What to Do If You Hate Your Job

We’re coming to the end of a very long week. I’ve been asking if it’s Friday since Tuesday. It’s not because I hate my job. It’s just because we have friends coming in from out of town and we can’t wait to see them. If you’re looking forward to the weekend simply because you hate looking at your boss and coworkers and you can’t wait to quit, then read on.

Have you come to the conclusion that you hate your job? The good news is that there are jobs out there; the bad news is it may not be worth giving up what you have.

Why Are You Unhappy?

Take a good look at why you’re unhappy with your work situation. Is it because of a few irritating coworkers (which you’re going to have wherever you go) or is it because you keep getting passed over for bonuses and promotions? Career Coach Lauren Milligan tells Career Builder, "If you're working in a job you hate, often it's easier to change certain aspects of the job, or add elements to the job that you'll love, rather than trying to find a new job.” You could quit, but then what do we do when the new job sucks just as much or more than the new one?  If you can’t quite put your finger on why you’re unhappy, then look at yourself and your role in it. It’s not a pleasant thing to do because we like to believe we aren’t part of the problem, but if there are things we can do to improve our situation without resigning our position in a flurry of papers; it’s a good idea to try.

Make Yourself Happy

Once we figure out why we’re unhappy, we need to remember that saying, “Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”. Know what you can and cannot change and change what you can. Accept what you can’t. If the drive in is taking its toll on you, ask if you can work from home one or two days per week. If you don’t like your cube mate, focus on your tasks and the people you do like. Coach Lauren says if we bring what we love into the office; it will make for a happier work environment. Give the changes some time to take effect. Don’t expect to feel better in a week or two. It will likely be a month or two, but give the changes a fair shake.

Quit

If all of that fails, then it may be time to take a serious look at pulling the plug. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do this. The wrong way is to flip out, put all of your stuff in a box and lay rubber whilst giving the whole office the finger. That’s not going to get you a good reference. What does the right way entail?

• Make sure you give appropriate notice. Two weeks is the norm. However, at some companies, like one I worked at, I was escorted out the door immediately, so be prepared for that. Even if your boss is a jerk and everyone knows it and your office is a cesspool, the working world is very small, so be classy about quitting.
• Talk to your boss first. It doesn’t matter how much you trust your coworkers. Sometimes, they don’t care; especially if you leaving opens up an opportunity for them. Also, keep it off of social media.
• Deliver your letter in person. Don’t write an email. Write a letter, schedule an appointment and have a grown up talk. Don’t get mean or hasty or sarcastic even if you are irate. Remain calm. Cooler heads always prevail.

For tips on reacting to a counter offer, being willing to stay beyond two weeks, being asked to train your replacement and more, click HERE.