Michael David http://www.bronsonco.com 3m 685
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Do you find yourself referring more and more to your job as “the daily grind?” If so, here are a few telling ways with which to better analyze your predicament. Bear in mind that this list might inspire a career change—don’t say you weren’t warned.
1) You Never Feel Like Going to Work
Let’s face it: it’s natural for most people to not be “gung ho” when Monday morning rolls around and it’s time to head back to the office. In some ways, it’s completely normal to be less than enthusiastic about work after having enjoyed a plethora of fun weekend activities. But if you find that the Sunday blues are recurring on a daily basis (and not just on Sunday), you might consider what that means in terms of your work. If you find yourself dreading the workday, it’s probably time to find employment that will leave you anticipating your next shift after you clock out.
2) You have Zero Passion for What You’re Doing
Remember learning about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs back in your college freshman psychology class? Well, just in case you need a refresher, the highest level pertains to self-actualization. In other words, for a man (or woman) to live a life fulfilled, he or she needs to feel actively engaged in a good cause. This is not to say that every man or woman ought to feel less-than-productive if not volunteering for the Peace Corps or working for Doctors Without Borders. But it does mean that if you feel more and more that your job is an obligation—and not an opportunity—then you are ultimately apathetic to the work that your company is doing.
3) Your Boss Has it in for You
This is one of the most telling signs that it’s time to call it quits at your place of employment. If Monday morning meetings have turned into your boss’s opportunity to report your falling productivity figures to the entire team, than it’s likely that you’re working in a threatening atmosphere. Ultimately, you need to like who you work for (and with). If the office environment leaves you constantly checking behind you for the helicopter boss and walking on egg shells in the break room, then consider jumping ship.
4) Your Company is Headed Downhill
You are an integral part of the company, and subsequently privy to insider information. If you find yourself questioning the direction your company is headed, that might be your inner voice telling you that something is up. Whether you are aware that the company is engaging in some unethical behaviors or that it is losing money at the speed of sound, it is important to consider this when evaluating your future with the organization.
5) You’re not Moving Forward
What does the old adage say? Something about how if you are not moving forward, you are actually moving backward? This could not be truer than when in a dead-end job. If you constantly find yourself doing remedial tasks that do not challenge your abilities, chances are you’ve hit a major roadblock. Even if your job entails work that does not require scholarly endeavor, you should still be in an environment that provides—and encourages—continually learning and innovating. You also need to know that your quest for continued intellectual curiosity and refinement is not in vain: if there is no opportunity for promotion, your pay has not increased despite years of labor, or your company overlooks its current employees’ resumes when new positions open, then perhaps you should consider that you are, in fact, “moving backward.”
Whether you are a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver whose boss is a total villain or an assembly line worker in Detroit who gets zippo fulfillment from the job, take a moment to consider your own vocation and whether it meets any of the aforementioned red flags. If so, contemplate your options. Speaking from personal experience, I can guarantee that no job is worth the distress that positively accompanies these five telling signs.
About the Author
Michael David is a freelance journalist and blogger living in New York City. Michael loves writing about DIY projects, home improvement, and garden-related topics. Most recently he has expounded his love for helping people learn about home improvement to helping them learn more about issues regarding employment and legal advice, particularly from such companies like Bronson Jones & Co., as it is a growing area of interest for him.
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