3 Reasons to Keep a Job That You Hate
It’s been too many years. The chances for advancement are slim. You don’t like the work. The managers are stupid. There are dozens of reasons to quit a job that you hate. However, here are three reasons to stick around for a little while.
1. Steal. Yep, I want you to steal. Steal the ideas that work. Pay attention to what doesn’t work. Notice how different personality types react to different situations. If your company offers training in soft skills (strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, etc.), fully engage. These are the skills that will benefit you in your personal and professional life long after you leave your current position. If your company offers a lending library of books on CD or for download, check out the titles that are going to help you in general and in the long term. Listen during your commute, while you’re on the treadmill or on your lunch hour.
2. Clean up your mess. Is your credit score in the 500s? Do you need to become more disciplined with eating and exercising? Does your marriage need a tune up? If you’re planning to change jobs or transition to self-employment in the next year, now is the perfect time to address those nagging issues that keep you distracted. Why does your credit score matter? Because many employers will run a credit check before they will hire you. Thinking of self-employment? Even if you’re planning to run an internet based business from your family room, you will eventually need a line of credit. If you are currently undisciplined in your personal life, it will spill into your professional life. Ask the Lord to show you how to make better choices and start good habits. Regarding your personal relationships, if they are out of sync, it will be difficult to excel at a new job or as an entrepreneur. Do your part to repair damaged relationships. Spend the time and money for professional counseling.
3. Prepare to Launch. If you know you’re going to open your own business soon, view your current employer as your shark (as in The Shark Tank). If you’re successful on the show, one of the sharks advances you money and gets a percentage of your business. Your current employer gets a large percentage of your time and pays you in salary and benefits. Strategically plan your time. Work on your business before work, on your lunch hour, on weekends and on holidays. Although you’ll need to pull double duty for a few months or years, you will be better prepared financially to transition into self-employment. If your goal is to work for a different employer, you look better to a new employer if you are currently working. Polish your resume. Hire a coach to help you hone your interviewing skills. Take classes in person or online to make yourself a more attractive candidate.
Spending most of your waking hours at a job that offers little in terms of satisfaction is taxing. However, if you view your time there through the lens of what you need to get done before the next position, the time will start to speed by. If you decide today that you want to change to a different position or become self-employed within the next 12 months, decide that each week you’re going to focus on one of the three items discussed above (stealing, cleaning up messes, or preparing to launch). Spend some time thinking about which item is most critical. Discuss it with a trusted friend or mentor. If you have a trustworthy coworker, ask her what personal and professional issues you need to address before you leave your current position. When you thoughtfully plan your days, the time you spend at a job you hate will not be wasted.
