Itime for Change?

There are days I love my job and days I hate it. It's extremely demanding.
Is it the best and most fulfilling job I've ever had? No.
The commute with gas prices so high is killing me.
But, it's a job. I'm good at it. I like my clients and I like my coworkers, for the most part.

What is it you hate about your job? Is it anything that can be rectified? Is it a matter of you just not feeling fulfilled?

I know that as I get older, I really ponder where I ultimately want to be and what I want to be doing. But, the truth of the matter is that my job pays the bills. My boss is pretty fair. My youngest has a year left of high school and I figure then is when I will concentrate on making a change.
My goal is to relocate to better weather and where jobs pay better.
For now, I'm not in the best place, but it's a good place that I'm thankful for.

Look for other jobs as you can find time to do so. You certainly seem to have longevity at your positions on your side.
Keep an eye on what's available near you and apply for things on the sly.

Make sure you have a clear idea about what it is that makes you miserable at your current position.

No job is perfect. There are good days and bad days anywhere.
With so many people out of work, I just shrug off the bad days as best I can and enjoy the good.

Best wishes.

Good afternoon M.,
Like you, I am in a position that brings me no joy but rather stress. The crazy part is that it is not a difficult job, I am just unhappy and have been for quite a while.
I think if you can afford to leave without anything in line go for it. Or, really start to hunt for a new position that will not bring you down. Best of luck!

I held on to a job I had that I began to hate after I was there for a couple of years. If I could do it all over again, I would have started to look for another job after I had begun to hate the job and before I was fully vested in their retirement plan. I stayed because I wanted to support my family and the job paid enough for that, I was vested in their retirement program, and they promised me a promotion which would have taken me away from the misery of that job. I liked my off-work life enough to put up with it. Especially since they promotion they promised me was always just a few months to a year away. (If I had been a minority, I would have gotten the promotion as did several minorities whose performance was far below mine.) But that's another post . . . where my answer was deleted because of bigotry.

Good luck to you and yours.

Have you tried to find ways to at least feel neutral about your job? Do you think that there is anything you can do to make it more acceptable? If not, it's time to change.

Spend some time figuring out what you would like to and would be able to do. Perhaps take a class at the community college that helps students evaluate their interests and skills and match them with careers. Then start looking for a job, while staying with the one you have. I've heard that one is more likely to be hired if they're still working when they apply.

My daughter is starting a new job today. She liked her co-workers but was bored with her job. She applied with a temp agency. They found her a permanent job in a field in which she was trained. Friday was her last day at the old job and today the first day with her new one.

In the work world one has to be brave and take the leap while limiting the damages.

Can you further your education while you are on the job? You could take online courses and still do your job, and your company may even pay you to do it. This way, you have plenty to do AND you will be a better employee for it.

In this economy and for the foreseeable future, it's important to do your best to have a job, whether or not you like it. There's certainly nothing wrong with interviewing and trying to find another job, but you might consider this the perfect opportunity to study to be prepared for your next position.

If you dislike your job so that others around you know how much you dislike it, you may not do a good job. The "powers that be" don't want to keep or promote an employee with a bad attitude or one who is known to dislike their job. Most people have to pay their dues, whether it's their first job or their tenth, no matter how old they are. Attitude, perserverence, energy, innovation, leadership, skill - ALL these things add up to keeping the job or moving up the ladder. Bad attitude and those who think they are entitled don't usually get what they want.

So by all means, look for another job if you want. But think about furthering your education. At the very least, a new employer would like that!

Good luck,
Dawn