Today’s employment market is more competitive than it has ever been; with an ever-growing population and more university graduates pushing for the top jobs it can sometimes be a relief to even get a call back for an interview. That being said, holding down a job that rewards you emotionally as well as financially is crucial to a fuller life experience. Western, urban lifestyles are typically fast-paced, intense affairs with little time for leisure or social enrichment as a result of a high dependence on a regular income. The adage ‘live to work or work to live’ holds sway over many people’s lives and it is one that should be considered by all of us. As a student, I am constantly peering anxiously into the not-so-distant future reality of employment. Youthful idealism aside, there are plenty of reasons for why certain jobs may not be right for you.
1. LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND
This one is fairly obvious-if you crawl agonisingly from Monday to Friday and dread Sunday nights you should really put your efforts into finding yourself a new job. Anxiety and depression are greatly increased by a stressful job for obvious reasons, as it is the most time-consuming part of your life.
2. YOUR JOB HAS NO ASPIRATIONS OR MEANS OF PROGRESS
Even the seemingly best jobs can become stale and uninteresting if there is no sense of progression in the near-distant future. We as humans are driven by a keen interest in achieving goals or fulfilling potential-doing the same thing without a sense of working towards something else can leave you deflated and uninspired. Pay rises and hopes of promotion do not always satisfy the ambition inside us, so if your job looks to be more of the same, week after week, try something else.
3. SOCIAL LIFE/TIME IS CENTRED AROUND YOUR WORK
Are the people you work with your sole means of socialising? Whilst having friends in the work place is great and should be encouraged, it is important to have at least some distance between your time at work and the time that you spend away from it. This is important-your life should not be entirely centred on your job, far from it! Social spheres in the workplace should complement, not dominate your social horizons and there should be some form of distinction between work and play time. This is not to say that work should be a gruelling, drab affair.
4. LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK IS AT ODDS WITH LIFE IN THE WORKPLACE
Conversely, if you cannot identify with your work persona when outside of the workplace it is probably also a sign that your job is not the right one for you. This could be for a range of reasons such as a difference in styles, ethics, morals and approaches to life in and outside of work. If you feel you are playing up to or faking a certain character in order to suit the requirements of your job then you will be uncomfortable, on edge and ultimately unhappy with yourself. Of course I am not suggesting that you behave exactly how you like-we all make considered social adjustments to each environment-but you shouldn’t feel the need to drastically alter your personality when you head into the workplace.
5. YOUR JOB IS GIVING NOTHING BACK TO YOU
Whilst a job is mainly you putting time, work and effort in to producing something for your boss/company/organisation, there should be scope for you to learn and develop as a person and employee. I strongly believe that a good job should allow you to mould and shape your own character and abilities in order to better fulfil your own role and potential future roles. Jobs can often be precarious in their guarantees and if you lose your job then you might be obsolete in the market of your choice. This of course is beneficial to your life in general-your job is not just a means of making money; it should be a platform for you to further express yourself and augment your talents.
If you read through this and find that each one fits your daily work experience, there should be several good enough reasons there to reconsider your job and career prospects. However, that being said, tough experiences, whether they are in the workplace or any other situation, can provide important lessons for the way in which you conduct yourself as well as the way in which others do whilst under certain pressures and professional requirements. Many of these problems can be of your own making, so it is important to look back on them with a desire to not make these same mistakes again.
Written By Jack McSweeny
TweetMe: @Jack_McSweeney