Much like an old beloved pair of shorts, sometimes we outgrow things — even our jobs. Up until recently I was stuck in this rut, working here in London, England.
Although I have been working at temporary jobs through an agency, I found myself bored by 11 a.m. Sure, the jobs I held were stressful — I have worked as a legal secretary for four lawyers as well as a PA for a directorate. However, none of these positions interested me enough. After about four weeks, I would feel my brain turning into mush. So, how do you know if you’re at the point where you have outgrown your job?
“Time is precious in this fast-paced world, so take a minute to reflect on how you’ve spent your day at work recently,” suggests Jan Slater, career coach and co-author of Unlocking Your Career Potential.
“If you have transferred your energy on to topics unrelated to work, then you are either super efficient or bored.”
Slater says your job should be one or more of the following: financially rewarding, exciting and challenging, fulfilling, and a place to receive good training.
“You need to be happy and fulfilled at work or this will eventually impact on relationships and family,” Slater adds.
If you’ve outgrown your position, what now? There are many options available to you if you know what you’re looking for. Ask yourself what do you want to do? What job would satisfy you for the next five years? If you like the company you are working for, suggest moving to another department that interests you more. Talking to your superiors about more challenging positions shows you’re mature and motivated. Boredom tends to make one’s quality of work slip. Perhaps it’s worth taking a course to refine your skills and apply for related positions.
Whatever you choose to do, look for the opportunities that surround you. Today, I am working on projects that interest me and I enjoy. Work doesn’t always have to make you miserable on principle.
Kavita Gosyne, 26, is a vibrant young journalist. She writes about her transition from student to employee and the issues she faces such as office politics.
