You don’t have to love every aspect of your job, but if the idea of going to work makes you want to scream, that’s not a good sign. Maybe what started out to be the ‘perfect’ career fizzled out, or you took up the job for pragmatic reasons, only to regret it now. Either way, you can’t stand your job and are now at a loss – what should you do next?
Is leaving the only option?
Logically, it makes sense to cut your losses and move on, especially if you dread going to work every day – after all, why let it drag on for any longer? However, although it’s indeed a viable option, whether you should do it really depends on your circumstances. After all, not everyone can afford to drop everything on a whim, especially if you don’t have another job lined up or have a back-up plan to fall back on.
Moreover, quitting your job isn’t necessarily the only option you can take. In fact, it may be possible for you to salvage the situation. Here are some things you could do to help yourself and potentially turn things around.
1. Assess your situation
Take a step back and look at your current situation. It can be easy to just go through the motions of a bad job. But if you can identify what exactly you dislike about your job, you might be able to improve it.
To start, take a piece of paper and list down what it is you like and dislike about your job. Narrow it down as best you can – knowing the reasons behind your feelings will determine what you need to do next.
2. Speak with your supervisor
Once you’ve figured out what’s bothering you about work, arrange a meeting with your supervisor to discuss the matter. By doing so, there’s a chance that they can make adjustments to address your problems. For example, if you feel like you’d be happier in another position, you could try to request for different responsibilities or a transfer into another department.
It can feel intimidating to do so, but this is something you should at least attempt once before moving on to other options. After all, your supervisor can’t read minds – it’s possible that they’re unaware of your unhappiness at work unless you speak up yourself.
3. Stay positive
Try to keep your thoughts positive about your situation and take solace in the silver linings. Concentrate on the areas that you like about your job and do your job the best you can. Try to learn as much as you can, you can potentially utilise whatever skills you obtained in this position for your next job.
4. Resign gracefully, if you must
This should generally be a last resort (unless we’re talking about a toxic work culture here), but if talks with your supervisor fall through and you find yourself with no other option, then you can choose to resign. When doing so, be sure to follow through company procedure and try to leave on good (or at least amicable) terms, even if you wish to do otherwise. After all, making a scene about it will only potentially damage your future prospects in the long run.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to dealing with a job you don’t like, and it can be hard to keep your morale up through it all. However, as long as you’re making an effort to change your situation or how you feel, you’ll eventually get your solution, even if it means leaving your current job.
Ultimately, regardless of the reason behind you disliking your job, don’t beat yourself up about feeling this way. If nothing else, a silver lining to your situation is that you now have a better idea of what you like and don’t like in your career.
