Hate Your Job? How to Survive It While Looking for a Better One
A person with a gold watch and blue nails with a head on a table and coffee cups in the foreground.
Are you part of the Great Detachment? I talk to many who either are “meh” about their work or actively detest it. This is not only Gen Z. Mid-career professionals also feel uninvested in the organization and work. This is not only individual contributors but many middle managers.
So what is going on?
With the Great Resignation, employees could leave and find another job fairly easily. Now, with the white-collar job market tight, many feel stuck in their jobs, wanting to go desperately but not finding other opportunities.
Thus, the Great Detachment. Professionals that are at work in body but not in spirit.
Is this you?
You know, eventually, you will find another opportunity. But what do you do in the meantime? How can you endure what seems unendurable?
I have some suggestions.
Why Workers Are Checking Out
Simply put, workers have expectations about their work and their environment that aren’t being met. Do you see any of these that are aligned with your situation?
Workplace Burnout: Are you being asked to do more with fewer resources and support? You are working more hours than ever, and you do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. You are drained, tired, and cranky, and your personal relationships may suffer.
Lack of Meaning: You honestly do not care about your work. You feel like a cog in a wheel; you do the work but are disconnected from its impact. Does anyone out there even care? Meaningful work is important, but are you really making a difference?
Toxic Workplace Cultures: Leadership that says one thing and does another, managers who are more concerned with time in the office than productivity, incivility, and a lack of empathy permeate where you work. Your hard work is unappreciated, and you feel disrespected. Why give you all and stay when you are treated so poorly?
Limited Career Progression: Many organizations have flattened due to layoffs. Middle management has been hollowed out. Opportunities for advancement are lacking. Even growth in other ways is limited, as resources are limited and interesting project work has been cut back.
Economic Uncertainty: You may be in survival mode, waiting for the other shoe to drop after layoffs in your organization. You are spending so much time listening to the latest gossip or situating yourself on the right political side that you feel you are spending more time on non-work activities out of necessity. You are not engaged with the work because you have so many other worries to attend to.
Assess the Situation: Is It Temporary or Time to Move On?
When you feel detached from your work and the organization, it may feel like the only solution is getting yourself out of there quickly. Yet, that may not be the right solution. Spend some time to assess what is going on with you and whether a change in scenery will improve your situation in the long run. Remember: it is never a good idea to flee a job; it is always better to go towards something that is a better fit. But what is that better fit? Assessing what is currently going on will help determine this.
Identifying the Root Cause: There may be a cause or a combination of reasons. Take some time to figure out what it is for you. Are your values being violated? Do you feel like your organization is going in the wrong direction? Is there too much work and no way for you to get ahead of it? It is even possible that it is not work that is the issue, but things going on in your personal life are spilling over into your work life. Spend some time understanding where the problem lies.
Temporary vs. Systematic Issues: You must figure out if this is a short-term issue that will improve over time or if it’s a permanent feeling that a job change will only fix. Is the organization making changes to shore up its finances that will get it on the right course? Do you have a challenging boss you feel is on the way out? Then, you might be able to weather the storm and find better times on the horizon. But if you have 'Sunday Scaries' each week, a feeling of dread or anxiety about the upcoming work week that starts on Sunday and has been going on for a long time, then the problem might not be fixable. It’s time to assess whether your current dissatisfaction can be managed in the short term or if it’s a sign that it’s time to move on.
Reflect on Long-Term Consequences: What are the consequences of staying or going? If you stay too long, this can impact your mental health, sap your confidence, injure your out-of-work relationships, and even impact your career progression. Staying, though, even short-term, can have benefits, like financial stability and potentially an easier time getting a new job (bias towards working people). Decide what is better for your situation.
Your Short-Term Survival Plan: Enduring An Ill-Fitting Job While Staying Put
A few years ago, we had the Great Resignation. Now, we have the Great Stay. Many workers who don’t like their jobs or work environment choose to stay temporarily.
Maybe now is not the right time personally to make a move.
Maybe your industry has seen layoffs, and the market is not good right now.
Maybe you anticipate a nice year-end bonus and are unwilling to give it up for a new job.
Maybe you fear that the work will be less interesting or you won’t have the necessary flexibility.
There could be many reasons why you feel it makes sense to stay. But staying will be tricky if you are not detached from your job. So, what can you do to make this time bearable? I have several suggestions.
Set Up Boundaries: Focus on having as positive a work environment as possible. That means establishing boundaries for the people you work with. You may not be able to establish boundaries for everything, but try your best to do so around things that are important to you. For instance, you could set a specific time to leave the office each day or decide not to answer work emails during your personal time. It can also be not volunteering to take on additional work. It could be declining to engage with toxic co-workers except in business-necessary situations. Do what you need to do to feel better about your work experience.
Practice Self-Care: Do what makes you feel better and recharge. Now is the time to double down on those activities and practices you know are good for you. If you like to meditate and have gotten out of the practice, do it. Schedule it into your day. If you like a nice walk, do it. Figure out when you can do it, put your walking shoes on, and get outside (or inside if the weather is bad). When food shopping, skip the chips and beer and instead learn how to make a dish you always wanted to try. Have you been avoiding your friends and family? Invite a loved one to a movie or take a friend to a sports game. This will help you manage the stress of a work environment no longer suited for you.
Mindset Matters: Instead of feeling stuck, know you are only in a holding pattern until you can move into a better opportunity. You are getting yourself mentally ready, like a boxer prepping for a fight. Don't focus on the negativity you are experiencing. It is what it is, and it is not going to change. To fight it is a losing battle. Instead, think of your current job as providing you with what you need right now—a steady paycheck and the time to find a new job while already having one.
Lean On Your Support Network: Don't forget friends and family. They can be a great support if you open up to them about what is happening. Many have been in the same situation, so they can empathize with what you are feeling. Don't isolate yourself. You need your cheering section to provide support now as you endure days where you can only think about getting out of there.
This Won’t Last Forever
I remember being in an awful organization. I was undergoing cancer treatments, but I needed to keep it quiet because the ownership might have fired me, knowing that my treatments likely would increase their medical benefit costs. Now, you can’t get more toxic than that. So, I focused on my treatments and making sure I was doing all I could—mind, body, and soul—to be healthy. I also promised myself that I would start looking as soon as my treatments were over.
I rang the last treatment celebratory bell over Memorial Day weekend, and by September, I had started a new job.
During this time, my mother kept repeating the phrase, “This, too, shall pass.”
And she is and was right. My situation did change. And so will yours, too!
Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.