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By Ruoro Kairu
“Hi. My name is John. I’m not sure if I want to be working here in 2019. I really do not like my job, I look forward to leaving work and be anywhere else. And each morning, I get anxious about the fact that I have to go to work. Don’t get me wrong, I work in a decent place, but I just don’t think it’s for me. Should I quit and look for something I like, or should I hang in there since getting a job nowadays is pure agony?”
This message was recently sent to our inbox and I have been pondering on the best way to respond.
Dear John,
Being in a workplace you don’t enjoy can be a dreadful thing. Most of your active time is spent at work, so the bare minimum should be you tolerating your workplace.
Being in the wrong career is not an uncommon practice. According to Africa Check and various other statistic firms, there are seven million unemployed people in Kenya as of 2017. Out of this figure, 1.4 million have been actively looking for jobs. With such statistics in mind, it is only feasible to jump on the first opportunity you get.
However, when you are in the wrong career, there’s a tipping point where almost everything at work won’t make any sense.
Before proceeding, let me try to differentiate a job from a career. A job is basically an activity you do to earn money, it necessarily does not have to impact your working life or future. A career, on the other hand, is a series of twined opportunities that provide experience and fuel the direction your professional future takes.
I shall attempt to look at some of the crosscut signs that you are in a wrong career, and then segue into how you can remedy this.
1. You work hard, but the fruits of your labor don’t excite you
I have met people who are successful in their careers, but when you dig deeper, they are not excited by their achievements.
When you work hard for something, it should feel nice to see it bear fruits. If you’re disinterested when you surpass the targets that have been set, you could be in the wrong career.
When you’re on the right career track, you will enjoy every milestone you achieve. Moreover, you will set higher goals and look forward to achieving them.
2. You don’t feel like your strengths are utilized
When you are at work, you should utilize your key strengths. If you have great interpersonal skills, for instance, you should use most of your time interacting with clients or other workers. For such a person, being given technical tasks might not be the best use of their skills.
When you utilize your skills at work, you get to advance and hone them. This advances your experience and capabilities. Consequently, when you utilize your skills, you are more likely to advance in your career.
If your skills are not engaged at your workplace, they will slowly dim to be vestigial.
However, it is worthwhile to note we should always encourage being challenged at the workplace. When we are faced with new trials, they bring out new and possibly hidden strengths that we might not know we had and could even lead to the growth of new skills.
3. The industry ethics oppose your personal ones
Ethics are what guide us through our lives. They are different for everyone as every person has what they uphold and what they are appalled by.
If the ethics of your workplace or industry are against those of your own, you will have a hard time giving it your very best.
Quick Read >>> 4 Simple Telltale Signs To help You Spot Bad Career Advice
It is important to be in a career that helps you grow, and challenges you to achieve higher dreams. If you’re at a point where you feel you’re in the wrong career, you could use a career coach. A career coach will walk with you, help you in the areas you feel stuck, and guide you along the right career path for you. Email us today to see how we can help you get on the right career path.
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