How to get out of a job you hate, when you're stuck in that job you hate.
By Karen Friesen, Sr. Copywriter
I spent a lovely weekend at the beach recently, enjoying fresh air, vigorous walks, and the entertaining spectacle of witnessing car after truck after minivan get stuck in the sand.
Seriously stuck. Like, wheel-spinning, sand-spewing, not-getting-out-of-this-anytime-soon stuck.
As a bystander, I watched the cycle play out again and again. It went something like this:
Denial. Driver cannot accept that something has gone terribly awry, and responds by slamming down the gas pedal, full throttle. Deep ruts. Then Deeper ruts. Annnd, still deeper ruts.
Driver and passengers circle vehicle, trying to devise a way out. Lots of head shaking all around.
Frustration escalates. Swearing commences. Driver again executes full throttle tactic while hapless passengers try to push the trapped vehicle out. (I’m pretty sure this is where the term “spinning my wheels” originated.)
None of their efforts worked.
But they sure kept trying steps 1-3, over and over again.
The entire process was not unlike that of people who feel utterly stuck in their current jobs.
They start out bouncing merrily along in their work until one day, something changes.
The ground shifts, they begin s-l-o-w-l-y sinking, and they can’t - for the life of themselves - figure how to escape.
Could this be YOU?
Maybe you’re feeling bored and unchallenged.
Maybe there’s no room for growth at your company.
Maybe your boss makes that Devil Wears Prada lady look like saint.
Whatever’s going on, it’s not at all ideal.
You want to look for something new, but your time is already 1,000% accounted for — kids need a lift to soccer, spouse who’s not sharing the load, work that comes home from that less-than-amazing job at night, meals to prep, dog to walk, vaccuum to run, and — holy heck — does that laundry basket ever run out of clothes to fold?
How on earth are you supposed to fit in a job search, too?
Answer: By not repeating the same ineffective steps over and over again, like those cats at the beach.
With the right strategy and by focusing on the right things, you can get out of a job you hate.
And that’s worth working for.
So where do you begin?
Here are a few tips that will help you tackle this thing:
Make the time. In much the same way you can’t wish yourself fit and healthy, you can’t daydream yourself into a more fulfilling career. Commit to set aside time each day (or week) specifically for your job search, and don’t abandon it for anything short of a 911-level emergency.
My additional advice? Try to make this time in the morning. You’ll be fresher, more energized and more likely to make things happen than later in the day when you may be more motivated to curl up with a glass of wine or address that pile of unfolded laundry.Be focused and specific. Have clear tasks in mind to fill the valuable time you have carved out. What are you going to do to propel your search forward? Set some measurable goals, such as “I will reach out to three contacts today,” or “I will dig in and research XYZ company that I’m interested in working for.”
Don’t chase after everything. That’ll get overwhelming fast, and won’t likely propel you forward. Focus on one area or type of work for a pre-set length of time. Pour your efforts into that rather than letting your energies become diluted by running after every shiny object you see out of the corner of your eye.
Protect the job you already have. Newsflash: the great part about your current situation? You already have a job! (i.e. $ coming in regularly, right?) So be careful about who knows what you’re up to if you need the income that the role’s providing.
You’ll surely need to tap into your network of trusted friends and colleagues, but be careful about how you put your feelers out there. Proceed with strategy and caution.Get yourself out there. Take advantage of opportunities for additional training, industry events and association meetings. Putting your name and face into other people’s orbits will help keep you top-of-mind when an opportunity presents itself. Identify people you would like to introduce yourself to, and figure out a (professional) way to make it happen. And then? Make it happen.
Enjoy your life. Sure, all this focus on changing your job can feel tiring and overwhelming. Don’t forget to also allow time to unwind and spend time with family and friends. You have a real life. Participate in it.
Make time, keep your focus, and stick with your battle plan.
You’re not stuck unless you insist you are. You can absolutely find and land a job you love (or, at the very least, like a lot better).
And when you do?
You can brush off the sand and kiss that giant rut goodbye.
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