Steve writes:
I am at a point with my job where I think I may have a problem. I used to love my job, but lately I feel trapped — trapped by being in a job where I feel underpaid and underappreciated and trapped because the job market is still so bad for my occupation. Please help me. Thank you.
The Career Doctor responds:
We spend the vast majority of our lives at work. And above all else, work needs to be satisfying… our work needs to give us some intrinsic reward. Our work needs to be valued and our suggestions taken seriously. Pay is important, of course, but as I tell my college seniors on a regular basis, focus on the entire picture — not just on salary. Of course, you have probably been in your job so long that the small raises you have received make you vastly underpaid.
Job satisfaction is critical to your success. Once you are no longer satisfied — once your opinions are no longer valued, your work seen as mediocre at best, and your attitude falters — the downward career spiral begins. If you are no longer satisfied, you must bite the bullet — regardless of the perception of the job market — and polish that resume, perfect your networking skills, and prepare for job interviews.
Here are some things to think about. The more strongly you agree with these statements, the sooner you need to leave this job.
- I spend parts of my day daydreaming about a better job.
- I am mentally and/or physically exhausted at the end of a day at work.
- I feel that my job has little impact on the success of the company.
- I am not being used to my full capabilities.
- I feel as though my boss and employer have let me down.
- I feel as though my employer has broken promises about my future with the organization.
- I have lost sight of my career goals and aspirations.
You can find the full list of 20 statements — take the full test — here in my Job Satisfaction Quiz: How Satisfied Are You with Your Job? published on Quintessential Careers.
