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Stepwise Success

Don't Hate Your Job

Published August 19, 2009 6:00 AM by Scott Warner
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Some of you hate your job.

Maybe not all of it or all the time, but some of you would quit if you could. You hate the pay, the hours, the weekends, working Christmas, being on call, having your opinions dismissed, and (most importantly) your boss.

But you're stuck with a mortgage in a sluggish market, married to a spouse unwilling to move, and paying for a kid in college. Your youngest is a teenager talking about going to college next. Besides, it's not that bad, and you're too old to start over.

What do you do in the meantime?

You'll need to define exactly what you don't like. According to one workplace expert, it's important to divide your complaints into "modifiable" (salary, schedule, coworkers) and "non-modifiable" (how things happen at a company) categories. This perspective can help you decide if the problem is something that can be fixed, out of your control, or the career itself.

Let's suppose your weekend and holiday schedule is your biggest beef. Discuss it with coworkers, develop an alternative schedule, and make the pitch to management. Be sure to frame it in terms he or she expects i.e. cutting cost, equity, efficiency, adding a service. If it isn't about you, you might just sell it.

A U.S. News and World Report article says that people tend to bail out too soon. Before quitting, look inward. Are you overwhelmed, not up to the job, or just can't stand your boss? Begin by asking for help, getting extra training, and staying calm. Don't let your buttons be pushed.

Maybe, it's time to go. It's not the right fit, you want to do more, or you want to work with different people. Staying in a place that makes you miserable is never a good idea.

But if all you need is a different schedule, more training, a different assignment, or a raise, why not do your homework and ask for it? It's worth a try. You may find out you can change more than you think.

posted by Scott Warner
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3 comments
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i hate my job

i hate my schedule

i hate working off shifts and every weekend and every holiday

i hate that it will be a good solid 10-15 years before I get a shot at a day position

i hate that myself as a young professional with a young family work inconvenient tiring stressful hours meanwhile the unmarried single childless old women that still live at home with their parents work the cake hours.

the only saving grace are the people that I work with are a great team and make those tedious 8 hrs a go by better.

for now this job is a paycheck and provides health benefits until the job market provides a better opportunity to jump ship and never look back
Anonymous September 9, 2009 9:46 AM

Shirley,

I feel for you -- it's amazing how quickly six months can turn into a year, two years, five years...  I think many people are too wrapped up their jobs emotionally or perhaps just too stubborn to quit.  Yet, sometimes, that's the only option.  Good for you and good luck to your spouse.  Maybe, things will change for the better.
Scott Warner August 27, 2009 7:04 AM

For a long time (about five years), I really hated my job.  In all, I worked for the organization for eleven years.   I tried different areas of the lab, different hospital sizes main facility) vs critical access), but the problems that I had were with administration and how the "management" treated the "workers".  I thought about forcing the issue with my spouse, and moving, but we both really enjoy the location, our friends, and basically everything but the work environment.  I eventually managed to get a somewhat lower paying job as a PRN at a different hospital in the area.  My husband still works at my old hospital and he's managing the stress much better than I was.  Quitting that job was the answer for me.  Sometimes, that's all you can do.  I wish my spouse could quit as well.
Shirley, Generalist - MT, CSMC August 26, 2009 10:02 AM
College Station TX

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