OOPS! I’m IN THE WRONG CAREER!

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT JOB – BUT THIS DOES NOT ALTER THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR JOB OR PROFESSION

There’s no such thing as a perfect job – or perfect anything for that matter. Most people hate one thing or the other about either their workplace or their job. That said careers must be chosen with care. Job Satisfaction 2020 survey shows job satisfaction at a mere 56.3% while CNBC puts it at 73%. Gallup puts the number of engaged workers – people who are proactively involved in their work – at 36%. The stats are perhaps somewhat misleading but this does not alter the fact that there are many who are dissatisfied with their job or profession. To these people we say –

Choose your career with care!

Trouble is, you have already chosen and by now have a load of responsibilities and commitments that make it hard – if not impossible – to change track. The question is what should you do in such a situation?

Reasons why you hate your job

Well, here goes …. But first, here are some of the reasons you may hate what you do – not necessarily in that order –

  1. You don’t get the respect you deserve
  2. Your work is not acknowledged or appreciated
  3. You are not provided with the right tools
  4. Your boss does not understand you and your concerns
  5. Your boss is a tyrant
  6. Your boss hides you from the upper echelons
  7. You are fed up of your politicking colleagues
  8. You are under paid
  9. You are over worked
  10. You work in a silo – without being told or shown the big picture
  11. You are not getting job satisfaction because you chose the wrong career
  12. Your boss micro manages your work
  13. Your job does not allow you to maintain your work life balance
  14. You do not have opportunity for growth
  15. Your job is not secure – you may get your marching orders anytime
  16. You don’t value and respect the organization you work for
  17. You feel that you have other better opportunities

There may be many more so if you can think of any let us know in the comments. We’ll share an itemized list of solutions on Facebook but for now go ahead and read our generic pointers below.

DON’T CRIB

Ok so you hate what you do but that does not mean you should tell everyone and their brother about it. The worst thing you can do is post it on social media for the world to see.

Why?

Because it can backfire – the more you speak ill of your job, company, boss, or management, the more you lose points on professionalism, integrity, loyalty and a few other essential qualities, making it harder to land another job – not to mention bad politics.

What to do?

Keep your cool. If you must vent, talk to someone you trust completely – someone who is not connected with your workplace, job, boss, or colleagues – or better yet, tell your diary.

DON’T QUIT

At least not just yet. Quitting on an impulse or in a fit of rage never works.

Why?

Quitting without first securing another job is likely to create a glaring void on your CV that may be hard to explain to a prospective employer. Besides, if you fail to land a new job soon, you might end up in a downward skid that will eventually land you into depression and a host of other mental and physical ailments – not to mention cutting off your primary source of income and causing your loved ones to suffer.

What to do?

Well, quitting is an option but before you even think about taking that giant leap, ask yourself –

  1. Is it you who is the problem?
  2. How desperate are you – to quit / for the income your current job brings in
  3. Is there something you can do to set things right?
  4. What will happen if you quit?
  5. What is the alternative?
  6. Do you have a Plan B?

Answer honestly. Then set about crafting Plan B – even as you go about trying to set things right.

START JOB HUNTING

Ramp up your CV and begin a clandestine job hunt. While you are tweaking your resume – or even before you do this, – ask yourself –

  1. What’s the real reason for quitting this job?
  2. What am I looking for in my new job? (This might be very different from point 1)
  3. What kind of job, industry, and organization can give me what I am looking for?
  4. What is the role I would like to play in the organization?
  5. If I switch industries or career path, will I have to learn something new? If so what?

It may be a good idea to create your own job profile and then look for matching ones as you job hunt. You can even put it on your CV.

When considering what new skills you may have to learn, do a fact check to see if you have the transferable skills that will help you in your new position. If not, take a skill development course.

NO VACATION

This one is a no-brainer. Save up your leave for when you have to attend interviews – remember there may be several rounds for each. You’ll also need days off for personal reasons like your child’s soccer game, welcoming your newborn, or when you are unwell. So be careful about your leave. It may be a good idea to put off vacations – at least for yourself – until you have resolved your work issue.

MIND WHAT YOU SAY

Don’t crib about your job. When prospective employers ask why candidates want to quit their current job, candidates frequently treat it as an opportunity to vent all their built up frustration and grief thinking – quite erroneously – that since this guy is my erstwhile bosses competitor, showing that I hate my earlier boss will work in my favour.

That’s a big mistake. Even – or perhaps especially – when your new employer is a competitor to your old one. Apart from technical knowledge and skills, employers also look for qualities such as loyalty, integrity, sincerity, and courtesy. Besides, nobody likes a person who rants about someone else. So, never rant about your troubles at your workplace. Instead, gloss over them and if asked specifically, present them in a positive way.

Saying I had trouble fitting in is better than saying My boss cut me out.

Of course, you will have to explain why you had trouble fitting in – to which you can mention a few points about what you were dissatisfied about in a polite and unassuming way without pointing fingers.

CONSIDER WFH

Covid-19 notwithstanding, WFH (Work From Home) has always been an option. There are several work-from-home opportunities you can consider doing while you look for a permanent position.

The lines demarcating WFH, freelance, and 9-5 jobs are blurring as employers become more flexible and explore new and cost effective HR alternatives ranging from outsourcing and hiring freelancers to allowing nine to five employees to work from home. So as you consider your options one important decision you might want to make is whether you would like to work out of your home or attend office and the income that it will fetch you.

Read about the different WFH formats here

WORK FOR YOURSELF(WFY)

If you are dissatisfied with your job because you hate reporting to a boss – or because your boss is bossy, you might consider working for yourself. Remember though, that while it may be easy to set up your business, growing and sustaining it are uphill tasks. Again, impulsivity will not work. You must think and plan carefully before you quit your present job and cut off your income source.

Better get started on your WFY (Work for Yourself) while you still have your job and a source of income. If legalities are hindering you, set up the new job or business in the name of a family member or close friend with a proviso to have it transferred to you once you are ready to quit.

For pointers on what sort of work you can do from home join us on Facebook.

CONSIDER CAREER COUNSELLING                                                                            

If you are seriously considering a change of job there are three ways you can go –

  • Change jobs but work within the same industry
  • Change jobs but work within the same segment
  • Switch to a new industry or segment

You would do well to explore your options in all three avenues before setting forth on your job hunt. If you are unable to decide, remember, it’s never too late to seek career counselling. Career counselling can help you make an informed decision about your career path. Career counsellors will help you determine your aptitude through aptitude tests and help you map your career path and trajectory.

Landing your first job is hard enough. Woe betides if you end up dissatisfied and need a change. With this article, we hope to help you choose right the second time round.

BYN aims to help you achieve your life goals whether you are a student, teacher, parent, employee, or employer. Join us on Facebook to stay updated.

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