What to Do When You Hate Your Job and How to Know When to Quit
- It can be tempting to quit if you’re feeling down at work. But simple changes can improve your work.
- Sometimes the job really doesn’t fit, and it helps to know how to approach a career change with caution.
- Insider hosted an editorial event about reinventing your work life, even if you can’t quit just yet.
Millions of workers have left their jobs in what some economists are calling the Great Retreat. And if you hate your job, it’s tempting to do the same.
But quitting isn’t always feasible, especially with the looming recession and a slowing US job market. Many of us have bills to pay and families to support; Some of us have a low tolerance for risk or know that our current position opens up future career opportunities. Then it helps to make simple, uncomplicated changes to improve your everyday work.
The following stories outline some of these strategies, such as: B. Telling your boss about the types of projects you enjoy or changing your mindset to focus on the skills you are gaining, even in an unfulfilled role.
Then again, sometimes stop is the best option, which is why we’ve also featured frameworks from influential leaders to help you decide whether to go.
To learn more about transforming your work life, watch a replay of the Insider event with Al Dea, founder of Betterwork Labs. Ebony Flake, Insider’s C-Suite reporter; and Shana Lebowitz Gaynor, an insider correspondent who recently published Don’t Call It Quits: Turn the Job You Have Into Job You Love.
If you hate your job but don’t have the energy to fix it…
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It can be frustrating to see friends and co-workers abandon their day-to-day work to pursue a project they are passionate about or to develop a lifestyle that better suits them. But it’s hard to rethink your life and career when you’re supporting a family or there aren’t many openings in the industry you want. After all, managing a career change can feel like owning a job — and you may not have the capacity for a second job right now.
In that case, it can be encouraging to know that there are many relatively easy ways to improve your work experience. Often the first step is to find out what exactly makes you unhappy about your job and if there are aspects of your job that you enjoy or appreciate. From there, see if you can take a step each day to address one of the work experiences you don’t like.
Continue reading:
Experts say making a few small changes can make you happier at a job you don’t like
Not quite ready to quit your job? This will make the job less miserable when thinking about the next steps
Hulu’s HR boss shares the simple task you should do when you find yourself hating your job
If you like your company but don’t like your role…
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Tech companies have long embraced internal mobility — HR jargon for changing roles or teams within your organization. In recent years, the trend has intensified in other sectors. And during the pandemic, many employers facing labor shortages have reached out to their workers to pursue new opportunities and help them meet critical business needs.
That said, if you’re an achiever looking to try something new, your company may be open to your pitch.
Continue reading:
A LinkedIn manager’s 3-step plan for a meaningful career change can help anyone feeling stuck in their job
Don’t quit your job. Take these 2 steps to get more money or a new boss instead.
If you can’t remember why you took this job in the first place…
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On any given work day, it can be difficult to zoom out and remember what originally drew you to that position. Perhaps you identified with your organization’s values or were impressed by its ambitious mission. So take a few minutes, even now and then, to reflect on why you’re really here and what big goals your specific job responsibilities are helping the company achieve.
If you find that your company’s values don’t align with yours, or that the company isn’t a great place to work, consider putting your head back down and focusing on your own career. In other words, think about how your work will help you land your next job that you really want.
Continue reading:
“We’re the band on the Titanic”: The former Sears hiring manager shares how he kept his team focused and motivated during the retailer’s historic implosion
Microsoft’s HR chief says to take these 2 steps if you feel stuck in your job
If you are not sure whether this job is still for you…
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The pandemic caused professionals around the world to reconsider the way they work. Many realized they wanted to spend less time at work; others decided to pursue something more impactful.
If you’re considering doing something similar, you should consider both the practicalities and your overall career vision. Below, leaders who have made major career changes have shared the exercises that helped them decide to move on.
Continue reading:
A former Netflix exec shares 3 simple questions to ask yourself when considering quitting your job
The outgoing Goldman Sachs talent chief shares the 3 questions he asks himself before taking on a new role — including his next as CEO of an HR tech startup
Job hopping is the new normal. A former Google executive reveals the 3 questions you should ask yourself before making a career change.
If you are about to make a career change…
Woman on diving board in the lake
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If you’ve decided to leave your job, it’s important to know what challenges you might face and what you will do if your plan doesn’t work out. Sometimes that means figuring out how to make the most of your job before you leave, or even planning how you’ll respond if your company tries to lure you back with a promotion. You won’t be able to prepare for every obstacle, but a realistic mindset helps.
Continue reading:
How a former Y Combinator partner decided to drop out of law school
The 33-year-old CEO of a successful startup reveals the key to minimizing risk when leaving a steady job to become an entrepreneur
Most career change advice is superficial. Here’s what you need to know about the challenges you face as you make your work life overhaul.