At some point in your adult life, you will find yourself stuck doing a job that you hate. Even if that job is in a career that you love, it may be necessary to move on before you risk burning out completely.
What are some tips that can help you escape from a bad job and get your career back on track in 2016?
Get Your Finances Together
The first thing that you need to do before you leave your job is make sure that you can afford to do so. You should get an overview of your expenses to determine how much you need to make each month to get by.
If you anticipate taking a pay cut to get a new job or plan on being out of work while you go back to school or for any reason during your job search, you may need to identify cuts that can be made to your budget.
Keep Your Job Search Quiet If Possible
If you can’t afford to leave your job until you find a new one, you may need to keep your job search quiet until you find a new position.
Be prepared to use personal days or hours to go to job interviews or other networking events without being questioned regarding your whereabouts.
Even if you are able to tell your boss about your job search, do not use company property to create, print or submit your resume as that is unprofessional.
Inform Your Network That You Want to Make a Move
While you may not want to tell your boss about an impending move, you should inform your network that you are looking for a new job if one becomes available.
You may also want to make new connections via social media or professional networking sites like LinkedIn. If you have a blog or any sort of web presence, make sure that it puts you in a positive light and showcases your abilities as a worker as well as someone who could be a good fit within an organization.
It is also a good idea to use social networks to talk to recruiters who may be able to put in a good word for you.
Remain Professional With Your Current Employer
Just because you hate your job doesn’t mean that you have the right to be anything but professional when dealing with your employer. Anything that you say or do today could harm your chances of getting a job in the future.
Someone you manage today could be a hiring manager tomorrow or be a reference for you going forward, which means that you will want to be on your best behavior.
If you do find a new job, make sure that you give your two-week notice and see it through before starting that new position.
If you hate your job, there is no reason why you can’t make a change. When done correctly, it can benefit you from a professional and personal standpoint.
However, if done incorrectly, it could harm your professional reputation and make it hard to remain financially secure. Therefore, make sure that you take the time to plan your move to ensure that it is in your long-term best interest.
Photo: andronicusmax / CC 2.0