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You Hate Your Job
It’s a feeling common to many of us.
Monday morning comes around, your alarm clock rings, and you wake up with that uncomfortable pit in your stomach! It’s the start of another working week, and you would rather do anything ANYTHING than have to go back to work again.
You are stuck in a job you hate, and you wearily climb out of bed longing for another life. Surely you are meant for more than this, right? Maybe so. But considering life is short, considering retirement will swing around before you know it (though not soon enough to get you out of your job), you should consider your position. Do you really want to live your life hating your job? Are other options available to you? The answers are no and yes respectively, in case you were wondering. And if you were asking yourself…
This book will take you through understanding the way you feel now as well as how to improve your current situation immediately so you can create enough space to work on breaking out and doing what you truly love.
Surely there is more to life than this?
Then know you may not have to be stuck in the job you are in forever. However, you have to do something about the problem. It’s unlikely the Career Fairy is going to come along, wave his wand, and make your dreams come true. You have to take action, so here is some advice you might find useful.
“Before you even start, it’s key that you have figured out what it is you want from your next job. Start by defining your motivations for leaving your current role; is it a lack of responsibility, monotonous work, a poor relationship with your manager or is it simply that you are not being paid enough? Once you have this figured out, you will be able to identify what it is you want from your next role. With that information in mind, you will be well placed to find and target the right type of jobs.” – Top Five Tips to Boost Your Job Search
Take stock of your position.
So, you hate your job. Ask yourself why! What is it about the job that you hate so much? Perhaps it’s a matter of money, doing a lot of work for very little financial reward. You may have a boss who rules with an iron fist, or who barely rules at all. Your colleagues may be bullies or gossipmongers. Perhaps you have to spend a long time on the daily commute. There could be any number of reasons why you hate your job, so think about these things and then consider the next point.
Consider improving your time at work.
You may be perfectly happy with the work you are doing, but if there are external factors placing a burden on your enjoyment level, then think about the actions you could take to make your workday that much easier. If you do face workplace bullying, know that there are ways to deal with bullies. If your boss is the problem, then you may need to speak to them, or if he/she isn’t approachable, you may be in your rights to go over their head. If you are tired of making the same long journey to and from work, you may be allowed to work from home occasionally, assuming your career type permits that. In short, don’t accept the things you hate, but work out what it is you don’t like and try to find ways to deal with the situation.
Check your attitude.
Now, here’s the thing. Sorry to say it, but you may be the problem! You see, while your job may not be your dream job, you should at least be thankful you have a job. We will look at a change in career shortly, but the truth is this: you may not be happy in any job! The fact you have to go to work is a burden for you. You much prefer the weekends to the working week. Your downtime is more important to you than spending your days working for the man.’ What we are saying is this: your work ethic sucks! Don’t worry, you’re not alone – many of us complain about having to go to work – and while it may be you will stop complaining if you get a better job, you may also be that person who is never happy whenever they have to exert themselves. If this is you, check your attitude at the door and improve your work ethic today.
Go back to childhood.
Not literally, that would be impossible! Rather, go back to your school days, and the aspirations and dreams you held back then. Revisit your hopes and consider how far away you are from them. Admittedly, some of our childish dreams are next to impossible, but you may have had ideas that are not far beyond the realms of possibility. Wanted to go into space? You could always check job openings at NASA, whether you train to be an astronaut or not. Wanted to be an airline pilot? Perhaps you could consider pilot training. Ever wanted to fight for your country? The army is always opening up vacancies. Did you want to be a famous author? Then hone your skills with a writing job and make time in your life to start the book you always wanted to write. If you had a dream, and it is within the realms of possibility for you, then revisit the dream, and map out a plan to live it! And so to the next point…
Plan to move forward.
Think about what it is you want out of a job. Whether it’s an idea you had as a child or something you have only recently considered, make a plan to get from A to B. If you want to stay within the same company, look for ways to get a promotion if that will improve your feeling at work. If you have another career goal in mind, consider how you are going to get there. You may need to go back to school and re-educate yourself. New skills and qualifications may open the doors to your dream job. There may be people who can help you, so go to where they are. Industry conferences and career fairs are a start, and you can extend your efforts online through social media and company websites. By building up your skillset, and by making yourself known to the people you matter to, you stand a better chance of getting the job you want. So, make a plan – the training you need; the people you need to speak to – and set yourself goals for the future.
Written by some of Lonely Planet's very own nomadic experts, this book is packed with top tips, insights and real life tales on what it's really like to be working on the road.
Pursue your passions outside of work.
In some cases, it may not be practical to ditch your job. If you are able to deal with any issues inherent in your workplace, it may be reasonable to stay there, for a little longer at least. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your life in other ways. If you have a particular passion, follow it. This may be through a hobby, where you use and build up your skills. You might want to consider voluntary work, taking part in something that offers you rewards that your current job doesn’t give you. By doing both of these things, you will improve your life. Not only will you have something to look forward to outside of work hours, but these things might open doors for you in the future. You may be inspired to use your hobby as a job, be that in a 9 to 5 role, or through working for yourself. The voluntary work you undertake may awaken your passions, giving you the impetus to carry on this good work in a paid role. In both cases, you are gaining experiences that will stand you in good stead for the future.
It is an oft-repeated phrase, “Follow your passion!” If we all could just follow our passions, everything would be all right. We would all have great, fulfilling hobbies. But is following your passion always the best advice when it comes to your career?
Tweet ThisImprove your job prospects.
This is something we have already alluded to, but it is necessary if you want to get out of the job you are in. While you are considering your next move, there are a few things you can do to enhance your chances when you are next faced with job applications and interviews. As we have said, you may be able to learn new skills through hobbies and voluntary work. Taking a part-time course online or at your local college will give you the qualifications you need to move into another position. You should also creative ways to improve your resume, ensuring it contains everything needed to make you stand out to future employers. Learn a few interview techniques to give you a fighting chance against the competition. Make yourself known to other employers while you’re still working, and push open those doors that become available. You need to be proactive if you want to get out of your current job, so take any step necessary.
Ditch your job.
While this is a risky proposition – you may not want to leave your job if you are reliant on the income – it may still be in your best interests to resign if you really do hate being there. And by hate, we don’t mean the occasional grumble of discontent. Rather, if your health is at risk, particularly emotionally, and you feel yourself going through stress and depression, then you shouldn’t endure it any further. Speak to your doctor, take time off work, and then consider your future at that company. Having a break may be enough to help you, and you may return to work with a fresh impetus and drive to continue. On the other hand, it may be time to call it quits. While none of us want to live on benefits, this may be the better option for you if your job really has become too much. At least you will have the opportunity to put a concerted effort into your job search. So, while we wouldn’t say ditch your job on a whim, it is something to consider carefully when you are struggling.
We hope we have offered some advice that is useful to you. As we said, life is too short to forever be stuck in a job you hate, so look at your life today, and start to plan for a future that won’t make you feel ill when you get up for work on Monday morning. We wish you every success.
