It's natural to have moments when you resent going to work, or times when you come home from the office wanting to put your fist through a wall. But if you actively hate your job, to the point where you dread going to work day in, day out, then it may be time to dust off your resume and find a new role. But before you do, you'll need to do some serious thinking -- namely, to make sure your job is the problem, and that you aren't.
What's behind that negativity?
Maybe your boss is an extreme micromanager, your company culture stinks, and you spend your days doing menial tasks that were never part of your original job description. These are all good reasons to resign and seek out a new position. But if your distaste for your job stems from you, then that's something you'll need to address before you start looking elsewhere.
IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.
First, let's talk attitude. Maybe you're the type of person who doesn't appreciate taking orders in any capacity. Even if your boss is a great manager and decent human being, you're likely to be dissatisfied by virtue of having to report to that person. If that's the case, then you may need to start your own business, or find a job that truly lets you work independently (perhaps a contracting role). But that's something it pays to figure out before you apply to another job, only to wind up miserable when you inevitably have to answer to someone else on the regular.
The same could hold true if you're the type who doesn't like collaborating or working on a team. You'll need to be honest with yourself about that and find a job that allows you to work solo.
Now, let's talk about the actual work you're doing. Maybe it's boring, or you just plain don't enjoy it. But if you're a bookkeeper or accounting professional by trade, and the work you're doing aligns with that skill set, then you can't really blame your employer for the fact that you're bored, can you? And if you look for yet another accounting job, you're likely to wind up in the same position. If that's the case, then you'll need to think about what it is you really want to do with your career, and perhaps invest some time and money into learning new skills that position you to work in a different field.
Be honest with yourself
You deserve to be happy with the work you're doing, but there comes a point when you can't blame your employer for your dissatisfaction. If you actively hate your job, make a list of the reasons you feel that way. Then, think about the factors that will or won't improve by going out and finding a similar job at a different company. If your feelings are unlikely to change by switching employers, then you'll need to face the reality that you're the problem, and then figure out how to overcome the mindset that's making you miserable at present. The upside? Once you do, you'll be better positioned to enjoy a fulfilling career that caters to your specific intellectual and emotional needs.
