Is your career right for you? Millions of people from across the globe work full-time jobs to support themselves and their families. However, over 40 percent of everyone who works has said that they are not satisfied with their current jobs but are too busy to do what they love. This lack of job satisfaction is costing American companies more than $500 billion yearly.
Keeping a job that doesn’t bring you fulfillment or happiness benefits no one. The thing with job satisfaction is that it can be tricky. Some people spend their entire career life doing the wrong thing and they never realize it until it is too late. So, how do you know if your current career path is the right one for you?
Career Assessment and Evaluation
The easiest way to find out if you’re on the right track is to rate your job satisfaction. The more satisfied you are with your job, the more likely that you are on the right career path. This job satisfaction can be measured in two categories: global (overall) satisfaction, and specifics (facets).
If you feel love and positivity toward your job as a whole, then you’ve passed the first test. Ask yourself if there are specific accepts about your job that brings you joy. Do you love your salary? Do you love your boss? Do you love being the boss? Are you intrigued by the growth opportunities and relationships with others in your workplace? If you can point out core specifics that make you happy about your job, you’re most likely satisfied with it. However, your current career isn’t right for you if you:
1. You Can't Make a Living Out of It
The whole point of working is to earn an honest living that allows you to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Some people work for passion alone but these are people who already have money. If you don’t have a stash of cash somewhere, you shouldn’t continue working for free. This doesn’t mean you should not do free internships when you have a goal to reach. When you’re done with that, you should search for a job that pays you enough to earn an honest living.
2. You Don't Believe in the Company Values
Every company has values, goals, and objectives. Members of staff must align themselves with these goals if the company is to succeed. If the company goals and values are not in line with yours, you will always be mentally conflicted about the job. This will reduce your productivity significantly since you’ll not be giving it your best. You might indirectly do things to sabotage the firm.
3. You Always Say You Hate Your Job
Having a few bad days at work is expected but hate is a strong word. If you feel like you hate your job or you always wish you were doing something else, you might be on the wrong career path. People in the right career path are usually happy, joyful, and optimistic about their jobs. You can’t feel any of these things if you hate your job.
4. If You Were to Get Fired, You'll Only Miss the Money
When you’re working in a company just because of the money, you will not miss the job if you ever got fired. You’ll only miss the money. If the only thing you love about your job is the paycheck, you need to consider a career change. Working shouldn’t just be about the money. You should chase a career because it is your dream and everything about it makes you happy. When the career matters to you, you will feel chills at the thought of being fired. If you eventually lose your job, your next aim will be to find a new job in another office, not switch careers entirely.
Conclusion
Job satisfaction doesn’t just improve a company’s bottom line. It also helps you find purpose and fulfillment. Not everyone will be fortunate enough to land their dream job on the first try but this doesn’t mean that you should subject yourself to a lifetime of misery. If your current career isn’t satisfying, upgrade your skills, and look for a more fulfilling job that also pays the bills. You don’t need to quit your current job while upgrading your resume. There are many online learning opportunities you can explore in your field.
