Should You Carry on In A Job You Don’t Like?

No. Why? You can’t fake it for prolonged periods; the cracks will show when you least expect them.

Why Are So Many People Unhappy In Their Jobs?

We spend 1/3 of our time at work, so it makes sense that we enjoy what we do. You’d be surprised as to how many people are unhappy. I should know; I used to be one until I found my dream job. As an Executive Coach, I see quite a few who carry on and then, one day, Jack it all in.

Here’s my top 10 list of why so many people are unhappy in their jobs

❇️Values Out of Sync with the company values ❇️Stayed too long in one company /role ❇️Toxic work culture ❇️Bad boss ❇️Uninspiring work ❇️Bullying ❇️No stretch goals ❇️Not playing to the strengths ❇️Career Drift ❇️Rigid work patterns

Imagine the following:

Jacob hated all the office politics and avoided it at all costs. He wasn’t interested in the gossip on the grapevine either because it didn’t feel good, and it wasn’t his style. Plus, he didn’t care anymore. Jacob was biding his time until something came along and he could get rid of the toxic work culture he found himself.

These days, Jacob preferred to keep his head down and ‘get on with it’. However, this is where Jacob felt he wasn’t getting the best deal. He wasn’t getting the recognition or rewards he thought he deserved, and he now lacked visibility with his new seniors. They knew of him, but they didn’t know him.

Jacob was caught in the corporate upheaval when his company merged with another major company. He was kept on to help with the transition process. Initially, he thought he’d do the ‘firefighting role’ for six months and get promoted to Director once the transition ended. Nine months on, he was still firefighting and kicking himself for being short-sighted and naive.

Competing With The Peacock Preeners

The transition was far more painful than he imagined. Jacob’s new colleagues were not collegiate like his previous ones; a few were the ‘peacock preeners’. They’d put on a show when the seniors were around and say the right things at the right time. He saw them play these games daily to try to get noticed by senior managers.

Jacob saw ‘Golden Boy’ Zach from Corporate Development do it. Zach was the golden boy at the company and was now seen as a solid C-Suite contender. Jacob was now competing with Zach; initially, he thought it would be healthy competition, but now, it was proving to be more difficult than he imagined.

What stood Zach out above Jacob? Zach could walk the talk. What stood Zach apart from the rest of them? His ability to connect with the right people in the right places. His behaviour and mannerisms were to the new company’s vision, and when he spoke, he was a carbon copy of Henry (Jacob’s Boss). Both Zach and Henry could do ‘Corporate Politics’ very well.

Jacob’s partner, Greta, told him to resign several times because he was now unhappy even at home. The job market was returning from the last recession, and the competition was fierce. Greta believed if Jacob had started looking six months ago, he’d have secured something by now. But Jacob waited too long, hoping hints would get better. They didn’t. What should Jacob do?

Moving Forward

What can he do? A lot. First, he would benefit from doing a deep dive in understanding himself. What does this involve?

Step 1- Values

Jacob could look at his values and understand what’s important to him regarding work.

He could ask himself the following questions

- What does work mean to you? - What’s not working for you right now? - What could be better? - What’s your dream job? - what’s the one step you need to take to make the necessary change? - Who could help you?

Step 2- Do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)

Call to Action

Jacob would get a piece of paper or do it online. Draw a quadrant like the graphic below. Take each one and add items to each quadrant.

❇️Start with identifying his strengths ❇️Weakness ❇️Opportunities ❇️Threats

Step 3 — Scope out the market

Jacob could reach out to headhunters or scope out the market. He could revisit his professional network, including mentors, peers, and industry contacts. As a result, he could engage in networking events, online forums, and professional associations related to their field. A strong network can provide emotional support, advice, and insights into new opportunities or ways to enhance their current roles.

Step 4 — LinkedIn Housekeeping

Write an attention-grabbing Profile. Use the checklist below to help you add a bit of zing to your profile. l

❇️Write a strong profile. Tell it like a story with a strong beginning, middle and end. Mention your core strengths. ❇️Fill the experience roles with your tasks and duties. ❇️Add skills. You can max it out to 50. ❇️Get recommendations. ❇️Follow companies ❇️Follow thought leaders ❇️Add a professional-looking headshot photograph. Avoid the holiday snaps. ❇️Add your title and industry, as this helps people to find you, especially if they are searching for a specific sector.

Step 5 — Update Resume/CV

Ensure resume/CV is up-to-date, focusing on accomplishments and results rather than just duties and responsibilities. Use a modern format that is ATS-friendly (Applicant Tracking System).

Step 5 — Get A Coach

In today’s market, Jacob can’t leave anything to chance. Coaches can help in many ways, especially when dealing with uncertainty, lack of motivation, and feeling out of sync. Maybe he could speak to a coach and see how they could help him.

Parting Comments

Jacob decided to keep his cards close to his chest and carry on generally at work. He is in the process of getting himself out of a career rut. He doesn’t know what will happen to him, but he’s shown motivation to do something about this current predicament.

He’d been tolerating the rut for too long, which meant he was increasingly happy, and it impacted his home life. Jacob was a fictional character, but you get the idea.

As we spend 1/3 of our life at work, we must do more than settle for less. You’d be surprised how much control you have, and with the proper support, a job you hate can turn into a healthy, productive and positive experience.

Thank you for your attention.

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Pervin

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