This past year I found that I was very unhappy in my job. So, I did something about it and now I have a new career in Instructional Design.
Here are some tips to decrease your unhappiness at work and move toward a happier situation.
Determine what you Dislike
What is it about your job that made you find and read up to this point in this article? Is it boring? Does it not pay well enough? Is it too stressful? Does it require too many or too few hours? If you’re going to make a change, the last thing you want is to be in the exact same situation you’re in now when you get to a new job. Figuring out exactly what it is you dislike will allow you to find a job that doesn’t have that characteristic.
Find a Good Fit
Once you have pinpointed what it is you don’t like about your current job, it’s time to find a job or career that you think you’d enjoy. Google is your friend for this process! Try searching for lists of jobs or lists of jobs in certain categories (e.g., “marketing jobs” or “healthcare jobs”). When you find one that seems interesting, narrow your search by looking for information about that specific job such as responsibilities, typical schedule, education required, etc. At this stage, don’t worry if you’re not 100% sure if you will like the career. We will find out more about it in a later step.
Research and Make a Plan
Did you find a career that looks interesting? Awesome! Now, it’s time to research. You should be looking for what the educational requirements are for that career, if any, and how you can transition from your current job into that job. Sometimes the transition can be as smooth as submitting an application and a resume, and other times you might need additional education. After you research, jot down a quick list of steps to getting the job.
Start Your Plan
Move through the steps you outlined to start your journey. I would highly recommend taking low-cost or free online courses on the topic prior to committing to additional formal education. For many jobs, additional formal education isn’t a requirement! Websites such as Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning can help you learn about a job (or even get certifications) for a low cost.
Hire Professionals
There are a variety of professionals you can hire to help with your journey to more happiness at work. First, you could hire a resume writer to assist with a job search and help spice up your resume. An alternative option, if you are wanting (or need) to stay in your current job, is a mental health professional. Seeing a therapist can be useful for anyone! Finally, hiring professionals to help around the house can help free up your time. This will allow you to devote more time to searching for a new career. You can hire a housekeeper to help keep things clean, or if you are planning on moving (for a new job or not!), you can hire a moving company to do the heavy lifting for you. One that I recently saw is Star City Services. This professional, tight-knit moving crew is committed to fostering relationships and building trust with their clients. They serve their clients by providing affordable, trustworthy, and honest work and they are skilled in everything from local moves, commercial moves, and even Roanoke long distance moving.
Celebrate Small Steps
Making changes in your professional life can take some time and effort. Make sure you are acknowledging the big steps AND the small steps in your life! Although the ultimate goal is to be happier at work, you don’t have to wait until you have a new job to celebrate. Did you find a career that looks interesting? Celebrate! That’s step one! Finish revamping your resume? Celebrate! Make sure you are being gentle on yourself and feel accomplished that you are taking steps to improve your life.
Choose your Mentality
As I mentioned before, starting a new job or career can take time. Don’t let this time be miserable. Sometimes, even knowing that you’re taking steps to escape your current situation can make it seem more bearable to get up and go to work everyday. Use that motivation and energy to keep you going. You can do it!