Imagine an email finding me well (it actually is)
About “I hate my job” culture
Well... it happens most of the time. And it’s not a post I’m going to share with my boss to ask for a raise or to show to my mom so she doesn’t worry about my professional life. It is true. I honestly can’t imagine having a job that makes me feel like all the emails and tasks are not finding me well.
You may say I am in a privileged position because thousands, probably millions, of people can’t choose a better or different job. Like, literally: They can’t change it. They need to stay in their current role for many valid reasons. So, yes, in these terms I am very much privileged. But this post is not about this.
It’s about the whole Internet culture/movement/bubble with memes about dreading Monday, hating our jobs, our bosses, our employees, our colleagues, etc. Of course! A lot of them are hilarious. But they also hide a general truth: There are SO many people who honestly don’t like their jobs. And they CAN change them. But they decide not to. So let me share some truth from Brad with you.
If this is you ☝️or if this is you (I mean, yes, this one is also pretty funny), please, PLEASE reconsider changing your job. Life is too short to spend it wasting your time doing something you really hate. Or being afraid that the other job you find is also going to be terrible. Because you won’t know until you try, right?
When it’s okay to start looking for a new job?
You feel burnt out, depressed, you are really dreading Mondays and waiting for Fridays 5 PM. Nothing to discuss here. It’s not worth it. Start looking for a different job. Or maybe even a different industry? If you’re in a comfortable position of having time to make this decision, embrace it! Talk with friends or family, or with a job coach, read, search the job market. Think if your area of expertise is something you want to continue exploring, or maybe you’d like to pivot and try something new?
You don’t feel safe in your current job. This can mean: Financially unstable, not appreciated by the manager or the team (and/or many other things). This can also mean you feel/know that the company is not in a great financial position. If this is true (you have proof for it) and the management is not communicating it clearly with the team, maybe it’s not a place worth staying.
At work, you are doing something against your beliefs or ideas. Example: Working for a huge petrol corporation knowing their sustainability practices are non-existent. Or working for a left wing-oriented media house while having totally opposite beliefs. Or working at the butcher shop but also advocating for animal rights and being a vegan (👀). Think about this: Will you be ashamed to tell to your kids/grandkids/kids of your friend or sibling in 5-10 years from now what were you doing at work? If the answer is YES, then: Change something.
When it’s okay to stay in a job you don’t like?
Almost never. But, let’s be fair: People have different reasons for their decisions.
You are earning a lot of money and have a financial goal you want to reach. This is totally valid. Yes, Brad would tell you that you probably don’t need so much money, but! it’s okay if you have this goal. Maybe it’s for financial stability so then you can quit and start your own business? Or you want to save up a sum to then take a 2 year break and travel the globe? Then maybe it’s worth it. But remember: Mental health is more important than money. And: Are you sure you will quit/change the job when you reach the goal? Or you’ll make a new, bigger one, and get stuck in a hated job for longer? Of course, for each their own. But being rich doesn’t mean being happy.
You honestly don’t care. The salary is good, and you are one of these thick-skinned people who forget about work the minute they close their laptop/come back home (and honestly, it’s not necessary a bad thing!) If you don’t feel like you love your job, but you also don’t feel like you need to change it, you are happy with the salary/other perks and your mental health is well, then it’s all fine. Not everyone needs to be passionate about their work.
You don’t feel mentally prepared to leave. This is a tricky one. First of all, if you feel you need help from a specialist, please go and find a therapist. Hopefully you are in a country that supports this financially, or you can find a specialist you can afford. SO: Should you change jobs when you don’t feel emotionally/psychologically stable? It depends. If your job is the reason why you are depressed or in neurosis, you need to stop working there as soon as possible. But if your mental health problems come from another place, but it just happens that you also don’t love your work, it might be worth considering to stay for a bit longer. Start therapy, feel a bit better, treat the current job as a safe haven (until, of course, you are actually able to perform your normal, daily work), and when you feel strong enough to take another step, then think about finding a position that will make you feel more fulfilled/happy/inspired. Or maybe you will even change feelings about your current job when you heal?
And remember, this is just a friendly advice. We are not therapists. But definitely recommend finding one if you feel you need them!
When you need to double check what’s the right decision?
You feel like your job is too demanding and doesn’t give you any space and time for other things/hobbies/friends and family. It’s great to earn a lot of money and be able to afford all the things you want to have. But what if you really don’t need them? Or what if you actually don’t have any time to spend all the money you earned? You might be doing it for a reason like building financial stability (see above), or building a startup that develops a new vaccine which will save lifes. Or you are simply building your own business of any kind, which takes LOTS of time and resources, and since it’s something you believe in, you might feel overworked and overwhelmed from time to time. If you still feel it’s within healthy limits, then stay. Trust the process and be proud of what you’re building. It is normal to sometimes make work most of our lives. Just remember, in the end everyone needs a break and a reset!
You feel like you are pushed to do overtime, you are not rightfully rewarded for it, you feel like you are never offline, your private relationships suffer from it, then yes, it’s time for you to go. Find a job that gives you stability, but also gives you space, time and resources to be off and live your life.
Wow, that was a long one. I could talk about it for ages. If you want to share your story or discuss this further, send us a message. We are here for you! Otherwise, if you feel like some of the examples above resonated with you, take a few steps back and reconsider your position. I hope and believe you can change things if you want to!