Posted by Maria Dimitrova

Read this if: You dread going to work but you don’t know what to do

Gain: Mental balance and a better job

Cost: Use of personal savings and requires some strength of character

It’s no secret that your job situation plays a significant role in determining your emotional and physical state. Thus, it is important not to underestimate the way you feel at work.

Heath Problems

People who hate their jobs:

• become fatigued more quickly
• have trouble in concentrating, which eventually shows in their performance
• show a decline in control over their abilities
• suffer from a high level of anxiety which can lead to muscle tension, tension headaches, stomach problems, loss of interest in social activities and reduced sex drive
• are irritable and take out their frustration on friends and family

Be Realistic about the Job Market

Few people have the courage, persistence and luck to attain their dream job. And during a recession it is even harder to pursue your ideal job because you need to be able to pay the bills and running out of money is a stressful and undesirable situation.

It’s getting harder to find new work. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics concluded in a report about the unemployment (May 2011) that the length of time it took for the jobless to be successful in their job search increased dramatically in the last few years – 11% of people were looking for work more than a year and only 34% looked less than 5 weeks. The median number of weeks unemployed doubled from 5 to 10 weeks.

Making the Decision: Be Proactive

Bearing this in mind, carefully consider some issues before taking the decision to resign. One of the most important is whether you have enough savings to cover your expenses several months ahead. Ideally, start a job search while you are still working at your present one. The most common mistake people make when they dislike their work is failing to start a job hunt in time.  One day they wake up with the clear realization that they have to resign as soon as possible because they can’t stand doing this job any more.

Avoid ending up in such a terrible situation by enhancing your level of self-awareness and eliminate the stress-causing elements in your job or if this proves impossible, start sending your resumes to other potential employers while you are still able to deal with the tension at the present job.

What happens if you have missed this moment and you have to quit without having secured a new job? Many people will say any job is better than no job. A study by the Australian National University in Canberra contradicts this belief as the researchers have found out that having a ‘bad’ job affects your well-being as negatively as having no job at all. The researchers describe the term “bad job” as “a job that’s not just badly paid but also overly demanding and stressful with little job security or control over what you do at work”. And if you have such a job, you could be worse off in terms of mental health than people who have no job at all.

Try to quit gracefully without any conflicts. Your complaints and resentment may be justified but most probably no one will be interested. It’s also unlikely that you will feel relieved after letting off steam. On the contrary, the conflict may drain you further, and burning bridges makes little sense.  When you resign, do it with dignity.

Dealing with Unemployment

It’s obvious that the question is not whether to leave a job you hate but how to do it so that you derive all the benefits from this decision (reduction in stress levels which will bring improvement in your health status, better social life and intimate relationship) at the lowest possible cost.

You may need to cut expenses back. Make a list of the things which you can make a compromise with. Good places to start are the entertainment budget and perhaps a gym membership. These activities can be done at home instead.

To take biggest advantage of your unemployment period Senior Columnist Taunee Besson, CMF,president of Career Dimensions, Inc. suggests:

• Rely on your family, friends, hobbies and volunteer work to provide you with a strong, positive identity. Continue to pursue other activities along with your job search.
• Spend no more than 40 hours a week looking for work. Avoid becoming a “searchaholoic,” devoting every waking moment to finding a new position, or feeling guilty when you don’t.
• Plan some structure into each day. Get up at a reasonable hour and start moving. Make calls, network, go to the library, send resumes and thank you notes, etc.
• If you find yourself worrying that no one will ever hire you, talk to a friend to regain your objectivity. Confronting catastrophic expectations can decrease their paralyzing effect.
• Recognize that every job search has its high and low points. Perseverance, a belief in yourself and a good support system will see you through the tough times

There will be some things which you will miss from your more affluent salaried lifestyle, but keep in focus the advantages of leaving the job you hated and the fact that it’s only temporary.

Further reading:

How to Avoid and Overcome a Burnout

Start a Successful Career as a Consultant

Be Well-prepared for a Job Interview

LinkedIn – An Opportunity for Professional Growth

How to Deal with Office Intrigues

Start a Successful Business Partnership

A Variety of Ideas for Online Jobs

Asking for a Raise