“Why am I still working here? I absolutely hate my job!” How many times have you said that to yourself in the last few months, or even years?
Perhaps you feel overworked, underpaid, unhappy, or unfulfilled. As a result, you may be bringing your work stress home with you, which negatively affects your relationships. “I feel like my family and friends only hear me complain about my life now. What happened to my enthusiasm for life?”
If you think you are the only one who feels like this, guess again. You are not alone! You are NORMAL!
Not too long ago, this was me. I spent too much time contemplating how I would confront my boss if I ever had the chance. I actually dreamed of getting fired, so I could tell him he was a chauvinistic, lazy, two-faced liar.
In the beginning, he seemed like the World’s Best Boss, but after several months, I began to realize why my position had such a high turn-over rate. As my dislike for the job increased, I had to find ways to survive the workday when I wanted to leave.
I was the one obsessing over the question “Does my work life have to be this miserable? How can I get out?” After several years of this, I finally took action! But I had to come to the following realization: I do not owe anything to this company. I have been a beneficial asset to them and do not need to feel guilty about moving on. If I leave, I will simply be replaced by someone else.
Stop overthinking the situation and making the mistake of always finding reasons that stop you from leaving your job. Below are the steps that I took to successfully replace the job I hated:
1.) Apply for other jobs
Stop scrolling through job opportunities and actually APPLY for some!
You have to take the first step. I know you can think of a million reasons why your boss can’t live without you, and how your co-workers will miss you, and how you may not like your next job either.
But what if you are wrong? If you do not try, you will never know.
2.) Don’t tell anyone at work!
Yes, you hear me. Do not tell one person!
A friend of mine made the mistake of telling another “friend” in the office that he was applying for other jobs and was fired for “bringing down morale in the office.”
Also, don’t think that you are taking the moral high ground by informing HR or Management that you are looking for other opportunities. When you are packing up your desk and being escorted out of the building, you will regret that decision.
3.) Apply for jobs on these websites
LinkedIn Jobs, Monster.com, Indeed.com, Career Builders.com and Local Facebook Job Groups were where I started applying. I even applied for some jobs on Craigslist.com – carefully, since this isn’t a highly regulated website.
Some cities have job websites for local businesses. If you are retired military, there are many websites dedicated to jobs for military members only.
4.) Update your resume!
I have interviewed job applicants who have said, “Sorry, I didn’t have time to update my resume.” I was NOT impressed.
If you want to be considered for a job, you must go to the interview prepared and professional. Resumes don’t have to be fancy, but they do have to be clear and concise! Google some resume examples.
As a bonus, you can even buy some professional resume paper at Office Depot. Extra effort can actually go a long way.
5.) Apply for every job you may possibly be interested in
Unless you are a highly skilled professional, with a very specific set of skills and a glowing resume, you probably won’t get dozens of interview invitations.
On average, with every 10-20 applications, comes one interview request. Be patient!
If you do get some interviews and possibly a job offer, you can always decline! It is better to have more options than not.
6.) Don’t look for jobs on your company computer
Many companies do a routine check of employee’s computer history.
If they suspect that you are looking and applying for other jobs on company time, this could result in an embarrassing meeting with the HR Department.
7.) Use Sick Time and Personal Time for interviews
Your sick time and personal time is there for you to use. Use it to your benefit!
If you are nervous about using your sick time, you can even schedule a doctor’s appointment and an interview in the same afternoon.
8.) You can request a phone interview
If you feel that you cannot get away from work at that time, request to have a phone interview over lunchbreak.
Ensure that the company of interest knows that you are excited for the interview; however, you are unable to attend due to work responsibilities. It is always a risk, but they may see this as a good quality.
9.) You don’t have to do the job searching yourself
You can actually submit your resume to a recruiting company, and they will match your set of skills with employers who are looking for people just like you.
However, if you are hired through them, a percentage of your income is given to them for the first few months of employment. However, they typically set you up with jobs you are qualified for…and it is FREE!
10.) Do some research before going to an interview
You want to know how to stand out during a job interview. Research the company at which you are interviewing.
Often, you will be asked what you know about the company or why you applied to work for them. Research typical interview questions and practice answering them. You will be more confident if you have done some practice.
You should also have some interview questions to ask your potential employer. This will help you be informed about the position you are interviewing for.
STAY PROFESSIONAL! Make sure that you do not complain about your current company or manager. It is a huge red flag when someone talks negatively about their past employment.
Related Article: 11 Reasons You Didn’t Get Called Back After The Interview
11.) Resign with class
If possible, give your company a standard 2-week notice. It is always best to leave a company with no hard feelings. Be helpful during the transition and don’t mentally check out. You will feel better about your decision, even if the final two weeks are difficult.
I have faced this predicament and got through it! I followed these steps and found a fantastic new job within a month of searching, applying, interviewing, and praying.
Yes, it looks daunting, but you can do it too! If you job is stressful, make sure to put your health first, so you will not start showing signs of work burnout.
Believe me, replacing your job will build confidence and send you off on another adventure – with less stress, more family time, and a job that you chose! Work may be stressful at times, but you shouldn’t have to hate your job!
If you have any questions about this article, just let us know in the comment section below! We’d be happy to help you out!
Thank-you Nancy! I’m glad you enjoyed the post! -Caroline