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via Forbes.com
Taking a thoughtful approach to why you're dissatisfied at work can make for smarter decisions.
With so few jobs available during the recession, plenty of U.S. workers were holding on for dear life to ones they had – even if they were miserable. But now that things are improving and more jobs are popping up, people who hate their work might be more inclined to do something about it.
According to a research report by the Society for Human Resource Management, only 29 percent of workers in the 31-to-61 age group reported being “very satisfied” with their job. The rest are either “somewhat satisfied” or not satisfied at all.
There are various things that contribute to dissatisfaction in the workplace, says Katharine Brooks, director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin and author of "You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career." “There might be a conflict between your interests and the duties of the position; the job might be too demanding or not demanding enough; lack of training for position; lack of job security; you may have a poor relationship with co-workers or a supervisor; you might be poorly compensated; you might be in bad or unsafe working conditions; or you’re burnt out.”
The organization’s financial stability; lack of opportunities to use or hone skills, or to advance your career; poor job flexibility and work-life balance; and a bad corporate culture are other contributing factors, according to the SHRM report.
Forbes.com slideshow: See what to do when you hate your job
“People often stay in jobs they don’t like because they don’t realize what else they can do,” says Maggie Mistal, a career consultant, radio host and speaker. “They haven’t taken the time to identify what makes them happy or where their talents lie. They haven’t clarified their values and thought about how they’d like to use their abilities to make a difference and align their work with their purpose. Too often people assume work is supposed to be a chore so they don’t even look for anything other than that when embarking on a career.”
If you hate your job, here’s what you can do:
1. Start by doing a quick self-assessment
Brooks says you should start by asking yourself: Why do I hate my present job? Is this a new feeling or have I always disliked it? Is it the people I’m working with, the tasks I’m asked to do, the culture of the company? “Try making a list of the pros and cons of your job and what you’d want in your next job,” she says. Determine if there are ways to modify your situation while staying at the organization or whether it’s time to move on. “If at all possible, do not leave your current job until you have secured a new one.”
2. Figure out if it’s you or the job you’re unhappy with
Once you do a self-assessment, it’s important to determine whether the things you’re unhappy with have to do with you, or the job. This will help you figure out if changing jobs is the right move. For example, if you’re stressed and you want to change jobs to relieve tension, it may follow you and you’ll find the same thing in the next job, says Debra Benton, an executive coach and author of "The Virtual Executive: How to Act Like a CEO Online and Offline." If you figure out ahead of time that the stress is caused by things outside of your work life, you can avoid this.
If you’re unhappy in your job because you’re unhappy in life, the solution may be to seek help outside of the office.
3. Talk with your supervisor
If you’re not happy with your schedule, your compensation or the projects you’re assigned to, you should tell your boss. There could be ways to improve the situation, Brooks says, and it might be much easier than you think.
4. Don’t quit immediately
If you have a job that provides decent compensation and that isn’t unbearable, then consider staying put for right now, says Deborah Shane, a career author, featured writer, speaker, and media and marketing consultant. Remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side, “and new pastures are not always what you thought they’d be.” She adds, “Before you run from your current job, or decide to change or transition to another field, do the research and preparation necessary so you will be educated and qualified.”
If you’re in a situation where your job is intolerable or unsafe, you should leave.
5. Change your attitude
Maybe you had one bad experience at work that left a sour taste in your mouth. If so, try to let it go.
“Be careful about letting your negative feelings show while you’re still on the job,” Brooks says. Why? “Even though you’re unhappy and may leave soon, you want leaving to be your decision, not the organization’s. Be professional and pleasant and follow through on your responsibilities. If you’re fired, it will be much harder to find your next opportunity.”
Maintain a positive attitude and focus on the aspects of your job that you enjoy. If you can’t find one, it might be time to consider moving on.
6. Be professional
Even if you plan to quit, keep doing your job well. This way, when you decide to leave, you will have good recommendations, Brooks says. And if you’re situation improves and you decide to stay, you won’t be embarrassed about your behavior Remember: It’s never a good idea to burn bridges, no matter how dissatisfied you are with your employer or your job.
7. Set your career goals
Figure out where you want to be in five years. “Will your current role help you get there?” Brooks asks. “If not, what would? And how can you move toward that?” If you know what you want to accomplish and where you want to be, it may put things into perspective for you.
8. Look for opportunities that you’d enjoy within the organization
“See what opportunities exist to join a committee, project, or initiative in your company,” Shane says. “Volunteer to help someone you admire; someone who could teach you things or mentor you.” Engaging in projects or initiatives that make you happy could make the overall experience in your workplace more enjoyable.
9. Don’t take it out on others
Don’t treat your clients or colleagues poorly because you’re miserable in your job — and definitely refrain from gossiping or complaining to them. It’s OK to discuss with colleagues your discontent to a certain degree, but be careful not to cross the line.
10. Change your job without changing companies
If you’re content with your employer, but not with your specific role or supervisor, consider changing jobs within the organization or altering your current position to better suit your needs and/or goals.
“Job crafting is the art of reworking your job description so that you are better able to use your strengths and contribute more fully to the workplace,” Brooks says.
More from Forbes.com
- Body language mistakes that can cost you the job
- Top 10 companies doing the most to make their employees happier
- Top 25 companies for work-life balance
- How to handle a personal crisis at work
Leave a Comment:
Should you have to pay to work online?
Sounds more like play on line. NO.
Then freakin' quit and let someone who doesn't hate the job work...nothing more lame than a complaining employee who won't leave...
47,600,000 people are on foodstamps. Go ahead and quit because you should be a happy worker. In flyover country, they're called chores for a reason; they're not fun but in cidiot land things must be fun or you're not happy.
I don't know about the unhappiness thing, but my thing is I have zero loyalty to companies these days. If I worked for a small business, I might, but in today's essentially corporate world, I'll act like a mercenary, and go to the highest bidder doing whatever I find the best. Why? Because companies have zero loyalty to the employees. I've been busting my ass for the past year and a half on my current project, and what's my reward? My budget is being cut.
Zero loyalty to companies. YES!!! Why should any worker be loyal when the corporate fat cats will dump your butt the first chance they get? All in order get the stock to rise 1/4 of 1%. I don't care what anyone says... Life is too damned short to be miserable at your job everyday. I quit a job I was miserable at in 2008 and all my co-workers asked "You're quitting? In THIS economy?" Well... yes. When you Wake up every morning and the very first thought you have is "F%$K!! I do NOT want to go to work at this place!", you need to get out.
Sometimes you can hate your job for simple reasons - the heinously long commute, the fight for parking every morning, the horrific cafeteria, the once-a-month paycheck, the chaos in the basic business processes, the overly long meetings about nothing, etc. It gets hard to determine if you really hate the JOB or if you just hate some of the conditions under which you do it. BTW - I have had jobs that I LOVED under every one of these reasons. Sometimes I stayed in spite of the problem, sometimes I fixed the problem, but other times the problems were the catalyst to leave and go elsewhere.
My primary reason for hating a job and leaving though has been a radical change to my core job skill (say a web content manager who spends more than half the day answering the phone at the reception desk) or a change to the working conditions. I am very selective about location, hours, and duties so when I was planted at the reception desk and did "so well why should we hire someone else?" I told them how I felt and gave them time to find a receptionist. They did and I stayed on in a new position with the company for a couple more years after the new receptionist was hired. When my work hours changed from 9 - 7:30 am and I was sent to the office across town to "help out" indefinitely (taking me from a 20 minute commute to a 55 minute commute) I left. I wasnt given any input to the situation and it didnt work for me - in fact I had turned down a position in that office before accepting that one.
And yes there is TONS of bait and switch. If you hire me as an editor dont be surprised if I am not happy running the xerox machine 8 hours a day, keeping the coffee room stocked, and stuffing folders instead of editing! If I had been offered that job I would have turned it down (as did most of the other applicants which is why they lied about the title and duties - just to fill the job.)
Someone mentioned company loyalty - all of these companies are on my list and I will never work for them again or recommend them to anyone else. A shame too because I have unique skills and qualifications that they are constantly trying to rehire me for but I have already been jerked around by them once and fool me twice shame on ME but they cut their own throats.
I didn't know you worked at the same place I do.
Right out of college, I got a job as an auditor. I've had the same job for four years now, I just finished my MBA, and I'm making a little more than $40k a year. On top of that, I don't like what I do. Granted, I am appreciative that I have job when there are others who are working part-time making $7 an hour, but I just want something more. In today's economy, especially in states that are really lacking in the job environment, i.e. Rhode Island (my current residence), what is someone like me supposed to do? I would like to find a job that I can look forward to every morning when I get up, but it seems impossible these days. Any time I apply for a job it's as if I'm competing with people with 20 years more experience than me. I'd like to use my MBA and find an interactive, exciting job that I can be passionate about. Any ideas?
Many people restrict themselves geographically and that keeps them in poor jobs. Expand your horizons and move to where the good jobs are.
It's easy to do that whey you're single. When you're married, have a working wife, kids in school, and a house, not so much.
What about when you have TRIED to seek other opportunities within the corporation but your boss keeps blocking you because you make THEM look better than they are? My hubby has been doing the same job for nine years, and instead of the raise they promised him they CUT his salary to the point where we're barely above the poverty level for our family size (6 total)...and he's got a Masters, the same as his b*tch boss! He makes her job easy and all she ever does is crap on him. One time she had him research the possibility of giving her employees who had earned Masters degrees in the past year a 20 percent raise AND SHE LEFT HIM OUT OF IT! And he's been up for NINE promotions in the past three years where he was the most qualified candidate and denied for each and every one because she pulled favors to keep him where he is.
He is a HARD worker, which is most of the problem because when he does a task, he goes above and beyond and people take advantage of that. None of the higher ups will rat her out for blocking his promotions because they were involved. So what do you do in THAT sort of situation?
It is droll and time-consuming, but you must document, time, date and occurence. After awhile, when your documentation looks substantiall to you, go to your human resources department on an anonymous appointment.
On the new economy, as an recent article reported, the jobs are in the high-end, and the low-end. Middle careers are disappearing and not coming back. Blame on un-restrained globalization. If your job can be outsourced, contract out, it will. Be prepared to change job over-and-over-and-over. what a way to live eh.
In a way, we are all migrant workers now, eh?
There are 2 options if you truly hate your job:
1. Suck it up
2. Quit
Next 'news article', please...
How about this...start your own company. That's what I did; got laid off in the recession three years ago and decided to go into business for myself. Guess what? I've done a BIG 180 from where I was at. I had an accounting degree and did that for 20 years. You know what I'm doing now? I'm a professional pet-sitter. I LOVE IT! I could not be happier. I was miserable in my former profession and now I'm working longer hours for shorter pay but it's the best thing that's ever happened to me.
llohjmcbg: You are my hero! I am right behind you with that concept. Has your business taken off?
How did you start your business and get the word out there? My wife and I have two dogs and we always say if we had the money we would quit our jobs and run our own dog rescue group. But, your pet sitting business sounds awesome as well! I would love to do something like that every day. There's nothing like doing something every day that you're passionate about.
By the way, I have an undergrad in accounting and I just finished my MBA. If you can't tell, I hate my job!
Great idea. I've always been told to find someting you like to do and figure out a way to make a living doing it.
I compliment your creativity and resourceful approach to employment. You can always find a way to be your own boss. If you get your butt in gear and actually try.
Positive & Kyle...my business has grown steadily, but I've only done it for two years. I keep getting return business for which I am truly grateful! In fact, I am still taking care of my first "client." He walks very fast : - ) As far as starting my business, I live in Texas. Last I checked, the state is in the top five for ease of starting a small business. Each state has different rules though. If you want to look into it...start with the federal and your state's small business administration websites. They are quite helpful though sometimes confusing. GO FOR IT...and get yourself a good tax accountant if you're not comfortable doing a combined tax return yourself. Good luck!
Do what I did--I quit and am starting my own business. I now work for the best boss in the world ME. I am too smart for the corporate world. In my last job, I ran the company while my idiot boss (President of the company) took 6 weeks of vacation to my ZERO, worked from home alot (wink-wink), played on the internet while he loaded me down with work, gutted the company financially with his whiney little demands. Gee, I really miss those good ole days of stress, working the job of 3 people, his bad breath, his body odor. Damn . . .
Nobody truly like their job. We all work for the money. If we don't need the money, we wouldn't work. There are so many other things we would want to do with our time. Just find the highest paying job and put up with the crap. The more money you make, the quicker you can retire and get away from the rat race. I have been traveling the country and putting up with highest bidder.
For a lot of us you are right on the money. I never liked being told what to do, by a boss or a customer, so I went into the military. Yes, I put up with a lot of authority, but after 24 years I retired at 46 and now no one has told me what to do for the last 13 years and won't for the rest of my life.
I hope that down the road when I retire, that I can look back on the careers/jobs that I had, and be able to say that I never singlehandedly or otherwise by my actions and work decisions (or my lack of action) caused another fellow employee to hate his job and subsequently leave because of that.
I have been on the other side of this situation twice and it sucks…it is SO WRONG.
But such is life in corporate America.
I have to state one thing for sure; I have never hated a job where the management knows what they are doing.
With that said, for those who identify the problem in themselves, search the material What Was I Born To Do? By Curtis Adney. Books like What Color Is My Parachute are great, but Adney is the best.
Love my job...hate who I work for!
Same here... pay is great, benefits are great, job is great... organization is highly political and filled with people who would stab you in the back if you turned away from them for a moment.
Hating who works for you sucks, too.
"If you’re not happy with your schedule, your compensation or the projects you’re assigned to, you should tell your boss." Be careful, here, VERY careful. You can easily set yourself up to get the worst assignment in your group.
Also, if you're in your last decade of work and your company has a pension, make sure you know the details: most are back-ended, meaning they gain a lot of their value toward then end. Also, you may need a certain number of years to qualify for employer-subsidized benefits like health insurance. In most cases like those, it's worth making the best of a bad situation because the financial rewards are much greater than you'd get elsewhere.