What to Do if You Hate Your Job

If you’ve never experienced feelings of hatred for your job, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Most people have had times where they’ve asked themselves, “What am I doing here, and why am I doing this?” In fact, according to a global poll conducted by Gallup in 2019, a whopping 85 per cent of people hate their jobs. So, we should all just quit, right? Unfortunately, the reality is that it’s not quite that easy. In a highly competitive job market it’s not so easy to simply land another job. Plus, you still have to pay for the roof over your head and the food in your fridge.

This doesn’t mean you should make peace with the fact that you hate your job, or that you should flip your desk upside down and storm out while yelling dramatically, “I quit!” Instead, here’s what you should do when you hate your job, but getting out isn’t an option just yet.

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Identify the problem

Why do you hate your job? Are you undervalued for the work you do? Is your workload unmanageable? Do you have a boss or a co-worker who makes life difficult for you? Are you working with dated equipment or software that prevents you from doing your job efficiently? Or are you simply in the wrong job for your talents, interests and personality? These are all considerations to reflect upon, Patricia Thompson, PhD, tells the Huffington Post.

Be honest with yourself when trying to identify the problem. Once you know what the problem really is, it will be easier to find a solution.

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Know you’re not alone

No matter how dire the situation at work is, know that you’re not alone (remember that Gallup poll we mentioned earlier?). What’s causing your job depression is most probably one of the many real reasons women quit their jobs. For all you know, several of your co-workers may feel exactly the way you do. Realizing this will make you feel less isolated and despondent and may inspire you to find a support group for people in the same position as you.

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Speak up

Once you know why your job is making you unhappy, it’s time to speak up. If you don’t speak up, nobody will know that you need help. The trick, though, is to speak to the right person. If your workload is getting you down, for instance, the best person to speak to would be your supervisor.

If you’re constantly dealing with those things that are never OK to say to women in the workplace, speak to your HR person, who could then have a word with the guilty party. In some cases, your boss or your HR person may help you find a solution if your job isn't fitting right for you.

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Vent to the right people

Sometimes all you need to do to feel better about what’s making you unhappy is to vent about it. In fact, the emotional toll is one of the hidden side effects of hating your job, according to Monster.ca. However, venting to the wrong people can make things worse — be careful not to turn your woes into a gossiping situation at work. Don’t vent on social media. Find a trusted friend who will listen. They might offer insights you haven’t thought of. Even if they don’t, simply having voiced your frustrations rather than burying your feelings will help you feel less stressed.

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Consider your options

Before quitting your job, consider your options. If you know you’re destined for bigger things — like those celebs who used to work normal day jobs — make a list of goals that will get you there, as suggested in Forbes. If you love the work but can’t stand the company culture, going freelance may be an option. If your workload is overwhelming, see if there are ways to work more efficiently. You may even become a mentor to someone who will, over time, take on some of your responsibilities and lighten your load.

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Change your perspective

When you’re working at a job you hate, the last thing you want to hear is that you just need to stay positive. It’s a meaningless and, frankly, an unhelpful cliché. However, changing the way you look at your situation will definitely make a difference. Feeling that you’re simply biding your time can cause you to have a negative attitude, which won’t help you at all. Instead, see each workday as a chance to improve your skills and take on challenges, which will help you land that dream job some day soon. So jump on those online courses or company training opportunities to improve your skillset and refresh that resume.

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Do a great job

If you hate your job, it’s tempting to do the minimum required. However, if you put in the effort and do a great job, it will boost your confidence. At the same time, it will make you more marketable: you’ll have the leverage to ask for that raise or promotion and if you want to move on to another company, your boss won’t have an excuse not to give you a glowing reference.

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Improve your skills

Use any opportunity you can to improve your skills. Take on extra responsibilities. Actively look for creative solutions to problems. Take some easy courses that will look amazing on your resumé. The more you work at improving your skills, the better you’ll become at your job. And if you’re good at your job, you’ll be valued more: if not by your boss, then at least by headhunters for other companies.

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Be a team player

Being Negative Nancy is not going to help you win friends and influence people in the workplace. Be careful about letting your job unhappiness influence your interactions with your co-workers. Instead, be supportive, go above and beyond to do your part and remain friendly. Using humour will help lighten the mood, too.

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Revamp your evening routine

Instead of going home at the end of the workday and continue steaming, find another way to unwind. There are surprising evening routines of millionaires that you can do too: unplugging, having a good workout, reading, meditation, and so on. These will help you relieve stress and prevent those negative thoughts from spiraling inside your head.