Do you feel stuck in a rut? Have you lost that enthusiasm for your job? Are you feeling unappreciated?
Remember when you were ecstatic about securing your new position? Where has that feeling gone?
At the end of the day, at least you have a job, right? Wrong!
If all you do is complain about work to your friends and loved ones, you are not only making yourself miserable, but you are possibly boring your friends and family to tears. What can you do?
You are your own person. You control your life. Perhaps you may not be in a position to change your job right now – you may not have the experience or maybe you have a mortgage to pay or a family to support. Whatever the reason, there is always a way to make the best of a situation.
There are some steps you can take to make your work life better:
The first step is to stop complaining.
I know, it sounds simple, but why shouldn’t it be? Have a reality check. Make an effort to remove the negativity in your life, starting with your own outlook.
Focus on the positive aspects of your job and identify ways to improve what might not be working so well. Think out of the box and identify ways in which you could be more valuable to your team and company.
Reflect on the success you’ve had with your job.
Getting yourself in the same mindset will bring motivation to succeed again.
Try being more of a team player.
Introduce new ideas, contribute more to the team, get to know more colleagues, help another teammate with a project. Make yourself a valuable member of the team, and a valuable employee for the company.
Don’t compare your salary to others.
Forget about your Beryl from Accounts and her salary, perks and title. In a recent study that spanned 24 counties, researchers found that people who compare their salaries are less content than those who don’t.
Discuss training or learning opportunities with your Manager or HR Department.
You are the one who is responsible for your career – whether you are successful or not is solely up to you. Take this opportunity to blow out the cob-webs and learn something new. Take advantage of the training programs that your organisation offers. If that’s not possible, make a business case to attend a conference to learn something new, proving how it will benefit your employer.
There are many ways in to be an integral member of an organisation. Be noticed, have a great attitude and you will feel how appreciated you really are, and with any luck, you’ll be rewarded for it.
Here is a list of don’ts:
Being the office gossipmonger is the No 1. faux pas. There is no place for gossip in the office. This creates a negative environment and reduces trust.
Stealing time - It isn’t ethically correct to continuously check personal email, socialise on facebbok and twitter, make personal calls or surf the internet. You are being paid to work. By all means, if your employer allows it, use your lunch break for personal email, calls or surfing. Don’t become known as the slacker.
Never bad-mouth your employer/organisation. It is a small world. You don’t know who you could end up working with 5 years down the track. Always remember to treat people like the way you want them to treat you.
Most of all, stay on the hunt- make yourself available. Remember, times will change and if you still aren’t keen to continue in your current position, you can move on. Network with people, socialise and let them know at appropriate times that you are considering moving on. The next person you meet at the train station could end up being your new client, colleague or employer. Use social media (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, your own blog etc.) to your advantage, but remember to be careful about what you put on the internet for the world to see.
Even in difficult times, you will always have someone to bounce ideas off – a spouse, friend or family member. So stop stressing about what’s happening around you and take charge of your career to improve your life.
If you are thinking of a career change, come and check out the latest range of flexible and work at home jobs at www.lifestylecareers.com.au.
While you are there why dont you register yourself as a job seeker and set yourself up a a weekly job mail alert (it only take 2 secs), you never know you next dream job might just be there.
Leah Gibbs is the Founder and Business Manager of Lifestyle Careers.
Lifestyle Careers is an online recruitment job board. Our niche and specific focus is the advertising of flexible employment and work at home positions. It is designed for professionals wanting to balance their work and personal life.
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