What To Do When You Hate Your Job

By Lorena Roberts on December 4, 2017

It’s unreasonable to believe you’re always going to enjoy every job you ever have. But when it comes to getting up and feeling motivated to go to work — that’s tough when you hate your job. So what do you do about it? Well, it depends. What’s your current financial situation? Are you qualified for other things? Is there a way to make your current situation at this job better without leaving? How do you know?

via Pixabay

It’s tough to decide whether or not you should stay where you’re unhappy. It’s scary to be without a job and it’s even scarier to change careers. So how do you know how to handle your current job situation? Here are a few things to consider:

Can you make your situation better?

Sometimes, speaking to a supervisor can smooth over a lot of problems. Whether you’re unhappy because of a fellow coworker, your schedule, or the overall office morale, if your unhappiness can be made better through a conversation with your boss, I would absolutely try that route first.

Are you in any position to be unemployed?

Do you have enough savings to support yourself while you’re looking for another job if you quit? If you can’t, definitely don’t leave the job where you’re unhappy. Try job searching while you’re still employed. Minimizing the time between paychecks will definitely pay off.

Are you qualified to do something else?

Making a career change is pretty scary, but sometimes necessary. Are you ready to do something else with your life? Something you’re (hopefully) already qualified for? If you’re unhappy in your current job because you simply don’t like what you do, it’s time to reassess what your options are. Maybe it’s time to look into changing your career.

Is it because of your location?

Are you unhappy in your job because of where you’re located? Sometimes companies will transfer employees. It might make things less stressful if you keep working for the same company and just move locations!

What not to do:

Don’t tell the world.

You can do a quick search on Twitter for “I hate my job” and you’ll see how many people decide to declare to the world that they’re unhappy. If you’re truly hating every moment of working, keep it to yourself. Sure, close friends and family are bound to notice you hate your job, but posting it on social media or complaining over the internet isn’t the best way to handle it. Plus, your anger will follow you wherever you go once it’s on the internet… Good luck getting another job.

Don’t disappear.

No matter how badly you want to, don’t ghost your employer. Give them two weeks notice, like the classy person that you are. If you don’t, putting your past employment on your next job application isn’t going to be good for you.

Don’t drown in unhappiness.

If you focus on the fact that you’re always unhappy, you’ll be absolutely miserable. Try to focus on the happy parts of your life. If you hate your job, focus on your friendships, social life, and assets.

What to do next:

Think about your career plans.

Where do you want to be in the next five years? Do you want to be in an entirely different field? If you aren’t on track to find your self-fulfilling career goal, it’s time for a change. Write down your plans and set small, attainable deadlines. Keep yourself in check by posting it somewhere you can see it frequently. It’s important to keep your eyes on the prize.

Talk to your supervisor.

If you’ve made the decision to leave your job, an exit interview can be a good idea. Your supervisor will want to know what it was about the job that you didn’t enjoy. Maybe you have some input on hiring the next person to fill your shoes. Maybe you have some insight on parts of the job that were hard to do because of the processes that are in place. You’re the expert at your job — share the information you have in a professional way and your supervisor is sure to appreciate it.

Start job searching.

The job hunt isn’t always the most fun thing to spend your time doing. However, if you’re going to leave your current position, it’s time to start looking for a way to keep paying the bills. The last thing you need is for your water to get shut off.

Above all, remember:

You aren’t the only one.

There are plenty of people who are unhappy with their current job. Jump on Twitter and realize how many people spend the majority of their daily lives thinking about being in another job or another career.

Stay professional.

You don’t want to leave a sour taste in the mouth of your boss. The last thing you need is a bad reference or ill words about you and your behavior. The way you handle this says a lot about your character. No matter how unhappy or angry you get, keep your cool.

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