By Rhonda Campbell
Working the wrong job or wrong career drains your energy. Working the wrong job or wrong career also creates the false perception that you lack the skills to succeed.
Young adults entering today’s job market are not set on finding a job that’s so perfect they’ll want to work the job for the rest of their career. A 9-to-5 environment, sitting in stuffy cubicles for long stretches, is a turn off for them, not what they want to aspire to. This could be a very good thing; it also might have a hidden benefit to the most unlikely people, Gen Y’s parents.
Fear of leaving the wrong job or wrong career
Who knows? It might have been the fact that World War II came on the heels of the Great Depression, but somehow Baby Boomers and their parents learned to fear job change, to hold onto a job, including the wrong job, with their life. Enduring painful on-the-job politics, long work hours, demanding (and demeaning) managers and a near complete lack of work/life balance was seen as something good American adults did.
Nearly 60 years removed from World War II and the Great Depression has, fortunately, seen the approach to work begin to shift. The end of pensions has also played a pivotal role in this ongoing change. However, the fact is that it was never worth it for anyone to put all his or her energy the wrong job or wrong career, a job he or she absolutely hates.
Consider this. “Employees who stayed at organizations out of either obligation or a
perceived lack of other job options were more likely than other employees to experience physical health problems, including symptoms of exhaustion, stress and burnout,” as reported in Business News Daily.
Heart disease, high blood pressure and anxiety are just some of the negative fall outs sticking that with the wrong job or wrong career could bring on, especially if you work long hours. A study conducted in Europe discovered, “Working overtime can be bad for an employee’s heart. Those who worked at least 10 hours a day had a 60 percent higher risk of heart-related problems, such as death due to heart disease or a nonfatal heart attack, than those who didn’t work overtime.”
If your employer demands that you stay connected to the organization, keeping Blackberries, cell phones and laptops on during weekends, after office hours and while you’re on vacation, the stakes may be even higher.
Signs that you might be at the wrong job
Each person responds to a job they hate differently. However, there are some common signs people experience or show. Some of the signs that you’re at the wrong job include:
- You keep to yourself at work, not feeling close to anyone
- Despite how hard you work, the chances of getting promoted are slim to none
- The organization is so small or tightly controlled, there are only one to two other roles you could step into, even if you stayed at the organization for another two decades
- Atrophy is the most common experience you have at work
- 5 minutes after the workday begins, you start checking the clock, begging for the time to miraculously change from 9am to 5pm in a matter of minutes
- You complain about your job at home, all the time (until it gets on your spouse, children, etc. nerves)
- You’re angry with yourself, wondering what’s keeping you from landing a new gig
Taking some of the sting out of the wrong job
Of course, if you have obligations (i.e. children, household expenses), you may not want to walk out and leave your job at the drop of a dime. It’s something you should give wise consideration. If you do decide to hang in there, take a few steps to make the job less stressful, less unpleasant.
You could pull this off by taking advantage of employer sponsored tuition assistance
programs, learning new skills, job sharing, attending employer paid for conferences and seminars and/or seeking an effective mentor. You could also speak with your supervisor, making her aware of the long hours you’re working, health concerns you might be having, etc. As a tip, be sure to document these conversations, keeping your own personal notes in case you need them in the future.
If you still hate your job, after sincerely taking two or more steps to improve your job situation, start looking for another gig. Network with former colleagues, letting them know exactly what you’re looking for in a new job. Attend professional events that put you in touch with hiring managers in industries you’re most interested in working in. Create an online and offline portfolio, highlighting your strongest skills and top achievements. Also, market your portfolio via professional social networks, search engines, etc.
As you look for a new job, one you’ll love, pay attention to your gut. Take the time to find out what you really want and love to do so you don’t accept another job that’s wrong for you. Trust what you feel when you interview for new gigs. Avoid focusing solely on how much a job pays. Be honest with yourself about a job commute (driving 35+ miles one-way to work in traffic jams can get old fast).
To get away from the wrong job or wrong career, you could also start your own business on the side (if you haven’t signed an agreement at work, stating that you won’t moonlight), testing how people respond to products and/or services you sell from home. Seek guidance from entrepreneurs who’ve been successfully managing a business in a market you want to open a company in. Learn about the ups and downs, the challenges and triumphs, etc.
Be patient with yourself. If you keep taking steps to find the job you really love, you can improve your entire life. It beats working a grinding 9-to-5 you hate for decades. Ask any Gen Y; they know what’s taken their parents and grandparents a lifetime to come to terms with. We spend far too much time at work to be miserable there.
Sources:
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2382-job-health-impact.html (Business News Daily: 8 Ways Your Job May Be Killing You)
