Make More of Your Job

Wrong Job?

What I’m about to say may sound incredibly impatient, preternaturally inconsiderate or at the very least brutally intolerant. But if you’re one of those people who is constantly complaining about your job, do us all a favor: either do something about it or shut up!

I’m constantly amazed by the sheer volume of American workers who have nothing positive to say about their jobs, yet aren’t even in the market for a new one.  In any other area of life, chronic complaints about a situation without any action to improve it wouldn't be looked upon favorably. For some reason, complaining about our jobs seems to have become the acceptable norm. As a culture we constantly avoid the opportunity to better our lives because we’re afraid of the unknown.  Sure, changing jobs can be scary, but is it really scarier than a lifetime of being under-compensated, under-appreciated and under-utilized?

Think of the energy waisted on complaining about your job on a daily, or even hourly, basis. How about focusing all that energy on changing it?  There are over 125 million jobs in the US alone. If your negative arguments are sound, I guarantee you there is someone out there that would thrilled to both appreciate and compensate your talents. The beauty of working in a free-market society is that if what you do has value, there are always people looking and hoping to employ you.

Trust me, I’ve had bad jobs in my life and I understand completely. How awful it can be to work in a job where you feel unfulfilled or unappreciated, but you have the power to change it!

It’s human nature to be up some days and down others, but if you don’t feel excited to go to work at least 3 out of 5 days a week, you’re either not as talented as you think or you’re in the wrong job.  As the employment market tightens, and employers are more and more desperate to hire quality workers, keeping a job that doesn’t inspire you is nobody’s fault but your own.

Love the Job You're With?

It’s not the first time on this blog that we’ve discussed the importance of being passionate about your job, but it’s about time that we discuss what to do if you just can’t find that passion. Loving what you do every day is the key ingredient to being great at what you do, but no matter how little you like your job, pulling up roots and leaving is a scary situation.

 

Most of us rank stability pretty high on the list when we look at out lives, so the thought of being out of work or starting all over again in a new field can inspire fear in even the most adventurous of souls. The fact is, though, that staying at a job you don’t love shouldn’t even be one of your options.

 

Think of it like an emergency appendectomy. Going under the knife might be terrifying and the results unknown, but if you don’t have surgery you aren’t going to make it. No one would ever consider not having an emergency appendectomy if they knew it was suicide!  Staying at a job that you can’t muster any passion or energy for is career suicide, and the only operation that might save you is quitting.

 

Besides, staying at an uninspiring job isn’t fair to you, it isn’t fair to the people who might love an opportunity to have your position, and it isn’t fair to your employer who pays you regularly with an expectation that you’re giving them your best. Once you make the decision to leave your job, though, most of us can’t just pack up and move out instantly. There are people to support and loose ends to tie up.

 

We’ll talk in more depth about leaving your position the right way over the next few weeks, but for now, here are a couple of important things to consider once you’ve decided that you wont ever be able to love your job:

 

• Set a hard “quitting” date – Like anything else that scares us in life, our natural instinct is to create a million excuses for why we haven’t acted yet. Setting a firm date for when you will quit prevents you from waffling about what you know is right for your future.
• Don’t take another passionless job – This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how many people leave the jobs they don’t love to do the exact thing somewhere else. Don’t fall into this trap. The grass is not greener if you don’t change the seeds!
• Don’t burn bridges – When it comes time to give your notice, give your employer adequate time to replace you and offer to train your replacement. You should also be candid about your reason for leaving. Most people are supportive when they know that you are doing what’s best for you. Finally, stay in touch with the people that you respected during your tenure. Most people have multiple jobs in their career, and you never know when those connections will deliver amazing opportunities down the road. 

Leaving your job is scary, but there is a right way to get it done. Remember, it isn’t nearly as frightening as a lifetime at a job that doesn’t excite you.