What to Do When You Hate Your Job and You Don’t Have Anything Else Lined Up (Yet)
By | Kat Boogaard | www.themuse.com
There’s no way to sugarcoat it—you hate your job. Your stomach is in knots every single Sunday night. Your walk into the office often feels like you’re trudging through cement. And, a sledgehammer seems like the only suitable way to silence your alarm clock each weekday morning—at least you’d be able to get some of that pent-up aggression and hostility out.
First of all, I’m sorry. Your career is a huge part of your life, and when it doesn’t leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied, it can have a pretty big negative impact on your overall outlook and attitude. It’s hard to leave that frustration at your desk when the clock strikes five every evening.
If you’re trying to be proactive about your situation, I’m willing to bet that you’ve read your fair share of advice about what to do when your career makes you miserable. And, I’m also willing to bet that much of that advice told you the same thing over and over again: Get out.
It’s a well-meaning instruction, and I actually won’t even try to refute it. After all, if your position truly has you clenching your fists and grinding your teeth, it’s probably smart to start looking for something else. But, let’s face it—we don’t all have the luxury to pack up our desks and wave goodbye to our supervisors whenever the going gets a little tough.
So, if you’re anything like me, you typically get to the end of that well-intentioned advice and think, “OK, but what else?” Yes, perhaps you really are working on looking for a new gig. But, when you do eventually move on, you want to do your best to make sure it’s something you’re truly excited about. You don’t want to jump from the frying pan straight into the fire, so to speak. You’re being selective and taking your time.
