The “a job is just a job” mentality is helpful to some but most of us do not think about our jobs in this way. We want our jobs to be just as fulfilling as everything else in our lives, especially since we spend so much time at work. It is difficult to stay in a job that is not our ideal career. Try evaluating how beneficial your job is to you. Make a list of pros and cons. Ask yourself key questions.
• How does your job affect you mentally?
• Are you able to gradually move forward financially?
• Do you have time to expand on your education and pursue your ideal job/career?
• Does your job prevent you from growing personally?
• Do you dread going to work and feel the need to vent about various work related issues after a day at work?
If the majority of your answers to these questions are negative you should be considering moving on. Do some goal setting and work towards moving forward in your career and in life. Look into correspondence courses. Correspondence courses are a great way to expand on your education while working. Correspondence courses are getting more accommodating as time goes on. In February 2009 Athabasca University added an online assignment drop box. There is no longer a need to mail your assignments and cross your fingers that they make it there, and you do not have to think about shipping times when you are working on deadlines. The online assignment drop box also gets your assignments to your Tutor sooner so that you get feedback sooner. There is also a discussion board where you can post your drafts and receive feedback prior to officially submitting your assignments. Online courses are becoming increasingly interactive and they credits received are usually recognized in the same way as regular in class credits. You can register for a lot of courses all year round. You choose when you sign up and how many courses you want to take. At Athabasca you have 6 months to complete your courses and deadlines are flexible, as long as everything is submitted prior to the end of your 6 months.
Sometimes jobs prevent us from moving forward because we do not have time to further educate ourselves and/or they affect us mentally and keep us in a negative headspace. Consider your current income and what you could be making at your ideal job. Ask yourself if it is worth postponing.
Being employed and fearing unemployment may cause one to remain in a job situation where the position prevents one from being happy. We fear taking a leap and leaving jobs because we feel that there may not be anything else out there. This creates a destructive situation because we say to ourselves that we will leave when something better comes along. So we job hunt and go to interviews in our spare time. We are wigged out and although we may not think so I am sure we reek of desperation. In doing this we may miss great opportunities. If you are truly unhappy in your job just scrimp and save as much as you are able to and take the leap. Hand in your resignation. Be sure to do it properly and give two weeks notice so that you leave on a high note and your employer will provide a positive reference for you if required.
• Look into furthering your education or re-education
• Revamp your resume
• Put your resume on online job sites like Monster etc.
• Search online job banks
• Not every job is posted. Drop resumes wherever you would like to work whether they have made a posting for an available position or not.
• Get as many interviews as you can and go to them
Leaving your job may give you the break you need to relieve some stress so that you can just focus on getting a new job. Go into a little debt if you need to and get yourself into a better head space. When you are happier this will be evident during interviews. Send out applications when you have fulfilled your two weeks notice so that you are available right away. Right now employers are waiting until the last minute to hire employees and may very well want you to start the week following your interview. Be as available and flexible as possible. Do not show hesitation. You can always change your mind later.
Even if you are not sure about the job the more interviews you have under your belt the better. You will become accustomed to different interviewing techniques and you will become better at anticipating the questions interviewers will ask.
Best Wishes!
