The New Year is a great time to analyze your job and the satisfaction you get from doing it. Running the rat race is just that, scurrying around only to find that at the end of the day or week you are still not happy about who you are and what you do. For many people they think exercise, changing their eating habits, or learning a new sport or language will make a difference in their emotional and physical well being. Fortunately for some that's all it takes, but for others a complete job makeover is the only way.
Today, changing employers is nothing that can be accomplished over-night. It may take a year or more because good paying jobs are scarce. There are, however specific things you can do to begin this metamorphosis. You must first acknowledge that a change is imminent and that drastic measures are needed. Below are ten signs that clearly indicate that you need a complete job makeover.
1. You become physically ill upon arriving at work or feel the need to drive past the parking lot and return home
2. Friday offers no relief, it is just a distressing reminder that Monday looms in the not too distant future
3. Work activities are dull and boring and you sit with your door closed or in your cubicle playing computer games
4. You physical health is failing, you feel exhausted and listless
5. You stop playing office politics and avoid trying to please your boss and keep peace with co-workers
6. You come to a realization that no matter how hard you work or what you accomplish nothing satisfies you
7. Your promotional options no longer exist; the company has permanently frozen the Human Resource Department
8. You go home talking to family and friends about how horrendously unhappy you are at your job
9. You dream of leaving your job and moving to a remote island in the South Pacific, no seriously, leaving friends, family, your life and never looking back
10. You feel lost, hopeless and no matter what anyone says there is no real answer, it's a lose-lose situation
It's no secret that most people will not admit that life has gotten this bad, but for those special few it is a sad reality. What's a worker bee to do? Exercise your options. Research your career field and consider a career change. Changing jobs can mean exchanging one sad situation for another or it can be the life saving rope that pulls you into a new existence. Don't just start putting in for jobs, go to different companies that peak your interest and ask to visit and talk to those who work in your "ideal" field. The best time to do this is when you have a job and you're not pressed for a new one. Make little personal calling cards, not business cards, calling cards that say:
John K. Doe Project Manager (555) 555-5556 Cell (555) 555-5557
The back of the card should read:
Just a reminder?
I visited on (date) to get information about (your project management teams) Thanks for your assistance,
I will keep in touch. (And do just that, every 8-10 weeks drop the person an email and find out how things are going at their company, you have now possibly made a friend or at least a contact in an industry of interest)
Update your employment information and references
Write a new resume and begin calling your references to make sure you are still in good standing. Apply for a few jobs out of state or in another city. You don't have to accept an interview but you do need to see who is hiring and what they are expecting from the new applicants they're bringing onboard.
Once you decide that you must follow through with this transformation, brush up on your interviewing skills and start to prepare for the best. Nothing lifts the spirits more than knowing you are of real worth to another employer.
There is no reason to walk through life being unhappy when you are spending almost half of your "life-time" at a job you dislike. Don't plan in a vacuum, let your family know how you feel, their support is important. Whether you are a mom, dad, or single worker bee you are the glue that binds your family and friends together and your happiness is essential. If a cross-country move is in order, do it. Plan accordingly and know that change is truly an natural part of life.
D. D. Davis is a writer with over 20 years of experience, and has produced a series of e-Books that support parents in creating a good life for their family. Dee may be reached at detra_davis@supportingourchildren.com, or by mail at J. Davis & Associates Publishing, P. O. Box 44782, Detroit, MI 48244-0782, Attention: D. D. Davis. To learn more visit: http://www.supportingourchildren.com
Anyone can find a job. That's right, I said "anyone".... Read More
At some point in every professional or managerial career, there... Read More
Asking for money is so taboo in our culture that... Read More
The New Year is a great time to analyze your... Read More
1. GET THE POINT ? OF LIFE, THAT IS.... Read More
Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They can... Read More
10. Understand all of the opportunities available to you. Don't... Read More
1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics... Read More
Your resume (or curriculum vitae), combined with the cover letter,... Read More
The interview is the "beauty contest" part of the job... Read More
1. You dread getting out of bed and going to... Read More
Today everyone knows at least one person who has lost... Read More
Is your job search sagging? Are you still looking for... Read More
The thought of writing a resume intimidates... Read More
Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still... Read More
While you're revamping your resume or cover letter or constructing... Read More
Core value investing in your careerMany people walk through their... Read More
Here are two success stories from my readers who found... Read More
You don't want to stay in your current position forever...... Read More
When I was working more than 45 hours a week... Read More
To survive and thrive in today's competitive environment, it is... Read More
When it comes to modern career development, one thing we... Read More
Writing a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage... Read More
It's a fact: the best jobs attract loads of competition.... Read More
Employer and interviewers expect you to answer tough question during... Read More
While at times it may prove comfortable and convenient to... Read More
You don't write a resume every day. Not even every... Read More
Landing a telecommute position isn't easy. Finding them in the... Read More
You've heard the real estate cliché: the three factors that... Read More
The Internet is the most powerful employment tool on earth.... Read More
Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting.... Read More
The interviews are completed, the paperwork is all filled out... Read More
Not everyone is cut out to be a mortgage processor.... Read More
Anyone can find a job. That's right, I said "anyone".... Read More
At some point in every professional or managerial career, there... Read More
Asking for money is so taboo in our culture that... Read More
The New Year is a great time to analyze your... Read More
1. GET THE POINT ? OF LIFE, THAT IS.... Read More
Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They can... Read More
10. Understand all of the opportunities available to you. Don't... Read More
1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics... Read More
Your resume (or curriculum vitae), combined with the cover letter,... Read More
The interview is the "beauty contest" part of the job... Read More
1. You dread getting out of bed and going to... Read More
Today everyone knows at least one person who has lost... Read More
Is your job search sagging? Are you still looking for... Read More
The thought of writing a resume intimidates... Read More
Despite the President's encouraging words, the job market is still... Read More
While you're revamping your resume or cover letter or constructing... Read More
Core value investing in your careerMany people walk through their... Read More
Here are two success stories from my readers who found... Read More
You don't want to stay in your current position forever...... Read More
When I was working more than 45 hours a week... Read More
To survive and thrive in today's competitive environment, it is... Read More
When it comes to modern career development, one thing we... Read More
Writing a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage... Read More
It's a fact: the best jobs attract loads of competition.... Read More
Employer and interviewers expect you to answer tough question during... Read More
While at times it may prove comfortable and convenient to... Read More
You don't write a resume every day. Not even every... Read More
Landing a telecommute position isn't easy. Finding them in the... Read More
You've heard the real estate cliché: the three factors that... Read More
The Internet is the most powerful employment tool on earth.... Read More
Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting.... Read More
The interviews are completed, the paperwork is all filled out... Read More
Not everyone is cut out to be a mortgage processor.... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment Careers, Jobs & Employment |