Candidate Resource Center
How to Make Your Current Job Work
Are you feeling increasingly unhappy with your current job? Do you find yourself daydreaming about other things you could do with the time you spend at work? Do you dread the thought of Monday mornings?
You may have thought of quitting, but instead, why not address the issues that you dislike about your current job? You may be able to solve the problems and make your current job work for you.
Take a look at these six common reasons why people leave their jobs. Do any of these seem familiar? If you can identify the problem, you can make the changes that will reinvigorate your job and career.
There are legitimate times and legitimate reasons for quitting a job and moving on, but if you're not ready to make that step, do everything in your power to make your current job workable.
Are you feeling stuck in your current position with no hope of promotion? Do you look around your organization and fail to see any job you'd like to do next?
You work hard every day, but you don't feel your boss or your workplace recognizes your efforts. You can't remember the last time anyone thanked you for your contributions. Instead of complaining:
If you're feeling unappreciated because you're feeling underpaid, ask your manager for a raise or ask when you can expect your compensation review. Follow up to make sure it happens.
If you feel overworked, you probably are. Employers across the board have cut back on hiring and are expecting employees to do more with fewer resources. But before you say anything, collect good data and evidence to support your claim. If you find that your job duties do require more work than one person can comfortably handle, talk to your boss and present the following options.
Sometimes, people discover that they have chosen the wrong career or field of work. They dislike the activities and the actual content of the job. If you fundamentally don't like your work, consider these actions.
Maybe you like your work but dislike your current coworkers or customers. Start out by exploring whether you have any control over any aspect of the situation that is bothering you. If you identify areas you control, try fixing them. Perhaps sitting in the break room listening to people complain is ruining your good spirits. Stay out of there for awhile to see if your outlook improves. You might also consider transferring to a new work area or trading customers with a coworker.
This is the number one reason people give for why they leave their current job or employer. When managers are nasty, abusive and controlling, this is understandable. There are more subtle things some managers do, however, that drive staff away.
These include failing to:
If you find yourself in such a situation, try these actions: