I Hate Your Job

There are three responses to hating a job: keep hating it, change the job, or change your attitude. I spend a lot of time focusing on the “change your job” option because I think that it is usually the best, most practical option.

That being said, stirring up discontentment and trying to draw attention to how much better things could be with a better fitting job (a big part of this site’s approach) sometimes fails to generate action. Instead, there are some people who, for whatever reason, cannot make a change due to self-imposed or external conditions. It might be fear, finances, responsibilities, laziness, timing, uncertainty, or any number of other factors.

For those people, it’s important to take what steps you can to avoid stewing in your dissatisfaction. It does no good to continue to get worked up about your boss, your company, your role, or your paycheck if you don’t ultimately use that energy to make a change.

Now, I cover this approach from time to time as well. There are tips and tricks on how to enjoy work more that don’t require anything as radical as changing companies or careers. What I would like to see more of is a dedication to one approach or the other for each individual as is appropriate for his or her circumstances.

If you’re going to complain, take action. If you’re not going to take action, don’t complain.

What do you think? I know that I’ve been just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to complaining without taking action, so I don’t mean to come across as judgmental. It’s simply a matter of making your life as enjoyable as possible while at work, one way or the other (but not both).

A Bit of Background

I started this blog back in June, so we’re coming up on the anniversary of the launch. At that time, I’d just left a job that was a bad fit for me, and I wanted to do what I could to help others stuck in a similar situation find a way to enjoy work more. I met an interesting guy with an innovative approach to career assessments, and with a shared passion for helping match people to the right job, we teamed up.

I started the blog to lay a foundation for that business, but it quickly became clear that I was enjoying running this site for its own sake and that some readers felt the same way. Eventually, we decided to part ways as friends, but I had really taken to the site I’d built, the cause of enjoying work more, and the readers and bloggers I’d gotten to know.

Before I knew it, this site had helped me get a few professional writing engagements locally (copywriting, not stuff like I write here), and encouraged by those modest successes, I started entertaining the idea of going back to school, getting a PhD, and eventually teaching and writing for a living as an academic.

AWOL: A Winter Off-Line

It was at this point, in November, that I let things slide. Believe it or not, blogs can take a lot of time, and I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed. With working a couple of part time jobs, studying, exploring doctoral programs, and trying to be a good husband, the time I was spending on blogging seemed to be disconnected from my new direction. At the same time, it didn’t seem right to announce an end to the site as I never made a conscious decision either way. I just let it slide, unintentionally at first and then accepting that as a choice by default, even if a choice I was unhappy with.
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First Impressions

The first day on the job is huge. It’s the first impression you’ll make on your co-workers, your boss will be looking to see how you are settling in, and you will be trying to get a better feel for what you’ve gotten yourself into.

Instead of haphazardly juggling paperwork, introductions, and your nerves, these 10 steps will help you keep a good sense of perspective and focus as you take on the new world that is your workplace.

1. Relax: It’s natural to be somewhat uptight on your first day. You’re in a new place, meeting new people, and feeling out a new set of responsibilities. While being excited is good, you don’t want to be uncomfortable and you don’t want to come across as uncomfortable either. Reminding yourself to relax during the day will help you as you meet new people and process your new environment and responsibilities.
2. Listen well: Make sure that you are doing your best to actually receive the information people are sharing with you. As simple as this one sounds, when everything and everyone around you is new, it can be distracting. Take notes and ask questions if needed to ensure that you’re really absorbing what’s being said. Even though some parts of the on-boarding process are dull (dental plans and fire exits), you’re better off erring on the side of attentiveness.
3. Focus on your first opportunity to show your value: While the day is probably full of introductions and orientation, you will soon have your first opportunity to demonstrate your worth to the organization. If you have a meeting with the big boss, for example, make sure you prepare for it. While you could get away with walking into a meeting cold on your first day, if you take it as an opportunity to shine, you will make an excellent first impression on the job.
4. Take care of the paperwork and hoops-jumping quickly and completely: You will almost certainly have paperwork, and you will probably have to set up your email, get a new phone, get a laptop, and set up your voice mail as well. Go ahead and take care of these chores, and if you follow instructions carefully and treat everyone involved with respect, you’ll make a good impression there as well. Remember, you have been hired to take care of work for the company without being a problem. Many employees fail to do these simple administrative tasks excellently, and as a result, become a problem for someone somewhere in the company. It’s simple and stupid, so just take care of it.
5. Get up to speed on the workings of the company: Really study the training and/or marketing materials you are given. As people tell you about the company, the department, the clients, and the bosses, take some mental notes and maybe some physical notes as well. Again, you were brought on to do work and not be a problem. The less time you spend as a newbie, the better.
6. Compile a contacts list: When you’re given a name and number, put it in a word document. When you meet someone new, make a note of it on that same document. You’ll remember names more easily, and you won’t have sticky notes all over your desk. When you get in Outlook and you can look up everyone’s info, you can get rid of this document, but in the meantime, this will help you feel less dependent.
7. Don’t ask too many questions; trust the on-boarding process: If you’re eager to learn, it can be tempting to ask a lot of tangential questions. You’ve got enough to worry about for now by just taking what they are giving you. If something is unclear or if they ask if you have any questions, feel free to ask questions. Just be careful not to press for extra information as that can be taxing and even annoying. Make a list of your questions as they come up, and if at the end of the training, those questions haven’t been answered, you can pick a good time to ask the right people.
8. Demonstrate proactivity in your area of expertise when you have downtime: Many companies have informal on-boarding processes and limited staff available for training. You may find yourself at a computer or at your desk with little to do from time to time. Take this opportunity to do something productive. Begin to flesh out an idea, make an outline, work on your sales pitch, sketch some designs–whatever you’ve been hired to bring to the company, start doing your homework to make that a reality. Don’t make a show of it, just quietly use your time to get a head start.
9. Capture ideas for improving the company, just don’t share them yet: In your enthusiasm to make a good impression, you may want to share all of your great ideas with your boss or co-worker. Don’t be so quick to tell everyone what you think could be done differently, even if those great ideas are the reason you were hired. There will come a time for suggesting change, but it is usually a good idea to mostly just observe for a while. You never know which hastily offered suggestion for “improvement” will make you look foolish for misunderstanding the situation or offend someone who created the existing way of doing things. Do write your ideas down, though, as your fresh perspective will be likely to see things differently. Those ideas will be good later.
10. Socialize when socialized with but not before then: When someone settles near your workspace or when you meet them eye to eye, go ahead and introduce yourself. You’re the new kid on the block, and taking the initiative helps people who may be wondering whether you are a vendor, a contractor, or a new employee. That being said, extended chit-chat is something you should respond to but not initiate. You don’t yet understand the culture of the office, and you haven’t yet proved your worth. While you will want to break the ice and get to know your neighbors, a polite introduction will pave the way for them to dive deeper when they are ready to take a break. While it is your first day and you have relatively little to think about, there’s a good chance your co-workers are immersed in piles of work, and you don’t want to interrupt or distract.

A New Job Well Done

Focusing on these 10 points will help you take a sometimes overwhelming situation and break it down into simple actions for a good first day. At the end of the day, you will feel confident in the work you’ve done, the impression you’ve made, and the outlook for your new job.

IHateYourJob.com to Resume Production

The past months have been full of arduous negotiation between the writing staff, the editorial staff, and the ownership of this site.* Fortunately, all stakeholders have finally come to terms, and the team will begin posting additional content in the coming days.

Concerns over the impact on the site’s readership prolonged discussions as to whether or not to even resume production or to simply disband. It was agreed, however, that while a portion of the readership may be turned off and lost by the hiatus, the overall audience would still be appreciative of resumed content.

Finally, the staff of IHYJ wishes to collectively express its regret at abandoning the project for so long and looks forward to restoring the confidence of its readers. Additional details to come later.

*These people are all in fact the same person; the site is fully owned and operated by me alone. A more serious explanation and apology will come later along with my future plans for the site. In all sincerity, I apologize for not accounting for my absence on the site sooner.

If you wanted to quit your job tomorrow, could you do it?

My friend David is in a job that he absolutely loathes. David is a smart, young guy who landed a pretty lucrative first job, yet now that he’s been working there for a year, he’s realized that he’s made some poor choices when it comes to his career and his finances, and he’s miserable.

At work, he’s bored by what he’s doing, and he gets chastised by his peers for “leaving early” because he doesn’t eat all three meals at the office. He’s realized that the work-life balance that he wants to strike is incompatible with what’s expected in his department, and he’s decided that he’s no longer willing to sacrifice certain leisures and freedoms for the benefit of more money.

So, like many people, he’d love to be able to leave his miserable, high-paying job to take a more personally rewarding job with a lower salary. I talk to him about it almost every day, and constantly, I remind him that he’s not alone. In fact, according to a report published by the Conference Board in February of this year, over 60% of American workers under the age of 25 are dissatisfied with their current jobs.

He wants to make a change, but you’ll recall above where I mentioned that David had become aware of some mistakes that he’s made. For one thing, when trying to pick out a job for himself, he had his eyes on the $$$ and not much else. He didn’t care that he didn’t find insurance all that interesting, and didn’t take the time to process what a 60 hour workweek would feel like.

He made some questionable budgeting decisions as well. David drives a relatively new Lexus and lives in an apartment in one of the nicest parts of Chicago. He also is without a rainy-day fund and has moths in his 401k. He’s driven his monthly expenses up too high for the next couple of years and has no savings. So now, though he wants to work in marketing, he’s obligated to maintain his income by something that makes him miserable.

There are ways for him to get out of this mess, and he’s working to that end. But that’s not the point. The point is, he has to face an uphill battle because he’s dug himself into a ditch, and he is just one example of countless people who are tied to jobs because of finances.

Especially if you’re just about to enter the workforce or start a new job, it just makes sense to keep your expenses in check and your savings in high-gear. That way, if you wake up one day so miserable about your job you want to jump off a cliff, you can just quit instead!

I mean, honestly, there comes a point where being able to walk away from a soul-sucking job to focus on a job search is the wise, healthy thing to do, and if can take steps to give yourself that option, why not don’t you?!

Of course, in the vast majority of cases, you should try to maintain your employment until you find something better and get the offer, but what if you’re fired? What if you reach a point where you’re just too miserable in your job to successfully conduct a job search?! What if you want to start your own business?

By keeping expenses under control and continually adding to your various types of savings, you are investing in your ability to survive a career change–voluntary or otherwise. And if you’ve ever known someone who wound up stuck in a truly heinous job, you understand the value of being able to get out of that situation on your own terms.

This is a repost from the beginning of September. Thanks to those of you who are serving our country in the military and to those who have done so in the past.

Do you know anyone that has served our country in the military?

An email I received yesterday from Anita Bruzzese brought my attention to a worthy cause.

Apparently, finding work after a tour in the military may not be as easy as it is for civilians.

Anita writes:

I recently spent nearly an hour talking to Caulfield, an articulate, passionate and committed guy who gave me a real earful about the pitiful state of affairs regarding employment for our veterans. Despite having served with honor and serving in some of the most dangerous parts of the world, these vets have a tougher time than other job seekers looking for work – those age 20-24 often have an unemployment rate two to three times higher than non-veterans of the same age group.

Our veterans are usually impressive people with a sense of pride and integrity that immediately distinguishes them from the candidate pool. Beyond that though, these are often highly trained individuals in the areas of leadership and problem-solving in addition to the abilities and interests they bring to the work world.

This organization is a strong effort to help match these noteworthy prospects to the corporate world’s needs by compensating for the unique challenges created by being otherwise occupied during the typical first years of a civilian career.

Hire a Hero focuses on helping vets connect with people locally who can help them get jobs. By allowing vets to post requests for help, and information about themselves, the site helps connect vets with hundreds of companies willing to employ those who have served. At the same time, the social networking aspect helps vets support each other during the difficult period of returning to civilian life and trying to find a job.

Take a moment to visit Hire a Hero.

It’s always tough to watch someone you love go through something difficult. If your spouse truly hates his or her job, you will want desperately to be able to help.

Here are some effective ideas for how to do just that.

1. Encourage them to make a change: It is easy to get in a rut with a bad job and to have mixed feelings about the need to get out. There will be self-doubt, confusion, and fear, but your job is to keep a level head, help address those concerns, and remind him or her that finding something else is, in fact, a good idea.
2. Help them focus on other thoughts: Work can be all-consuming when it’s miserable. Sunday nights become an extension of Monday morning and sleep becomes restless. An exercise goal, a hobby, spending time with friends, charitable work, reading for pleasure–you may have to insist that the person takes some time for other important activities rather than just vegetating in front of the TV.
3. Point them to constructive actions: When you’re inside of a bad situation, it can be tough to see the way out. Encourage them to think about their goals and dreams. Help them understand what they like and dislike about their current job, have them investigate other careers, and remind them to apply for other jobs.
4. Bear the burden when possible: Taking care of your spouse by assuming more responsibility than is expected of you can be a huge blessing to the weary worker. Whether it’s doing the laundry, watching the kids, balancing the checkbook, or working on a resume, they will feel loved and supported. They’ll also be able to breathe a bit easier since their workload will be reduced.
5. Be optimistic: Without ignoring reality, take a positive approach to your discussions with your spouse. When he or she feels doubtful, encourage them. When they complain, focus on positive action. When they are optimistic, agree with them. If there was ever a time to be an encourager, it is now.
6. Loving someone doesn’t mean being a doormat: You need to be something stronger than that. There will be times when your spouse wants to extend rest into laziness, fear into paralysis, or expression into whining and complaint. Your job is to be a supportive encourager. There are times when that means speaking up, and it is a privilege to be able to act in that role for someone in a time of need if you do it kindly.
7. At the same time, they don’t need another boss. Try to know when they really do need to just sit in front of the TV. Pushing them is not the same thing as encouraging them.

A bad job can put a strain on a marriage, but despite the increased tension, there is an opportunity to demonstrate love in a powerful way. Take the opportunity to be the giver, to love unconditionally, to motivate, and to encourage.

I love games, and a reader was kind enough to forward this one to me yesterday.

It’s called “Cubicle Freakout”, and I got a certain satisfaction from it. I’m easily amused, though, so don’t get your hopes up too high.

While it is safe for work, there is music and sound, so be aware of that. Give it a whirl, and drop a comment if you get a brag-worthy high score. I could only get 86% destruction.

Recently, I asked Dan Schawbel of personal branding fame some questions which I thought might be of interest to you, and he answered the call. Thanks, Dan!

1. What is personal branding? The process by which individuals differentiate themselves by identifying and articulating their unique value proposition to achieve a specific goal. This definition was developed through expert collaboration using a wiki.
2. How would you sum up your best personal branding advice in as few words as possible? Use social media as a career catalyst by clearly displaying your personal brand on a blog or other websites, generate a community around your ideas and focus on meeting others who share similiar interests. Networking is how we get from point A to point B in our careers, so meet new people, give first rather than receive and nurture the relationship to create everlasting opportunities.
3. What are your thoughts on deciding which version of your name to go with when you buy a domain or write an article? Is that a stupid question? For example, C.S . Lewis was known as Jack by his family, and his first name was Clive. He went by C.S. Lewis in print though. It depends what your comfort level is, but either way, as long as it is consistent and gives people enough of a realization of whom you are, then you are in good shape. When you choose your name, ensure that your email address, social networking aliases, avatar and biography information match that name. Try to stay away from nicknames such as “smartmarketer101″ and avatars of other people or objects.
4. Many of my readers are in one job but longing for a different one. How do you manage your brand when you want to transform what you do but haven’t yet? Everything stems from passion. Start a blog or website with something you are passionate about and network yourself into an opportunity that aligns with that passion. I was doing product marketing but my true passion lied in social media and personal branding, so I developed my brand online to illustrate that. Now I’m doing what I did outside of work, for work. Anyone can achieve this, but if no one knows what you enjoy or excel at, you will be stuck.
5. Can committing to a personal branding decision be helpful in motivating us toward change? It’s less change and more of a mindset. If you understand that branding for product and companies can be transferred into personal branding, then you will be more successful. The tactics the big brand names use still apply. Instead of change, focus on yourself, what value you can provide and how that value is attributed to your passion.
6. It seems like there should be a different branding strategy for a creative writer than for a lawer than for an entrepreneur. What are some key differences between how a creative, a professional, and an entrepreneur should go about building a brand? If you are creative, people are going to be looking for examples of your work, therefore you will have to incorporate a portfolio into your website. If you are an entrepreneur, you will be more idea centric, while if you are a professional, you will want to focus more on positioning yourself as an expert to the world.
7. What am I doing well and what am I doing poorly with my personal brand? Be honest… Chuck, I would break apart your “About” section into “Blog Info” and “Chuck Westbrook”. The most important part of a blog is connecting content and author. The fast we can find out who is writing it, the more we can grasp the content. You have a great blog title, graphics and a well thought out concept. 284 subscribers would probably agree. I think you should make a podcast at some point, so your readers can get a better picture of who you are and the personality/appearance behind the man.
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Traffic was disappointingly light on the way back from lunch, and I found myself back in the parking lot. I turned the car off, was still for a moment, then stepped outside.

I don’t want to be here. I looked at my feet, watching the motion of the ground as I walked toward the building. A scuff mark on my shoes. Cracks in the asphalt too. Some nice cars, some old cars–parked next to each other. The old ones were mostly dirty, and I realized that I wasn’t quite ready to go back inside yet.

I noticed a siren in the distance. Faint, loud, faint again. It occured to me that someone was probably having an emergency at that moment. A fire, a crime, a sickness.

In the past months, I’d almost forgotten about things like fire and crime.

The siren was gone, but my attention was now keen and cast outward. It was then that I noticed the perfect weather. It was blue and brisk. I could hear ducks and the wind. A leaf scattered on the asphalt very close to my shoes.

I felt peaceful and a tinge sad.

Eventually, I turned back to the building and started to walk again. Inside that building was a very small place. Within an hour, it would be my entire world again. My badge let me back inside.