I’ve been there. I know that dread you feel in the pit of your stomach, when you think of your job and all the deliverables you have to attend to. It’s a classic symptom of being in the wrong job.
I know what it feels like to count down to 6pm, because you absolutely cannot wait to get out of the building and leave everything behind. Truth be told, life is not that hard. Even if you job isn’t exactly the world’s best job, you shouldn’t be terribly unhappy when Monday morning rolls around.
Most times, we’re afraid to admit the truth to ourselves, especially when accepting the truth would mean having to make a drastic change. Read on to find out if you’re stuck in the wrong job.
- Nothing comes naturally: If you’re working at a job where you’re not harnessing your strengths, the likelihood is that you’ll find yourself slow and struggling to deliver on tasks that other people are able to do easily. The issue is not that you’re incompetent, but that you are trying so hard as a square peg to fit into a round hole. When you switch over to what you ought to be doing, you’ll find that insights, concepts and ideas will flow naturally. You’ll be so pumped and motivated to deliver on projects. Be honest with yourself about what you can do well and make sure that you work at a job that highlights the strengths you have.
- You’re not becoming a better person: If you’ve worked at a job for 6 or 12 months, or even more and at the end of that period, you can’t point to any tangible accomplishments you have, then you need to do a review. A good job should push you out of your comfort zone, to some degree and stretch you. When you are asked to lead a team for the first time in your life, you will find that while it could an uncomfortable thing, it is something that will make you better and push you to be a better version of you. When you are sent on trainings and tasked on those new skills, you will see you’re improving. So, if none of these is happening to you at your job, it just might be a sign that you’re in the wrong job!
- You’re doubting your competence: When a work environment becomes incredibly difficult and stifling, to the point where your self-esteem is affected, then it’s time to take a hike. If your boss uses foul language and invectives on you, never praises your work but takes all the time to point out what you’re not doing right, then you probably need to re-think your place at the company. You may think it’s not a big deal but any environment that is not helping you thrive will eventually leave a dent on your perception of yourself and your abilities. You will find that when it really matters, you may be unable to speak up for yourself. Don’t allow anyone use their words to cut you down. You need a healthy environment that you can blossom in.
- You feel like an outcast: Look, you spend anywhere from 8 hours upwards at your job. Those hours need to count for something. To some degree, the people you work with become another sort of family. There are many people who have made life-longed friendships from meeting someone at the office. If you find yourself working in an environment where you’re regarded with suspicion or disliked, this might affect how productive you are at your job.
- You don’t buy what the company’s selling: Sometimes, ethics comes into play. If your company’s product or service is not something you believe in, or is something you aren’t proud of, then it’s going to affect your job and the way you do your work. This situation can even degenerate into you becoming very negative and creating a mini-toxic environment for your co-workers. When you begin to get into bad-mouthing the company and talking down on what they do, then your time is most likely up. Work somewhere you’re proud of!
Are you in the wrong job? Leave a comment below!
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