I Hate My Job. Now What?

Whether we admit it or not, many of us have mixed the word hate in the same sentence as our job at one point or another. Sometimes, it’s after a long argument with the boss. Other times, it’s caused by the hopeless feeling when a month long project is expected to be completed by Friday.

With the economy the way it is, it’s even easier to feel down about your career. Chances are good that someone in the office is in deep financial trouble. The added stress more than likely caused additional tension in work relationships, and tension just leads to more despair.

If this sounds familiar, know that complaining to people around you is the last thing you should do because it doesn’t change the situation one bit. Instead, here’s a list of more productive actions you can take.



Improve Your Communication Skills – Being able to articulate your ideas and point of view is one of the most valuable assets you can learn. Remember that communication is both ways. Be a good listener by being patient, then make an effort to get your point across even when you are too lazy to do so. Practice Your Selling Skills – Most people think of selling as convincing someone to buy, but most selling is done on a more intangible level. Every day, we are selling our ideas with our spoken words. Every day, we are selling our value as an employee with our work ethic and every day, we are selling our image with how we act.Let’s face it. Some people are just naturally more talented at this but with practice, EVERYONE can improve. Make a conscious effort to improve your selling skills by listening to people who are convincing and practice selling your ideas often. To people you know and even people you meet on the streets. Don’t be afraid of failure. The more you fall, the better you become. Sit Down and Figure Out What You Like and Dislike – Most people who hate their job have never thought about what they can do about it. Perhaps the solution will present itself with just a friendly chat with your manager. Without giving yourself a chance to seriously think of the possibilities, how do you know that nothing will work?Bottom line. Before you sit down and exhaust every possible solution on how to be happier with your job, you have no right to say you hate it because it’s not the job you dislike, it’s what you are doing with it that you hate. Gather Your Choices – Once you start thinking about it, you will come up with some possible alternative. Map out a to-do list and take action. Test Out Your Theories – As you start acting on the possible choices you thought about, you will get a reality check of your theories. Were you correct in thinking that you were overworked compared with others? Is it true that you can really get a higher salary doing what you do? Pretty soon, you will get a pretty good sense of reality and armed with this information, you can plot a better course of action.

While we are at it, here is a list of “What Not to Do”.

Complain – It’s been said but it’s worth mentioning again. Understand that you are lucky to even have a job. Be thankful that while millions of people are forced to look for work, you are in a position to choose. Buy Things – Many people do this to feel better, but drowning yourself in debt and being tied to your job even more is the last thing you should be doing. Splurging is only going to provide temporary relief. Seek Out Like Minded Individual – At one of the companies I used to work for, some of the employees always talked about how unfair the work environment was during their lunch and dinner gatherings. After a luncheon with the group, I was running for the hills because I didn’t need them to affect me negatively. Nothing – This is probably the most common, yet most devastating action you can take. If you do nothing, you are letting your negativity bring your mood down. If you do nothing, you aren’t giving yourself a chance to be happy. If you do nothing, you are avoiding the truth. If you do nothing, you are robbing yourself of what could have been.

Do something, and quick. Don’t sit there and say “I Hate My Job”.