A lot of people seem to think that it’s normal to hate your job, but it’s really not normal at all. There are plenty of people that love where they work, and they’re not shy about voicing that to anyone who will listen.
You’ve probably heard people talking about how awesome their jobs are, or the fun activities their doing for work. Who wouldn’t be envious of people who have jobs like that? Well, if you want that to be you, then the first thing you need to do is realize that your current job is not gonna cut it.
Here are three major red flags that you should never ignore about your job. If these apply to you, then it’s probably time to start sending out your resume.
1. You Dread Being There
It’s very strange that anyone would carry on working in a place they hate. If you wake up every morning dreading going to work, that’s a bad sign. If you sit down at your desk and start mentally counting down the minutes (or seconds) until you’re off work, that’s another bad sign.
Your job is something you have control of, so if you’re really miserable there, it’s up to you to take the necessary steps to find a new job. You don’t want your job to be this horrible place that you have to go for 8 hours every day. The longer you stay at a job you hate, the more time you’re wasting being unhappy.
2. No One Appreciates You
Everyone wants their hard work to be appreciated, but a lot of the time it goes unnoticed. When you work your ass off and get zero positive reinforcement from your managers, it can make you feel extremely under appreciated. Sometimes it can even make you give up and stop trying as hard if you know they’re not going to notice anyway.
Obviously your managers don’t have the time to pour over you and shower you with compliments, but a simple acknowledgement of your work can go a long way. When you feel appreciated, it makes you want to try harder to retain that good standing.
3. Zero Company Culture
Company culture or lack thereof can make or break the way you feel about your job. When a place has strong company culture, people are happy and excited to come to work because they know that the company cares about them. If your job has no company culture and people just show up to go through the motions until it’s time to go home, then you may want to rethink where you’re working.
It is so much more enjoyable when employees are friendly and relaxed and the company takes an interest in making sure there is a strong bond within the team. There aren’t set guidelines for creating company culture, but that’s actually the beauty of it. It can be tailored to different activities, perks, events, or anything that lends itself to the overall happiness of the employees.
Some companies let people bring pets to work, and others let employees take naps when they’re feeling drained. The e-commerce site Zappos has even become famous for their awesome culture and the ways in which they value their team members.
Make It Happen!
Obtaining a job you love is totally possible, but it does take a little bit of work. There’s a lot of trial and error, and it can be scary to leave a job that’s comfortable (even if you hate it). But it’s definitely worth stepping out of your comfort zone to find a company that values you as an individual. You should go to work each day feeling right at home and happy to be surrounded by like-minded people. Once you find a place like this, you’ll never look back.
Ashley Welter is a blogger from San Diego, CA. Like most of her articles, this piece was inspired by personal experience with the goal of helping others who may be in the same position.
