- Staying at Wrong Job Picture by Shinealight at Wikimedia Commons
The costs of staying in the wrong job for too long are absorbed by employees and employers alike. And although as CNN Health reports in their October 1, 2010 “Why Your Job is Making Your Depressed” article nearly 13% of unemployed professionals experience depression versus 7% of employed workers, staying in the wrong job for too long still comes at a price.
Happiest Careers are Jobs Your Find Personally Fulfilling
Some career fields report higher incidences of employee depression (e.g. healthcare, law enforcement) than others (e.g. engineering, architecture). Dr. Christopher Willard, clinical psychologist at Tufts University, states in the CNN Health report that, “The happiest job is the one that you find personally fulfilling, challenging, and matches your personality.”
If you think you might be working at the wrong job, consider how many of the following signs you are exhibiting or feeling:
- You seldom or never read material related to your job field when you are not at work (people are naturally drawn toward their passions)
- The work environment irritates you (office décor, the way the air feels, etc. physically or psychologically leaves you with a bad feeling)
- Number of days that you are late or absent from work are increasing
- Getting out of bed in the morning feels like a chore
- Talking about work with family and friends is the last thing you want to do
- Focusing on projects at work is becoming more and more difficult
- Possibility for growth and development at your job is nil
- Your mood suddenly shifts upward (by a lot) after you leave work
- To get through the work day you feel like you have to become someone else
Other factors could influence some of the above feelings (e.g. divorce, recent move away from family and friends). However, if the feelings persist, it could be an indication that you are in the wrong job.
All Jobs Have Pros and Cons
Keep in mind that all jobs have pros and cons. For example, if you are self-employed or freelance from home you might enjoy the freedom of working your own hours. However, there is a good chance that you will have to find (consistent) ways of staying in contact with other professionals. Someone who works at an office would receive consistent professional contact through colleagues that they work with at the office.
Before you step into any job make sure that you understand the pros and cons of the job. Check to ensure that your personality, passions and aspirations are a match for the job. In fact, you could think of seeking the best job similar to how you would seek out the best life partner. Both will shape you and greatly impact your mood.
Organizations like Career Colleges, Job Diagnosis, Career Path and Career Planner offer career tests that you can take. The tests are designed to help you discover the “right” or “best” career field to work in, one that will provide you ongoing innate and external rewards. The tests can be taken by high school students, currently employed professionals, people seeking employment and retirees. Most of the tests are free and can be taken online. There is a charge to take the Career Planner tests.
If you think you might be working in the wrong job, look before you leave your current place of employment. Map out a plan to secure a new job. It certainly will not benefit you to leave your job only to move into a situation where you have no income entering your home.
Study Career You Want to Work Jobs in Most
But you can take action now. Study the career field you most want to work in. See if jobs in this field generally require that you have a certain type of undergraduate or graduate degree. If so, start to look into the costs of tuition, financial aid, etc. for schools in your area that offer these degrees.
Network with professionals you can trust to discover the appetite for employers to take on new employees. You might even consider doing work as a contractor for a new employer you want to work full-time for. Check to see that the employers you are interested in working with have benefits packages that meet your individual and family needs.
Get into Spiral online at: https://www.ebookit.com/books/0000000841/Spiral.html
Check out Long Walk Up online at: https://www.ebookit.com/books/0000000531/Long-Walk-Up.html
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/01/health.job.making.depressed/index.html (CNN Health: Why Your Job Is Making You Depressed)
http://www.careerplanner.com/A-Career-Test.cfm (Career Planner)
http://changememe.com/2009/08/24/7-signs-youre-in-the-wrong-job (Change Meme: 7 Signs You’re in the Wrong Job)
http://www.careercolleges.com/career-assessment-test.jsp (Career Colleges)
http://www.jobdiagnosis.com/registration.htm (Job Diagnosis)
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/The-Six-Signs-Youre-in-the-Wrong-Job/6 (Oprah: The Six Signs You’re In the Wrong Job)
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