It is alarming that so many people in today's society are unhappy with what they do for a living and are desperate for a job change. How many times have you heard someone say, "I really hate my job. How do I find a new job?" Sometimes it is not so much the job itself but unfriendly or uncooperative coworkers, a boss who is impossible to please, changes in technology that have made your present skills obsolete or maybe it really is the job itself.
Because there are so many reasons why someone could hate their job, it is essential that you make a serious and focused attempt at identifying and isolating the issues that are affecting you. The best way to do this is to make a list with two columns. In the first column write down what you like about your job. This could be anything, such as, they have a great cafeteria, I like the scenic drive into work, the pay is decent, etc. Now, write down in the second column what you dislike or really hate about your job. This column will probably be much longer. Be honest and list every issue whether it is positive or negative. The important thing is to WRITE THESE DOWN! Don't try to do this all in your head because you can't, plus by writing these thoughts down you will be making a statement that you can always refer back to when needed. Sometimes things will get better or sometimes they will get worse. In any case you have a written account of your thoughts that will be necessary as we progress.
The next thing needed is a plan of action. To begin with you must carefully review the lists that you have written down and have an exploration within yourself. You must consider what is important to you in terms of job satisfaction and also very importantly your personal happiness. As an example, you could love your job but dread the constant traveling and airport delays that tend to get old after a while. It is also possible that you love the company that you work for but feel too stressed and hate the job you are currently assigned to.
Take time to consider what is important to you and consider issues such as how much responsibility you are willing to take. Are you a team player or do you prefer working solo, do you get bored easily, do you like large corporate environments or a small company family environment? Be totally honest with yourself and consider the very real possibility that you may be the problem and not the job or your coworkers. This is a hard pill to swallow but it is essential to take this introspective look at yourself.
By analyzing your lists you may come to the realization that you need extra training or perhaps your attitude or personality needs a readjustment. Keep in mind that no matter where you work your bad habits will come to the surface eventually and you will probably have the same problems that you had in your previous job.
Now lets move on to what to do next in our plan of action. Basically there are three scenarios that on can take in your present situation: A) Stay at your present job with changes or adjustments made. B) Stay in the same type of work but at a different company. C) Totally change your career or line of work.
With scenario A, you must decide if your present job is worth staying at and if it is even possible to make the changes needed for your personal happiness. If the problem is with the boss himself or the job responsibilities, the first place to start is to have a heart-to-heart talk with you boss on a one-to-one basis. This may seem like a daunting task but it is an important step in your overall plan of action. If possible, it is best to have your heart-to-heart talk away from the workplace as he or she will be away from their "power base". A good idea is to invite them out to lunch at an inexpensive restaurant or if you must stay at work, order some take-out sandwiches from a local deli. The whole idea is to have some sit down alone time to talk your grievances out in a low-key professional manner. Be sure to use some of the thoughts that you wrote down in your list. Besides the negative things, also point out the positive things that you like about the job. This will show him that all is not bad and he will be more likely to work with you to solve your issues. I think you will find that this one-on-one method will work wonders and your boss will look at you in a new light.
If the problem is with your coworkers try taking the high road and make a peace offering once in a while. Bring some chocolates to work for everyone to have, give someone a magazine or an article about something they are interested in, ask about their families and tell them about yours, if someone is having a difficult time with some job related task – jump in and try to help. By becoming a "team player" you will gain the respect of your coworkers and they will come to your aid when you need it.
With scenario B, you like your line of work but need to be employed by a different company. You have tried everything possible to stay at your present job but all relationships have been irretrievably broken and it is no use staying in this present situation. It is clear you are in a downward spiral and it is time to move on. My best advice is to grit your teeth and hang in as long as needed until you have secured another job. The worst case scenario would be to quit in a tizzy and have no job prospects or income coming in. Keep in mind that you are continuing your plan of action and in time you will be out of this bad situation and working for a new company. This will be your mental "fallback" when you are having one of those bad days at work.
The following are some job hunting tips that will aid your plan of action. Contact every person who you have ever known who is in some way connected with your line of work. No one will help you more than those who know you, even if it is a friendship from the past. Many job openings are not advertised and often employers ask their trusted employees for possible referrals. Send you resumé out to all companies large and small who employ people in your line of work. The important thing is to send it to the right person in charge of your your profession. Call the company first, explain your situation briefly, and ask who the appropriate person would be to address the resumé to. This is very important as you must "target" your resumé to only those who can help you.
Check the classified ads of several area newspapers and even the once-a-week town journals on a regular basis. Sundays are an especially good day to look. Many newspapers offer on-line classifieds that can be reached through their websites. Employment agencies offer another option and can be a real help in finding jobs that are not advertised to the general public. Often companies will only go through employment agencies because the agencies screen the prospects and only offer the companies the best of the crop. Usually the employer pays the fee, but not always. When state law permits, you and the employer may share the fee or the fee may be billed to you after you have been hired. Always find out in advance who pays the fee, as you don't want any surprises or misunderstandings in the end.
There are some agencies that deal exclusively with temporary job positions. Taking on a temporary job in your chosen field often may lead to a permanent position if such a position opens up in that company. This is because if you have proven yourself and you are well liked, there is no reason for them to look elsewhere.
Career counseling services help job seekers with career direction, skill identification and self evaluation, resumé and interview preparation, and information about companies or a given job field. Placement is not guaranteed and you will be paying the fee.
Let's move on to scenario C where you need to totally change your career or line of work. At this point you are probably completely fed up with your employment situation and you are stressed to the point where your health is being affected. Not only do you need a new job, but it is time you should be thinking about choosing a career or starting a new career.
The difference between a job and a career will be discussed in a separate article but suffice it to say that choosing the right career and choosing a career path are of extreme importance. Now more than ever you need a plan of action. First, you must decide what you like to do. Better yet, find what you love to do. Write down on a piece of paper all of your skills and interests no matter how trivial or seemingly insignificant. Let's call this your explore list. It is very important to WRITE THIS INFORMATION DOWN. You can't do this in your head! You may need to take a few days of introspection and come back to the list several times before you have finished. By studying this list carefully you should find something that excites you. You will know it in your gut. Some people will know immediately. However, a great many people will find this difficult because they don't know what they love to do and have never truly asked themselves. Unfortunately, only you can answer this question, but sometimes talking to close friends, relatives, career experts, or college counsellors can help.
Once you decide what career possibilities you would like to explore, you will need to read everything you can get your hands on pertaining to these career choices. Go to several libraries and ask the librarian for help finding information if necessary. Read trade magazines and use the internet. Leave no stone unturned in your quest for information.
Next, and probably the best thing you can do, is talk to people currently doing the type of work you want to do. This may seem scary, but if they enjoy their career, most people are quite glad to share their thoughts and insights. Simply call ahead for an appointment and explain up front that you are not looking for a job, but would like some advice and recommendations from a professional like them on how to start a new career in this profession. Talk to as many people as you can from many different companies. In this way you will hear the good and the bad from many different sources and you will be making valuable contacts as well.
Once you make the commitment to start a new career it is important to focus on your career future and do whatever is needed to achieve your goal. If you need special training or college classes, just do it. If it is necessary to work part time to gain on-the-job experience, just do it and don't complain. If you need to add, build, or learn new skills, just realize you are choosing a career path that you will enjoy and it will all be worth it in the future.
In conclusion, please remember that change takes time and nothing good happens fast. Choosing the right career can be a challenge but as management expert Peter Drucker says, "The best way to predict the future is to plan it."
