I wanted to set the terms myself.

So I started my own business.

Now

These days, I work as a Virtual Assistant. Though “admin” barely scratches the surface.

I support clients with logistics, planning, inboxes, documents, events, and the kind of detail-chasing that most people hate. One client calls me the Gamemaster. Another just calls me essential.

And yes, I still use those early skills. The self-taught resilience. The ability to explain a complex process clearly. The instinct to spot what’s missing before anyone else does.

Why This Blog Exists

I’m not sharing this story for pity or praise. I’m sharing it because so many of us have non-linear careers, and we’re told to tidy them up. Simplify them. Make them sound like we knew what we were doing all along.

I didn’t. I just kept showing up, adapting, and doing the work. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve learned more. And I know what I bring to the table. Not in theory. In practice.

Next time, a health crisis, some surgery, and a very different way of working.

If any of that feels familiar. The detours. The burnout. The quiet decision to stop putting up with nonsense. You are not the only one.

And if you have reached the point where the admin is piling up and you need someone to just get it done, I can help.

Book a free 15-minute call, and we will work out what would actually make a difference.
https://zcal.co/jangoulding/free-call