“Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” The quote, attributed to Confucius, is sound advice. There are many fortunate people out there who have their dream jobs. On the flip side, there are many who abhor their lives but see no way to change jobs. Our advice is to love what you do when it comes to working.
Changing jobs isn’t as taboo as it once was. A recent study suggested that late-wave boomers will change jobs 11 times over the course of their careers. Another study said that millennials will change their jobs a whopping 25 times!
Loving what you do is important, but so is a steady income. Balancing these two needs can be tricky at times. Here are a few quick tips to help you if you find yourself in this situation:
- Keep it on the down-low. Don’t advertise on social media that you hate your job, your boss, coworkers, etc. If you do feel the need to start looking for jobs, definitely don’t do it while you’re on the clock.
- Consider your job as a stepping-stone or training for what’s to come. For example, one employee really disliked his job, but they did offer tuition reimbursement. He worked on staying positive while he finished up school. Once he fulfilled his agreement with the company, he left and found his dream job elsewhere.
- Focus on the things you love or want in a job. Write a list of the qualities that would make up your dream job and then work towards gaining the skills, certifications and education you would need to get that job. Maybe you could take a cut in pay to become an intern at your dream employer – many people begin their careers this way.
- Stay positive. You may cry yourself to sleep on Sunday nights just thinking about what Monday morning will bring, but do whatever it takes to keep your own serenity even while working in an environment you don’t like. Just remember that it is temporary and you will soon forget about how terrible this place is. Add it to your list of reasons why changing jobs is important to you!
- Get out of an illegal environment. If you find yourself in an illegal, unethical environment, then find help to get out. There are many agencies and people who can help “whistleblowers” get out of their jobs. Ask advice from trusted family members or friends. Above all, do not stay in an environment that could land you in serious trouble.
If you find yourself not “in love” your job, please check out reliable job posting sites, specifically, here on Ninja Gig where you can electronically sign your job applications and get everything filled out lickety-split!