Getting out of a job you hate

If you’re miserable at work, taking a postgraduate course could help you make the move into a career you can love. However, it’s important to be very sure about your reasons.

 

Being in a job you hate can be a very dispiriting and soul-destroying experience. However, you are not alone: many people find themselves in this situation at one time or another in their careers. The trick is to find your way out – as well as find the motivation to make that move out and into something else that suits you better. 

 

Identify the problem 

The first thing to do is analyse the situation and what exactly it is you hate about your job. 

Don’t blame others or be self-pitying: be objective. 

 

Think positively

Once you’ve identified the real source of the problem, the next thing to do is examine the positive things in your life.

 

Make a list of the things you do like about your sector of work, you job and your achievements (yes, there will be some). You may be able to use your existing career as a springboard to another  – think transferable skills.

 

Now consider the other skills you have learned as a result of working, ie life skills and soft skills: all the experience you have gained just by living, working and interacting with others.

 

Think about the things you enjoy outside of work. People always do best when working at something they like. Do you have a hobby or an interest that could hold the key to a future career?

 

Ask for help

If you’re not sure which is the right direction for you, you could contact the careers advisory service at your old university or a local careers service to ask for some advice. Having an objective ‘sounding board’ to bounce your ideas off can help to focus your thoughts and they are likely to be able to suggest some routes to investigate.

 

Talk to family, friends and those in fields of other employment to widen your knowledge of what might be available.

 

Retraining

If you like where you’re working – just not what you’re doing there – and you have an otherwise good relationship with your company, it may be possible to persuade them to help you (financially or with time off) to retrain while still employed – for example to enable you to move from accounting to human resources (HR). Larger companies have structured programmes to enable their employees to build their skills while on the job. Check with your supervisor or HR department to find out what’s available.

 

However, if you have come to the conclusion that you are in the wrong sector and need to get ‘back to basics’, then you need to research what courses are available. 

 

If you need to earn while you learn then you might consider a part-time course or perhaps distance learning. Even if you decide to take a different job while you study, part-time work may prove a more manageable solution.