I feel stuck in a job I don't like

Oh, dear reader, I know that feeling well. We get stuck by the reality of needing to make a living but then the only opportunities that help us make a living are opportunities that drain us rather than fill us.

In this post, you will learn how to look at careers differently and gain some resources to help you on your exploration.

First, You might feel stuck because you're ready for a change in scenery or because you've never really found a great fit for what you love. Exploring your interests, skills, personality, and values through the use of (good) career assessments can help you get a clearer picture of what attracts you to a job. In this previous post, I share some steps you can take to begin this self-exploration.

Second, you may want to learn more about the vast array of jobs that exist. Did you know that there are over 12,000 careers out there? Sometimes, we get stuck because of the mere fact that we don't know just how many career paths might fit us. Our "box" of job possibilities is small. And, you guessed it, I want to encourage you to start thinking out of the box. 

One of the most common things I hear people say is, "I didn't know this was a real job until I found it."

So, thinking out of the box begins with you knowing there are more possibilities for you out there. Use a resource like CareerOneStop and look through the "Related Occupations" section of a job. Another favorite I use is MySkillsMyFuture where you can plug in an existing career and find jobs adjacent to this based on skill sets required. Even if none of these strike your fancy, click through some of the more interesting jobs and see where the exploration takes you.

Third, you also may be able to transfer within your company to a different position that better fits you. While this may not always be the case, sometimes it may be that the company might be a good fit where the position falls flat. So talk with your supervisor or boss about other opportunities within your company.

It is a lot easier to transfer within your company than to start over completely.

Finally, I want you to think out of the box about how much energy you put into work versus hobbies. You see, sometimes people actually are able to maintain working in a job that seems boring because outside of that work, they put their energy into hobbies.

This path is not for everyone, but I believe we all have activities we will do "just so" we can enjoy other activities. For example, you may not like to run, but you'll throw on those sneakers and pound the pavement "just so" you can enjoy that cookie dough ice cream sitting in your freezer at home. 

When it comes to work, look at what it allows you access to.

Are you working in a job that pays really well so you can travel? Are you working somewhere that has flexible hours for those times your kids get sick. The "just so" reasons are called lifestyle values and they are just as important as all the other reasons that we go to work each day. So when you are thinking about the work you do, think also about the hobbies you'd like to do. And, see if you can integrate these hobbies into your life in the midst of work.

Sometimes feeling stuck doesn't require a complete change into something new. It simply needs some readjustment so that your interests and values align with your work once more.

It's also okay to ask someone for help in evaluating these parts of your life. I don't expect my clients to know all the ins and outs of the workforce. If you need help with career exploration, reach out to me. I'd love to talk more with you about the possibilities that await you outside of the box.