Why
Most People Hate Their Job
(And How To Avoid Becoming One Of Them)
The
fun and games will soon be over. No more all night
study sessions, long summer breaks, or hanging out
with your friends because you don't have to be anywhere
else right at the moment. As graduation approaches,
your carefree college days will come to an end,
your student loan repayments will begin, and then
it hits you. You simply cannot avoid it any longer
- It's time to get serious about your career!
The
Job You Love To Hate
So what kind of a career are you going to pursue?
If you pay attention to what many parents, professors,
and peers tell you, the most important consideration
in your mind should be finding a job that offers
a fat salary. Of course, financial considerations
are important, but if you only focus on salary when
deciding on a career path, you have a great chance
of winding up in a job you hate.
In
fact, most employment experts contend that the majority
of adult workers are unhappy in their jobs, and
the cause of their unhappiness is a lack of job
satisfaction and personal fulfillment. Those two
factors consistently rank higher in importance than
salary in job satisfaction studies.
How
to Avoid the "I Hate My Job" Syndrome
When choosing a career, it is critical to land a
job that is well-matched to your abilities, motivators,
and personality. If any single factor is weighted
too heavily - or worse yet ignored -- you are setting
yourself up for a miserable career experience.
Your
Abilities - What are you good at?
Is there an area in which you excel without a lot
of effort? For example, you may have strong abilities
related to math, writing, or problem solving. When
you pay attention to, and use your strongest abilities,
it is easier to perform your job without it feeling
too difficult or unpleasant.
Your
Motivators - What is it that gets
you up in the morning? Are you passionate about
learning new things, attaining status and power,
helping others, or building massive wealth? Motivators
matter because they are what drives your behavior.
Motivators affect every area of your life, especially
your career. If you take a position that is not
in alignment with your personal motivators, it is
almost guaranteed that your job will feel more like
a prison, in stead of a profession.
Your
Personality
- How well do you know yourself? Do you like working
with other people so that there is a lot of discussion
and interaction? Or do you prefer to work on your
own with minimal distractions? Are you happy working
within a lot of rules and procedures or does this
kind of situation leave you feeling stifled and
restricted? When you develop self-understanding
and pay attention to your personality preferences,
you are able to seek out a career that is in alignment
with they way that you are wired.
Your
Finances
- It's a fact that some jobs pay more than others
right out of college, but you should take a long
term look at your financial goals. Career success
generally leads to greater financial opportunities,
so by focusing on all of the factors mentioned about
- not just money - you are more likely to be satisfied
and increase your earning potential over the long
hall.
Oops!
So what happens if you make a mistake and find yourself
in a career you hate? The reality is that no matter
what career you choose, it never has to be your
"final answer". With good planning, self-awareness
and conscious effort, you can always take action
to pursue a different career - one that you will
be jazzed about.
