I hate my job!

Research has shown that typically we change careers between 4 & 10 times! Good Heavens! was my response, then looking back on my own working career & realised that these statistics actually related to me to. And that got me thinking about why it is that these career changes took place.

The reasons generally given for career changes are as follows?

• Company A pays better
• Company B has a better training programme
• I hate my current boss!
• I don’t feel valued where I am.
• My skills aren’t being used.
• I’ve reached the ceiling for development/promotion within Company C.

Any of these sound familiar? They did to me.

 The question to ask yourself though, is, are you moving purely for emotional reasons or have you looked at the bigger picture & made sure that what you doing is congruent with your Bigger Picture?

Oops! Now I know from personal experience that many of my moves were knee jerk reactions to circumstances and not necessarily part of that all important “Bigger Picture”.

What do you need to do to make sure that you are not wondering off on a tangent?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself?

• Why did I first take on this job/career?
• Am I really passionate about what I am doing?
• What is the real reason that I’m unhappy? (It may not be work related)
• Can I upgrade my skills to make myself more valuable to the company?
• Is there a discrepancy between my work values & those of the company?
• What can I do differently to make the current job/career more challenging?

Once you get thinking on these lines you will be surprised what comes out of the woodwork. Important to remember though…don’t try and answer all the questions in one go…give them time to mull around in your head. Sleep on them. You might surprise yourself!

Now that you’ve taken the time to answer the questions, do you have a better idea of why you are not happy at work?

Let’s look at some possible solutions:

• I hate my boss – No, picking up a Voodoo Doll is not the solution. Assess why you “hate” your boss. Is it because he/she lacks all people skills, expects you to do his/her work, or is it simply a question of differing personalities. Always remember that you don’t have to be friends with the people at work to get your work done. Is there something you can do to improve the situation?
• Company A pays better – That’s great, but what about the rest of the benefits? It’s no point getting a “bigger “salary, but you no longer have Medical Aid or Provident/Pension Fund. Not to mention that you are going to be sitting is rush hour traffic for an extra hour each day!
• Company B has a better Training Programme – Fantastic! What is the guarantee that you will be able to make use of the programme? Remember that Training programmes are linked to not only budget, but Equity Requirements, succession plans etc.
• There’s no chance for promotion – If you have reached that “ceiling”, it might be time to move. If the benefits and pay are good, have you considered a lateral move, this could increase your skills base and make you more of an all rounder in the business? This could also be useful down the line when applying for a managerial position.
• My skills are not being used – That is quite possible, then we cannot expect all our skills to be utilized in every job that we do. Look for opportunities where you can make use of your skills. Help out in other departments when they are too busy to cope.
• It’s something outside of work causing the unhappiness – sort this out asap. Get professional help if necessary.

There are a few other things to look at:

• If the company values & your work values clash, it would be a good idea to start looking for work elsewhere. The stress you experience because of the clash simply isn’t worth it. Keep your head down & do your work until you’ve found alternative employment.
• If your passion lies in an entirely different direction, assess whether a career in that direction is feasible. If it is, develop a realistic plan that will enable you to make the transition.
• Just bored. Look at the possibility on taking on additional tasks; this may vary your day. Ask a colleague if you can assist them when they are snowed under. Or look at improving systems and procedures. Companies generally are happy for staff to provide improvement.

Finally, there are 2 things you don’t do:

1. Simply resigning without a plan B is not the option for the following reasons:

• You add stress to your life as finding a job when you don’t have one is difficult & in today’s economic climate, work is scarce.
• It creates a VERY bad impression on your CV, because believe me you are going to have explain the gap.

1. Resign without working out your notice period:

• Never burn bridges, you never know when that perfect career opportunity might become available.
• You can be sure that your reference will not be a good one.

So at the end of the day, when making a Career Change remember the following:

• Why are you really unhappy?
• What can you do to improve the situation
• Develop & Plan B that doesn’t include burning bridges.

If you are still stuck, find a professional who will be able to assist & guide you through the process.

 

Finding Your Purpose

Everyone has a purpose. You have something to give to the world that will not only enhance your own life, but also the people around you. Your purpose is not necessarily something that is Helen Zille big; you may be the stay-at-home-mom who is raising the next Helen Zille, which is just as important. Living your purpose gives you the energy and contentment that impacts on all areas of your life and the people who you come into contact with. It is life-changing.

Finding that purpose is however, were you may be stuck. Fortunately there are professionals with tools and practices who can help us through the process.

Finding your purpose is two fold. Firstly it is about passion. Be careful though, as this isn’t a 100% foolproof mechanism, merely a guide. Why? While you may be passionate about something, you may not be very good at it. A shining example are those kids who take part in the reality shows for singing and quite frankly, shouldn’t be on the stage.

Secondly, know your strengths. Not what you can do, that’s brain work. I’m talking about that which comes so naturally, you don’t even think about it, you just do it.

So here is a little exercise that may help you along your way. Set some time aside. Okay, stop laughing. Write down at least 5 things that you are passionate about, don’t think about whether they are realistic or even do-able, 5 things that you love to do and will make all the time in the world to do and lastly 5 things that you do that come so naturally to you, you don’t even notice. See if any of these items on your list link up. There you go; you’ve taken the first step to finding your purpose.