What to Do When You Hate Your Job: Tips for Taking Control
Have you ever felt stuck at a job that you hate? If not, then consider yourself lucky. According to reports, more than 50% of people feel emotionally detached from their work.
To be honest, many employees even go on to describe themselves as hating their jobs. There can be several reasons why an individual might not enjoy their job.
Perhaps their office culture is toxic, or maybe they have a micromanaging boss. Whatever the reason, it's a very tough spot to be in when you dislike your job. But when the salary day hits, a lot of this suffering feels worth it.
Often, employees choose to stay at a job they hate because they can't find other opportunities elsewhere. Without finding another job to fall back on, it's a risky move to quit your current job, especially in these market conditions.
If quitting is not an option for you, discover ways how to cope with a job you hate. Just because you don't like your current job, doesn't mean you cannot do anything to make it more enjoyable or at least bearable.
People often dislike their jobs because they cause them stress. You can employ various tactics to help reduce stress and make your work life a little more manageable.
From this blog, you will know what to do when you hate your job. Additionally, you can also understand the reasons for disliking your job and how to overcome this feeling.
Reasons You Hate Your New Job
Have you ever felt like saying, "I hate my job"?
Well, you are not alone. Many people in the workforce dislike their jobs, yet they continue to work diligently every day.
Before looking for what to do when you dislike your job, first understand the reasons you hate your job.
1. You Are Bored
A workday feels longer when either the workflow is too light or there's intense pressure.
Many people aim to complete most of the work before lunchtime. But sometimes, life doesn't go according to plan.
There can be scenarios where there is not just enough work for employees in the workplace. This can be a blessing, maybe for a day, but it impacts their morale if it becomes an everyday scenario.
If you don't have enough work for the day, you will likely become bored, which can significantly impact your productivity.
2. Working Even After Business Hours
Employees' efficiency is recognized when they work late hours. However, that's not ideal for anyone. Working late hours every day will not only take a mental toll on you, but it will also affect your physical health.
Losing your weekends and working around the clock will only make you hate your job. So, if you're seeking how to survive a job you hate, list down the things to do and work on them during office hours.
3. Unstable Job
The recession has led to many people losing their jobs. Many companies are laying off employees left and right.
When you encounter such an unstable environment in a company, you also live in constant fear of being laid off or possibly losing your current position.
This is demoralizing for anybody, and that's enough reason to hate your current job.
4. You Don't Have a Work-Life Balance
Some employees don't think beyond work. Maybe that works for them. But does it work for you as well?
Many employees prioritize work-life balance over a high pay scale. Of course, a high-paying job will give you the luxury of living your life on your terms. But sometimes that high-paying job can take the soul out of you.
You're constantly working and putting your personal life on the back burner. This can lead to a deeper level of dissatisfaction than you may imagine.
5. You're Not Moving Forward Careerwise
Another significant reason to dislike your job is that you're unable to find a way to advance your career within the organization.
If you're giving your all in a job, you should also get what you deserve. If that's not happening, there wouldn't be any reason for you to like your job.
What to Do When You Hate Your Job?
Even if you evaluate a company and the job before filling in the new position, there is no guarantee that you will like it in the future.
After landing a job, if you don't like it immediately, you can quit. Or, you can give it some time and learn what to do when you hate your job.
The following are the actionable steps to take if you want to survive a job you hate.
1. Find Out What's Not Working With the New Job
Hating your job means you're not happy with it. It is essential to determine the reason why you're not satisfied with the job.
Of course, when you get a job at a new company or fill a new position, you feel anxious about the job role and the company culture. However, as you become accustomed to the place and work, your confidence builds up.
But if this is not the position or the job role you were expecting, you may dislike what you're doing. When you can identify why you dislike your job, you can figure out whether to stay or look for another job.
2. Acknowledge Your Feelings and Move Past Them
If you want to know how to get out of a job you hate, the best thing would be to acknowledge that you don't like your job.
Venting is beneficial, as it helps alleviate stress and enables you to work more effectively. However, if you constantly complain about hating your job, your whole day can be ruined.
You can confide in a friend or trusted colleague about your current situation and your dissatisfaction with your job, and then move forward from there.
3. Find the Benefits
There are various aspects of a job that can be unappealing to you. Probably it is the commute, or perhaps it is the over-burdening responsibilities. Whatever the reason may be for you to hate your job, focus on the positive sides. Try to find the benefits of the job.
For instance, if the job offers any advancement opportunities within the next 6 months or year, you can consider staying. You can also look for other benefits if the company is offering them. For example, your job allows you to work from home in certain situations, which can save you money on your commute.
4. Don't Procrastinate
If you think too much about hating your job, it will overwhelm you. It is a tendency to procrastinate when you dislike doing something. And what can you do to stop that?
To avoid procrastination, it's essential to know your limits. Understand what is causing you to stress about your job. Is it possible that you're just having a bad day, or is it an unrealistic deadline?
No matter what the reason is, you can write them down so that you don't revisit these reasons over and over again.
5. Set a Timeline for Yourself
Often, employees dislike their jobs because they haven't had enough time to become comfortable in the position. It can take some time for you to settle into a new job, get acquainted with your co-workers, and the company.
You can create a timeline for yourself to understand the job and learn different skills to the best of your ability.
During this learning process, you can frequently communicate with your colleagues and manager, developing a professional relationship with them.
After reviewing the timeline, you can reevaluate your position and decide whether you want to continue with the company or leave.
6. Get in Touch with Your Manager
What to do if you hate your job? Well, quitting a job is something everybody has in the back of their minds. However, first, you need to work in other ways as well.
If you find the job or environment to be overwhelming, you can discuss this with your manager. You can approach your manager candidly and explain why you're not enjoying your job.
Talking to your manager can help you find solutions on how you would adapt your role to better fit the interests and skills.
With additional coaching and training, you may become more comfortable in your position and with the job responsibilities.
7. Take Breaks at Work
Every workplace has designated break times. Hence, yours won't be an exception. When you're getting those breaks, utilize them to the full potential.
Suppose you're taking a break for your lunch, utilize it properly to have your lunch and block your work mode for the time being. If you can detach yourself for even 15 minutes, you can return to work with renewed energy and focus.
8. Make Plans or Find Hobbies When Your Workdays End
When you have a tight work schedule, it might be impossible to take time for the things you want to do outside of work. Perhaps this is a reason to hate your job. So, what to do when you hate your job?
Find a hobby or make plans with your loved ones that you would look forward to when your workdays are over. Ensure that the hobbies don't add more pressure than you're already facing in the workplace.
Remember to engage in activities that will ease your tension and add a sense of purpose to your life, other than just being productive.
Should You Quit Your Job If You Don't Have Something Else Lined Up?
Do you want to know how to get through a job you hate? Well, there are many ways. However, when things become too intense or overwhelming, employees often find quitting to be the most effective solution.
However, is it the best thing to do if you don't have anything else lined up?
Securing a job in this competitive job landscape is no less than a blessing. Hence, it would not be wise to quit a job without a proper game plan, even if you hate it.
To know what to do when you hate your job, follow these tips:
1. Keep Your Resume Updated
This is a good practice even if you love your current job or company. Create a professional resume that highlights your most recent position and key accomplishments.
An updated resume can help you easily find other job openings. All you have to do is send out your resumes to different job openings, and if things work out, you will get something to fall back on.
2. Understand the Risks of Quitting Your Current Job
You should always allow yourself some time to think before making a career move. After all, your life depends on it.
After filling in the position, many employees feel it is not suitable for them. This can happen once or twice. However, if it grows into a pattern, that can raise questions about the employee's reliability.
Instead of quitting, you can talk to your co-workers and seniors about this situation and come up with effective solutions.
3. Look for Professional Development
A strong reason for quitting your job could be that you dislike your current role. If you participate in career development programs, you can gain a better understanding of which job roles align with your interests. And then you can find jobs easily.
This will help you narrow down your search options, and you can focus on things that match your skills and interests.
A certification course or an online class can help you gain knowledge and skills that you can use to further your career paths, perhaps in another position or at another company.
4. Network with Professionals
It doesn't take a lot of time to quit a job. However, it is a big decision to make. Before taking such a huge leap, you can try other tips that will allow you to take control.
Even if you dislike your job, it's never too late to start building networking opportunities. If it's only your job that you hate, but you love the company, you can connect with people from other departments and see if there are any vacancies suitable for your profile.
If you want to stay with the company and switch roles, building a personal network can greatly benefit you. However, if you don't like the company altogether, you may start looking for jobs in other companies.
5. Concentrate on Building Skills
Even if you hate your job, think about this. Is there nothing you're learning from the job?
Understand that every job teaches you something or the other. If you're open to learning new things and skills, you'll figure out ways to grow in your current job.
No matter how related or unrelated your current job is to your dream job, if you give your all to it, the current position will reward you. All you have to do is be more patient and keep on learning.
Take the Next Step Towards Your Dream Job
Wondering what to do when you hate your job? Well, while you're still giving your current job a chance, you can brainstorm on your dream job.
Your dream job will be something that suits your vision, passion, and talent. Update your resume and explore new job prospects that can help you secure your dream job.
Consult with your loved ones and trusted individuals to gather their feedback. This may help you find jobs more effectively. If you're confused about understanding your skills, consider seeking help from someone else in this process. Get in touch with your trusted co-workers and let them know about your situation.
They can help you pinpoint your talents and skills, and accordingly, you can do the job search. Do everything in your capacity to find a job that matches your profile and interests.
To take the next step forward, EmployerEmployees can be your stepping stone. We help job-seeking professionals connect with potential employers. With our streamlined search process, interested professionals and candidates can find suitable job roles without undue stress.
