- You can’t get going. You can’t get motivated. You can barely muster the energy to get out of bed and start your day. Why is this happening? You are in a stable relationship. You have a decent, even a good place to live. You have a car that runs – not the car you really want – but it runs. Your family is your family. But it’s OK. You have accepted your family, and take comfort there. What can be left that makes you feel you have 10 lb. weights for shoes? Why does it seem that there is little joy in your life? It may well be your job. If you relate to any of the description above, you might be prime for a Career Jump Start.
Let’s spend a little more time looking at you. To see if you might be a candidate for a Career Jump Start. You have finished your education or training. This might be an Associate degree, BA, BS, or technical training and certification. You are into your first or second job, or might even be well into your career. The important consideration here is that you have earned the tools to get your first job, and you have been around the block a couple times. You have been in the business world long enough to see that not all in life goes according to plan. You are coming to understand office politics. Whether this is in a business, government agency, or not for profit organization. You have been on the job long enough to know the important pieces to keeping your job. You understand it is important to make it to work every day – Monday through Friday, and you might even need to take some work home for the weekend. If there is a meeting you are invited to, you need to make the meeting. You understand that you need to be true to your word. If you commit to a deadline, you need to make that deadline if at all possible. You have come to see that some on your team will help you along the way. But you also see some are hoping you fail. And there is also some that are indifferent. In short, you are seasoned.
If you are in the description above, this does not necessarily mean you are candidate for a Jump Start. We need to take the next step and consider if you are happy. Emotions are real. More than this they tell the truth. If we are smart, we will use our emotions to give us guidance in our life. If you are generally unhappy, and feel it might be related to your job, or your career path – it most likely is. To give some more help in deciding, here is a list of statements to consider:- I dread Mondays
- I often wish that I were somewhere else when at work
- I often think I have chosen the wrong career
- I have 2 or more bad days in a common work week
- I feel discouraged in my job 2 days or more out of a typical work week
- I find that I day dream a lot when I'm at work
- In general I feel like I am not engaged in my job
- I have considered retiring early
- I find I watch the clock a lot at work
- Most days seem to drag at my job
Sometimes our job dissatisfaction is related to our organization, management or current boss. So, consider the list of statements below:- I have felt for a long time I don't get support from my Supervisor
- I have felt for a long time that I am not appreciated by my Management
- I often think I have chosen the wrong organization to work for
- I feel like I often have the minority opinion in Departments Meetings
- I feel discouraged with the direction my organization is headed
- I feel I cannot trust my boss
- I feel discouraged with the direction my department is headed
- I have little respect for my management
- I have felt for a long time I don't fit in with my department
- For the most part my opinions don't seem to matter at work
There is another group that is prime for a Career Jump Start. This is the individual that was recently separated from their job. You may have worked for an organization for more than a decade, or several decades, but expectantly, you were let go. You might be part of a larger lay off, or you might just have been singled out. In either case, you are in the hunt. But more than this, you can use this time to your advantage, and consider a change in direction, or occupation in your career. If this is your situation, don’t hesitate. Take advantage of the process of a Career Jump Start.
If you have been feeling your energy is low, and don’t think it is related to your relationships, including your family, or a medical condition, it may well be your job that is bringing you down. Dreading Mondays is a big red flag. As is watching the clock at work, and having more than 2 bad days a week. You are into your first, or second job, or you might even be well into your career – but you are just not happy. Listen to what you are feeling. Your emotions are real, and they might be telling you it is time for a change; time for a Career Jump Start. The best way to plan and execute a Career transition is with the help of a Career Coach, Career Consultant, or other professional. If this is not an option – stay tuned. More to come on this topic.
Author: Brian Kail, MBA, CPC is a Certified Career Coach, and Business Mentor. For more information see AscendProCoach.com
RSS Feed