Hate your job? You’re not alone. According to a recent study, unhappy employees outnumber happy ones by two to one worldwide. We wrote this article to provide advice to those who are sick and tired of their work.
First off, it is important to realize that you are not your job; it should not give you your worth. However, if you are spending 40+ hours per week doing something you loathe, you need to figure something else out. Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It is important to enjoy your occupation.
1. Define Your Dream Job
If you don’t already know what your dream job is, check out 2 Questions That May Change Your Life. This is the most important thing you can do if you hate your job. The reason is because if you do not have a dream career in mind, you will lack direction. Having a dream job in mind will help you make informed career decisions and is the first step you can take to find a job that you love.
2. Write It Down
Why do you hate your job? We encourage you to write it down. Not only will this activity help you to vent, it will cause you to look at the cons of your job objectively. There’s no emotion in a Word document or the notepad on your iPhone; only cold, hard facts. This will help you zone in on exactly what bothers you at work. We also recommend prioritize the level of hatred for these things. This list will be interesting to look back at down the road to see how far you’ve come.
3. Talk To Your Supervisor
After composing a ranked list of things you don’t like about your job, you can begin to assemble a game plan. For example, if a certain obnoxious coworker you sit next to is your number one source of distain for your job, then ask your boss (tactfully, of course) if it would be possible to relocate your workspace. Or if you find that your work lacks substance, ask your supervisor if there are any opportunities to work with a different team. In fact, you may be able to eventually change your job inside the company.
4. Deal With It
Sometimes, you just have to suck it up. Accept the bad things about your job and change your attitude in order to better deal with the situation. Another activity you can do to cope with a horrible job is to buy yourself stuff. Don’t go overboard, but snagging a new outfit at the mall can help you deal with a bad day at work. You can also vent to your close friends. Sometimes, simply letting it all out is what you need to make yourself feel better. And last, remember to leave work at work. Don’t let your bad work situation creep into other areas of your life. If you can’t seem to escape your job, it’ll make dealing with it almost impossible.
5. Search Elsewhere
Today, networking is pretty easy thanks to social media sites such as LinkedIn (click here to learn How To Dominate the LinkedIn Game). However, be cautious. You don’t want to proclaim from the mountaintops that you’re looking for a new job…an employee (or worse, your boss) may hear prematurely and cause you unnecessary trouble.
6. Educate Yourself
By pursuing further education or a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), more enjoyable opportunities will arise. Evening or weekend courses at a local university or an online degree program (check out The University of Phoenix’s MBA program) are a few ways you can educate yourself.
7. Resign (Gracefully)
Resign gracefully, giving two weeks notice. Offer to provide assistance during the transition and leave, as best you can, the company behind with no hard feelings. Beside not being worth what it might cost you from a career perspective, it’s also not worth the time and energy. You’ll be better focused on your new job and how you can have a better experience, this time around.
All the above said, we realize that more things come into play when choosing your job other than simply loving or hating it. A few things include: financial obligations, parental/social pressures, and geographical constraints. When it is all said and done, while your job does not define you, we urge you to never settle for a job you hate. Live a life without regrets.
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