Get a new job that suits me better than my old job!

Well, almost two years on now and I am still in the same job. I am torn between just carrying on as I am and forgetting about this, or massively re-doubling my efforts to find something completely different. It’s too easy for me to feel comfortable and settled and I don’t know if I have the motivation to go through with this currently.

I’m feeling a little let down with my current job. I applied for a transfer within the department and was turned down. But now my line manager has signed me up to do systems testing and user training for the job that I didn’t get! It seems unfair and it’s making me wonder why they feel I am good enough to do the dirty work but not good enough for the actual position? It’s not all bad as I really do enjoy testing the code and working with the system developers, but generally I’m feeling unappreciated at work.
Next step: Trying to turn the negatives into positives and up my motivation to find a new job that will suit me better.

I can’t believe it’s been 10 months since I started this goal. It still seems like a far off dream, and I haven’t made any progress. I had another interview with my current employer for a different position within my department. Essentially it would be the same role but there would be the nice little perk of paid business trips to the States. I was unsuccessful with that because I’m not aggressive or pushy enough. Seems like a bad excuse to me but if that’s really how they made the decision then I can live with myself knowing that I didn’t get the job cause I’m too nice!

It’s looking less and less likely that I will find a more suitable job by the end of this year. Our council has just laid off hundreds of jobs and sad fact there just don’t seem to be any positions out there in my local area that fit in with what I want. Maybe I’m being too picky but the whole point of wanting to leave my current position is because I’m not satisfied. I don’t want to get another job just for the sake of it, I want to get another job because it will suit me.
There’s a temporary promotion available while one of my colleagues is off on maternity leave. Not my cup of tea, and I don’t want to be tied in if something better does happen to come along. I have considered taking up a second job maybe in the evenings or weekends but time is precious and I don’t want to be working round the clock.

Applying for a promotion at work. It’s not perfect, but would mean a bit extra cash. Still looking for a job in my hometown.

I am really nervous. I don’t even know if I want the job anyway. I’m hoping it all goes well, and if not then at least it’s good practice.

My current job is safe. It is easy, relaxed, and I like the people I work with. I receive generous holiday, pension and healthcare benefits from the company.
Now the down side. There is no way for me to progress within the company unless I somehow happen to obtain a physics degree (not going to happen!). The daily tasks I do are repetitive and brainless. I do not feel challenged at all, and I find the job to be unsatisfying on this level. I’m also wasting away around £1000 / year on travel expenses.
If it wasn’t for the money side of things I would probably be content to stay in the job for another couple of years, but it just seems incredibly wasteful to be spending that amount of money on travel when it could be going on mortgage repayments, holidays, clothes…
Anyway, I’m looking for a job that will suit my circustances a bit better. One that is in my home town, has some prospects for advancing within my career and requires me to use (even just a little bit of) my brain.