Your Job: Do What You Love and Love What You Do
As more "baby boomers" approach middle age, many find themselves reflecting on their jobs and/or careers. They have reached the stage in life where there are more work years behind them than in front.
This reflection is important:
- Am I where I planned to be?
- Am I where I want to be?
- Do I enjoy what I do?
- Do I like the company I work for and the people I work with?
People spend 45 to 50 hours per week in the world of work. Do you enjoy this time, or are you complaining to friends and family about your job or your boss? Are you counting the years or months to retirement? Life is too short not to have satisfaction at your job.
Whether you're a job seeker or currently employed job satisfaction is critical. It affects your performance on the job, your performance during a job search, and especially your quality of life at home. Do you "kick the dog" because you're mad at your boss?
If you're not happy in your current job or weren't happy in your past job, now's the time to make some changes. Assess your current/past situation: if you aren't or weren't satisfied, why? Look for specific reasons.
It's easier to have a good job if you're with a good company; so evaluate the employer as well. Can you change negative areas internally? It's more plausible – not to mention much easier -- to make changes in yourself than in others, and especially in corporate culture. Switching employers isn't always the answer, and you may find you’ve only replaced one set of problems for another.
Do some self-assessment:
- Technical skills- current and wanted in today’s market
- Leadership skills - both formal and informal
- Personal skills - communication, work style, and attitude
- Where are your strongest capabilities and how does your track record reflect these capabilities
- Determine your professional / personal criteria for job satisfaction- "I'm at my best when... " " I enjoy my work best if... "
Knowing the answers to these areas enable you to form your strategy, then develop and implement a plan for change if needed.
- Address changes within your current employment
- Control your attitude. Be careful who you "vent" to or where. Most work environments are in open areas so privacy is limited. Plus never pour your heart out to the "corporate mouth." This will back to haunt you, possibly even after you’ve moved on.
- De-personalize what's happening to you.
It's not that they're doing it to you; they're just doing it. Lengthen your reaction time in certain situations. You may be acting on impulse or out of habit, thereby decreasing your effectiveness and increasing your frustration.
- Take ownership of your changes.
- Hold yourself accountable and do it for you, not just to please others.
- Choose your battles carefully. Opt for win-win situations, not win-lose. Find support among your co-workers and supervisors. There is not only strength but also success in numbers. If you're always alone, it’s much harder to be heard.
- Learn to be tolerant of others’ mistakes and get all of the facts before rushing to judgment. Practice good stress management techniques. Don't let stress affect your performance or your home life.
- Don't let your strengths become your weaknesses. If you are very good at what you do, others may have become dependent on that skill. This can cause resistance when you need to make a change or advancement.
Now it’s time to invent the future instead of trying to redesign the past. It's too late for " should have... would have... or could have...” Start fresh; don't dwell on past problems.
If your changes don't produce improvements in your current situation find a new job by changing departments or employers.
If you’re without an employer go through the self- assessment described above. Can you demonstrate that you are capable of accomplishing the other areas mentioned above? Your ability to invent the future is increased since there is no history with a new employer.
It’s still possible, however, for your strengths to become your weaknesses, especially if you’re trying to change careers from certain types of professions. Prospective employers may resist career changers; they want to keep you in the field, industry or job that you've been good at instead of allowing you to transfer those skills to another area. You may be more willing to take the risk then they are.
Start researching other jobs or employers before negatives affect your work or family. Know who you are and what you want to accomplish. Don't overlook job related knowledge, hobbies or interests; they can relieve some of the pressure and can often become a bridge to a career change.
Let contacts know that you're around, aware, and available. Keep your contacts current and maintain a positive attitude. Nobody wants to be around a negative person. Remember, your goal is to get involved in a better situation not escape from negative employment.
Life is a complete package. Total fulfillment is difficult but not impossible to achieve. Balance your work with your personal life to make both more satisfying.
