How do you keep going in a job you hate?

micflair_2

Sorry, but there is some terrible advice in some of the replies here.

`Get a new job' and `leave your job' etc.. blah blah. Firstly, getting a new job is NOT as easy as it sounds as most of us know. Secondly, getting a job that you are going to wake up to rushing to get to work is nigh on impossible.

Make the most of the job you have, change your attitude towards your job. If anything the stress of changing jobs and working with new people and challenges appeals to me less than just trying to up my game in my current job. Its all about positive mindset and trying to make the most out of everyday at work by `playing the game'. Yes, its hard to get hold of this mentality but it isn't just going to appear one day, you will have to work hard at it.

Or.. you could just quit like some others have suggested. You could `focus on getting out' like a previous poster has mentioned, that will really help you out while you work. Your call.

sweetdaisy

jayII wrote: »

When I've been in this position, I've focussed on using all my free time to look for a new job. This allowed me to see the hated job as ''temporary'' and has made it much easier to cope on a day to day basis. I saw each day as 8 hours to get through and worked hard to make the time pass quicker. Avoiding getting caught up in office gossip and politics can help too

I agree. I was in a job like this over 7 years ago and it made me ill. In the end my health was suffering so I started looking for another job. As soon as I got it into my head that the job was a temporary measure until I found a new one, it became easier to deal with. I agree about not getting involved in office gossip and politics if you can - try and detached yourself if possible, however I know it is easier said than done :grouphug:.

Mojoworking

I was in a similar position and on a weeks notice and in the office alone alot with a boss who was very paranoid and just not a nice man who talked alot about a load of horrible things. Each week he would make me feel that I might not be there next week and I believe that he would've got rid of me within the first year so that I didn't have any rights. I gave it my all and nothing was right or good enough. Christmas came and I had a week off - I was a different, happier person. So on my return I applied for all the jobs going, signed up with every agency going and within the month had a long time temp job with an agency and a few interviews- one of which eventually became a job 2 months later.

When I gave my notice (which thankfully was a week) he gave me a big hug and said it was the best news he'd ever had!! Then he remembered he'd booked a long weekend away and said it wasn't convenient I needed to give 2 weeks notice! I stayed calm, apologised, reminded him of the big hug and the best news he'd had and thanked him for putting up with me!

I felt destroyed in the environment but I was lucky - but I didn't jump until I had a couple of months concrete temping so I could do the same thing from there. You only live once - now's not the best time to look but there is nothing stopping you from trying.

ktothema

I've been there. Its awful. But don't let it affect your health anymore. Your health is far more important than any job will me. Not that i'd advocate quitting without something to go to, but you really need to start looking. Is this attitude company wide? Is there a secondment you could go for?

The thing that got me out of my situation was getting pregnant. Not advocating that as advice btw, but it made me realise I didn't need that rubbish but also that the job was ending really soon! I ended up only lasting another 3 months in the role after finding out I was expecting before I got a secondment for the last 5 working months. Secondment really helped me realise I wasn't actually crazy and I was capable of doing a good job. Although even now that job has affected me so badly I'm terrified of making the smallest mistake.

Good luck.

Angelicdevil

Agree with several other posters, if it's affecting your health it's time to move on.

I realised my current work was starting to have a negative effect on me, I started to dread going in. To the point now where I'm always late (luckily they're relaxed about that stuff).

Sadly there's nowhere else for me to go in the company due to current recruitment freeze, so my only choice was to find another job.

I start in a month and I currently feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted from my shoulders, even though this job will be tough because it's a step up into all new stuff.

Go with your gut instinct. Keep looking out for other opportunities, they are out there and it's easier to find a job if you're already in one. Sad but true.

princessdon

My advice is this

"this is a positive reference that can lead to my better/dream job"

Think of it like that and you will be fine. It must be hard, I love my job (the part I am seconded to that is my main hours) and would do for free as a volunteer. I have tremendous respct for those that continue in jobs they don't like as opposed to draining the benefit system.

I wish you well in your job search for what you WILL find that is more suitable. People with your work ethic and determination will suceed in life of that I have no doubt.

dawyldthing

I'm in a bit of a similar situation. I do like the job, have been there 9 months now, but every week theres something that I am doing that is not right, someone is complaining about something or other and i've never had so many meetings in one job before.

The main things that are keeping me going are the people that I support, as they make the job and are mostly not the reason why all the bother is, as its often the staff and the hierachy that have the problems. The fact I have a roof over my head and family to kind of support. And that I can afford to go on holidays and trips that I wouldn't be able to afford. I've also done it so I barely had any holidays in the first part of the year so now I won't spend a whole month in work for the rest of the year (thats if i'm still there as still on an extended probation, but thats for another day)

shellyruby

LavenderLily wrote: »

Hello everyone

Firstly, I want to say that I am so grateful to have a job and do not intend to cause offence to those who are jobseeking.

It's just...I hate my job. I'm qualified for it, I'm capable of doing it, I get on well with nearly everyone there but the management is so rubbish it's making me dread going in! Everyone lives in fear of being pulled up on something because communication is terrible and policies change frequently without us knowing.

The boss is paranoid, he sees conspiracies where there are none, he flies of the handle at any tiny thing and everyone is fearful of him. It's a very tense, dog-eat-dog atmosphere and I hate it. My health has suffered in the year I've worked there and I'm now back on medication for depression.

I just wondered, there must be others like me that feel their lives are being sapped away by their jobs; how do they cope?

How do you keep going when you hate your job?

i so could have wriiten this..i think we must work at the same place lol.i am getting through mine thinking now im going to try to get qualifications for something i am interested in even if it takes years to do to get a job where feel am doing a job that helps people and makes a difference and gives some job satisfaction even if it takes me years and years to get there and the job market might be completey different by then but know i definalty cant leave until i have some qualficationa under my belt..can you do the same and qualify for something else that you are interested in.

teajug

micflair wrote: »

I used to be like this, went into work everyday dying for clocking off time.

But I realised it wasn't the way to go as it was doing my head in. Id goto work moaning all day, then come home moaning to the mrs all night.

You have to either find a job you will like (hard). Or change your mentality to your current job. Get into it, try and move on up in the company etc. Find interest in the job and be positive about it. Dont go into work defeated before you even start, its all about having the right attitude to it. I used to be a rebel at work, and rage against the machine whenever I could, all that it did was bring me down. Now I go in trying to think of the positives of my job and what I spend my pay on!

I know it sounds easy to say, but its all in the mind. Play the game at work with your boss and it will change your life around! I work in retail, which is a very demanding job so its not like I sit on my !!! all day.

I think Ill become a motivational speaker.. haha.

Retail is one of the worse places to work as your health will suffer. They have no regard for H&S and all that matters is making money for shareholders and CEO's and this is the same no matter how big the company. They do no cater for disabled people and if you do not do your job like able body person they will do their utmost to get rid of that disabled person, or the disabled people will have to leave because of too much demands placed on him or her.
I know this from a disabled member of my family that is working in what is suppose to be on the face of it is suppose to be a good retail company to work for, but nothing could be further from the truth,, it seems the better the image the company the worse they are to staff.
Hope you will be able to get out of retail soon for your health sake.:T

seven-day-weekend

itzmee wrote: »

My job made me feel like this, so for the sake of my sanity I reduced my hours and now work 4 days a week. I have Wednesday's off and it is great at the beginning of the week knowing that I get a break half-way through, and then on Thursday I know I only have another two days to go before the weekend;). I discussed this with DH to make him understand how I was feeling and he was ok with it, and more importantly our finances allowed it. I decided not to change my job as I am on decent pay, don't have too much of a commute and it's just the nature of the job that makes me unhappy, not the bosses. In the meantime I keep a look out on the internal vacancies for transfers. Maybe this could work for you?

This is a great idea if your employer will allow it, and you might find out your are not too worse off financially as there will be correspondingly less tax and NI to pay.