Most people, at some point of their career wake up one morning and realize they dread the thought of having to go to work. Not because they didn’t get enough sleep or they don’t feel well, but because they hate their job! Often, however, it’s not the ‘job’ they really hate, it’s the company, boss, peers, or circumstances. When you’re immersed in it every day though, it’s sometimes hard to distinguish the difference.
Many people have made poor career change decisions because they did not figure out what it was they really hated. Do you hate your job, or do you hate where you do your job? It’s an important distinction.
I’ve been blessed in my career to have found something I love to do. For the past 23 years I have been a technology recruiter. I have worked for consulting firms and search firms, and am currently self-employed. I thoroughly enjoy working with client companies in helping them define open positions and then find the right candidate to fill the role. I enjoy finding the right candidate, meeting and interviewing new people, finding ways to be of help in their job search whether I can place them or not. I’ve had the privilege of managing large organizations and training and developing others.
However, for several months at one point in my career I was convinced I had to find something else to do with my life. I hated my job! I hated the thought each day of having to go back to something that seemed to make me miserable. I thought the industry must have changed and I didn’t like it anymore. Even though I had had great success in the past, I wasn’t experiencing success then and couldn’t see how I would ever become successful again. Oh, and by the way, I was working for a poor boss, in poor office space, and everyone around me seemed to be miserable too.
I began to explore other possible careers, but wasn’t finding anything that I felt enthusiastic about or seemed to fit my greatest skills and abilities. I began to think I was in a hopeless situation. I hated what I was doing and couldn’t seem to find anything else I wanted to do.
Fortunately, I decided to break down what it was I really liked and disliked, what I did well and what I did not do well, and what made me successful and what did not. I soon discovered that it wasn’t the process of recruiting that was making me miserable, it was where, and with whom I was doing it. The environment and culture of the organization was also keeping me from being successful. Since all of it was integrated in my day, it was very difficult to see what it was that was pulling me down.
Soon I was out seeking another position, doing the same thing, but with a good mental checklist of what I was seeking in a new organization. Once I found it, my life was much improved. I was excited about going to work again.
So, are you in a job you hate, or did you quit or get laid-off from one recently? Before you decide you have to change careers, take some time to break down what it is you actually dislike. You may find that you’re in the right career, just in the wrong place.
Author:
Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as e-Executives and writes a blog for Job Seekers called The Wise Job Search.
Harry Urschel
Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as e-Executives, writes a blog for Job Seekers called The Wise Job Search, and can be found on Twitter as @eExecutives.
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Dorothy Tannahill-Moran 
Harry Urschel 
If you hate your job, chances are your employer hates you too. But I guess we dont have to worry about references, because if you google Job Reference Service, there a companies that can take care of that problem like http://careerexcuse.com
It's difficult to search deep down and find out what you really want out of a career. The downside of not exploring this thoroughly is that you're stuck with a career that's not a good fit. The discussion in your post only aggravates the situation. Is in the job or the place where you work that grinds you?
I recommend two books for finding the career that's right for you. One is the popular job hunt book "What Color is Your Parachute?" It's final section has some excellent exercises for doing the self-analysis and mapping that to your dream job. The second book is (get this title) "Breakthrough: The Hate My Job, Need a Life, Got Laid Off, Can't Get No Satisfaction Solution." Jeannette Kraar gives us a smaller book with easier to complete exercises with the intent of getting you to the same result.
I have written book reviews for each of these at my blog CareerJockey.org. Take a look at those to help you determine which of these is best for discovering your true calling.
@WorldlyMrB I actually disagree that not liking your job means your boss doesn't like you. Oddly, I sometimes think being dissatisfied can be a motivator to be more innovative — therefore pleasing people. However, in the long-term, I think you're right that it certainly wouldn't HELP any friction that comes up.
This is my first visit to this blog, and I think it's a really insightful post. Thank you!