A new survey by The Conference Board just came out, and job satisfaction here in the U.S. is at an all-time low. Less than half, a mere 45%, of workers say that they are satisfied with their jobs. In 1987 when The Conference Board began their survey 61% of workers expressed job satisfaction. In the ensuing 22 years, what's happened?
Well, perhaps the number one factor is the continuing economic recession. While you might think that most people would be happy just to have a job, that's not the case. Because so many people have been laid off, downsized, or screwed (whatever euphemism you care to use), by there employers, there are even more under-employed workers than there are unemployed. The under-employed are doing jobs for which they are over-qualified, and which hold little challenge, and lower pay. Hence, rampant dissatisfaction.
In the inaugural 1987 survey, nearly 70% of those surveyed said that their work was interesting. This year, barely more than half, 51%, said they found work interesting. No interest = no happiness.
Furthermore all other measures of job satisfaction decreased both from 1987 levels. These include feeling secure in their job (59>47%), liking their co-workers (69>57%), satisfied with their commute (63>56%), and satisfied with their boss (60>51%).
The overall picture is grim -- about half the workers in America don't like what they spend most of their time doing! If you're one of those millions upon millions, what can you do about it?
1) Follow your passion. Don't like what you're doing? Find out what you do like. No, don't find what you "like," find what you love! What gets you completely jazzed? What makes your heart sing? Where does your energy want to go? I'm not saying that you should just walk in tomorrow and quit your job. Listen to the voice of experience: I've done the quit and run routine (numerous times), and it makes for sort of a bumpy landing! No, explore your passion, develop the skills necessary, and keep your eyes open for possibilities to turn passion into profit. I've done that, too, and it can make the transition amazingly smooth. When the time is right to make the leap, you'll know it. And your old, unsatisfying job will be just another line on your resume.
2) Gut it out. For a whole variety of reasons, leaving your job and following your passion may not be feasible right now. So, buck up, Skippy, and do what you need to do at work, and then concentrate the majority of your time and energy on making the rest of your life more fulfilling and exciting. Your job sucks, but your friends and family may be absolutely first rate. You may have a killer hobby (i.e. passion) that brings you untold hours of happiness. You may create an amazing, happy life in which your job is just a small dark corner. And while this may not be ideal, it may be the best you can do ... for now.
3) Be on a constant job hunt. If even strategy number two won't give you the temporary quality of life that you need, devote as much time as possible to finding your next, more fulfilling, job. Make it a game. The Great Freakin' Job Hunt Game! Brainstorm ways in which you can use your present job as a stepping stone to your next position, either inside or outside the company you work for now. Network incessantly. Read the classifieds everyday, search Internet job sites, talk with friends, join your college alumni association -- there are more ways to look for jobs than there are hours in the day. And remember: Reward yourself for incremental steps. Don't wait until you have the perfect position to celebrate -- find joy in every small accomplishment.
4) Make your current job better. Impossible, you say. Not really. If the work itself bores you to tears, can you do it in a new, more interesting way. If not, what else is there about your job that you can change to make yourself happier? Or, what is there about your job, besides the work itself, that you can gain satisfaction from. Can you develop true friendships with some of your co-workers? Can you maximize the perks, so that it softens the pain of the daily grind? Can you find the gallows humor in your grim situation? Can you steal enough pens to start an office supply business online?
5) Appreciate what you've got. Back to a happiness strategy that we've talked about on numerous occasions -- gratitude. At least you've got a job! And you're probably not cleaning turds out of toilets either. And no matter how crappy your job is, you don't have nearly the stress that President Obama has with his. And then look at the rest of your life. My bet is that you've got a lot to be thankful for. If you can't change it right now, accept it, appreciate it, and you will be in a much more powerful position to initiate positive change in the near future.
So, the bad news is that most people aren't satisfied with their work, don't like their jobs. The good news is that they don't have to wallow in dissatisfaction. In this crazy life, change is truly the only constant. And happiness always begins within, with the decision to change your mind, change your behavior, change your life.
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Are you one of the folks who can't stand their job? I currently have three openings in my life coaching practice, and your initial consultation is FREE! Just give me a call at 574/532-9288, or email me at DTEastman@aol.com to find out more.
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