In this job market more and more people are turning to alternate lines of work as a result of being laid off or the instability of their company. This led me to think about the types of jobs I would turn to. Well, truth be told…..if I were to lose my job I would take the first one that was offered to me in order to bring some form of income into my household BUT if I had my druthers I would be a bit choosier. So the question still remains – “What type of job would I be drawn to if I had my choosing?”
For this I sat and pondered for a bit. How to choose a career? Some people will tell you to list your talents and interests and find a job that has both. Interesting… While there are many things I am capable of doing that doesn’t necessarily mean I want to do them day in and day out. Sometimes an interest is simply a hobby that is best enjoyed periodically rather than daily. Then there are those things that I just wouldn’t do no matter how much you paid me.
Another thought crossed my mind – “What if my interests and talents combined do not exist in a career?” Well, I guess I could treat it as a niche market and start my own venture but maybe entrepreneurialism isn’t my cup of tea (I really don’t like tea but the saying fit). What am I to do? Still, I thought there must be something to this. Of course I want to do something I would enjoy but I don’t want to tire of it easily.
Another way to find what you enjoy is to list what you consider to be your stand out accomplishments or the things you are most proud of. Once this list is made look at each of them and jot down the tasks or types of action items required to complete the accomplishment. Again, look for commonalities in these action items. You may find that you truly like to work with your hands or problem solve or even work with groups of people. This could truly be an eye opener for you.
Still another way to determine your perfect job is to write down in diary style your absolute worst job including dress code, co-workers, tasks, office space, vacation time, work hours etc… and the exact opposite, by default, is your best job.
Well, well in doing all of these exercises I have found that I am truly a multi-passioned person. I like change, monotony is a slow and painful death for me. I also have a tendency to lose interest quicker than others so variety is key for me. I can not stand boredom so the freedom to do more than my typical responsibilities entail is important. I enjoy working alone as well with others, working with my hands, problem solving, crafting, creating, writing, organizing, learning and many other “action items” I was unaware of.
I am currently in a great job that allows me to fulfill many of my “action items” so I don’t intend on leaving BUT if I was forced to be on my merry way then I have a pretty good picture of what would be the best fit for me. Now it’s your turn….are you doing what works for you?
Showing posts with label Articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Articles. Show all posts
Top 3 Reasons People Hate Their Job
Career Burnout
You work hard for long hours that often times encroach on your evenings and weekends leaving you stressed and exhausted both physically and mentally. This happens so often that you have no time for a decent social life and forget about enjoying those hobbies you once looked forward to for peace and solace. You become short tempered with your co-workers and at the end of the day you come home and feel like kicking the cat for getting underfoot. Any achievements you do accomplish at work hold little meaning to you as the pressure is on to produce more in less time. You begin to dread going to work on Monday and it is only Saturday night. Can you relate to this?
Boredom
Your work is so monotonous you could do it in your sleep. Most of the day is spent completing tasks that are just shy of busy work. Your mind is far from challenged and there is nothing new for you to learn. Those sharp pencils in your pencil holder taunt you on a daily basis to jab them in your eye just so you can feel pain in order to be certain that you are still breathing.
Toxic Work Environment
The work atmosphere is so negative you get an attitude just walking through the front door. The people you work with are disrespectful and would sell you out the first chance they get just to move ahead. You avoid contact with most of your colleagues. Maybe you deal with discrimination or harassment but here you remain because you need a paycheck.
What can you do about it? For some it’s easier said than done to get another job so for those who need to hang in there a little longer until a move is possible I offer you the following:
To combat burnout take a vacation no matter how long it is. Two or three days could do wonders if you truly take a break from your job. That means no checking emails, answering calls from work or signing on just to “see” how everything is going in your absence. Another option that I strongly suggest is to prioritize and delegate where you can. Not everything is top priority and if additional manpower is needed to accomplish tasks then request it.
To alleviate boredom you can look for ways to create a new project that will compliment and improve your department. Many companies offer online training. Take advantage of these online classes to improve your knowledgebase and make your department more efficient or for nothing else enhance your skill set in order to move around in the company.
If you deal with a toxic work environment I am sorry to say that you can not change other people. What you can do is improve your own skills in order to move up or out. If you do not have an HR department or at least one that provides any type of relief I suggest taking a few mental health days to plot your escape plan and return with a different outlook. Take classes, if offered, through work or outside of work. Avoid the most toxic people in the office at all costs and if you must interact with them give them no ammunition to work with. Do your job thoroughly and professionally. Do not stoop to their level. If this does not get you noticed and out of the mine field then make your move towards the door.
You work hard for long hours that often times encroach on your evenings and weekends leaving you stressed and exhausted both physically and mentally. This happens so often that you have no time for a decent social life and forget about enjoying those hobbies you once looked forward to for peace and solace. You become short tempered with your co-workers and at the end of the day you come home and feel like kicking the cat for getting underfoot. Any achievements you do accomplish at work hold little meaning to you as the pressure is on to produce more in less time. You begin to dread going to work on Monday and it is only Saturday night. Can you relate to this?
Boredom
Your work is so monotonous you could do it in your sleep. Most of the day is spent completing tasks that are just shy of busy work. Your mind is far from challenged and there is nothing new for you to learn. Those sharp pencils in your pencil holder taunt you on a daily basis to jab them in your eye just so you can feel pain in order to be certain that you are still breathing.
Toxic Work Environment
The work atmosphere is so negative you get an attitude just walking through the front door. The people you work with are disrespectful and would sell you out the first chance they get just to move ahead. You avoid contact with most of your colleagues. Maybe you deal with discrimination or harassment but here you remain because you need a paycheck.
What can you do about it? For some it’s easier said than done to get another job so for those who need to hang in there a little longer until a move is possible I offer you the following:
To combat burnout take a vacation no matter how long it is. Two or three days could do wonders if you truly take a break from your job. That means no checking emails, answering calls from work or signing on just to “see” how everything is going in your absence. Another option that I strongly suggest is to prioritize and delegate where you can. Not everything is top priority and if additional manpower is needed to accomplish tasks then request it.
To alleviate boredom you can look for ways to create a new project that will compliment and improve your department. Many companies offer online training. Take advantage of these online classes to improve your knowledgebase and make your department more efficient or for nothing else enhance your skill set in order to move around in the company.
If you deal with a toxic work environment I am sorry to say that you can not change other people. What you can do is improve your own skills in order to move up or out. If you do not have an HR department or at least one that provides any type of relief I suggest taking a few mental health days to plot your escape plan and return with a different outlook. Take classes, if offered, through work or outside of work. Avoid the most toxic people in the office at all costs and if you must interact with them give them no ammunition to work with. Do your job thoroughly and professionally. Do not stoop to their level. If this does not get you noticed and out of the mine field then make your move towards the door.
Office Etiquette
There are no written rules in an office manual that states the social code that governs interaction and communication with co-workers and colleagues but there should be. Usually common sense and manners will take you far but I find that many people simply do not have either. For this reason I will share with you a handful that I find to be top on the list. While the list for office etiquette is endless, if you start with these you should do ok.
Do not send your co-workers chain emails. Just because you need to forward something to 8 friends in order to receive 3 years of good luck and you only have 2 friends does not mean you can use your co-workers email address to fill the void. It is annoying so stop it.
Do not take credit for someone else’s work. If you collaborated on a project with colleagues, acknowledge their contribution. If you practice being a glory hog at the office I can guarantee you that the next time there is a project that needs to be complete you will be out of luck finding assistance of any kind.
Do not clip your nails, pass gas, or pick your nose, ears or any other orifice in the presence of your co-workers. It is simply gross. And for goodness sake – blow your nose! There is nothing worse than listening to someone sniffle snot all day. I can’t believe I had to include this one but you would be amazed at the number of people who do this. I must add that even if you are not in the direct presence of your co-workers these activities should be left to your own bathroom. Office walls are not soundproof – we can hear you!
Please set your cell phone to vibrate. Nobody wants to hear “Mambo No. 5” or your son’s annoying whine for you to answer your phone set as a ring tone during a meeting or from their cube neighbor. It is also rude to answer a cell phone during a meeting or to look to see who has called if you set it to vibrate. Wait until after the meeting to check it. You’ll live.
If you work in a cubical do not put your phone on speaker. Your office mates don’t want to hear your conversations. While I am at it lower your voice, it carries. They are both distracting and annoying, again - stop it.
This last bit of office conduct is by no means any less important than those previously noted, it just happens to be the last one in this post - Answering other people’s phone conversations that you were not part of in the first place - “I heard you talking to Steve about ______ and I think…” Look, if your opinion is desired you would be asked for it but listening in and then trying to give your unrequested point of view is rude and grating.
Remember if you are polite, have common consideration for others and leave your disgusting habits home you will do just fine in the workplace.
Do not send your co-workers chain emails. Just because you need to forward something to 8 friends in order to receive 3 years of good luck and you only have 2 friends does not mean you can use your co-workers email address to fill the void. It is annoying so stop it.
Do not take credit for someone else’s work. If you collaborated on a project with colleagues, acknowledge their contribution. If you practice being a glory hog at the office I can guarantee you that the next time there is a project that needs to be complete you will be out of luck finding assistance of any kind.
Do not clip your nails, pass gas, or pick your nose, ears or any other orifice in the presence of your co-workers. It is simply gross. And for goodness sake – blow your nose! There is nothing worse than listening to someone sniffle snot all day. I can’t believe I had to include this one but you would be amazed at the number of people who do this. I must add that even if you are not in the direct presence of your co-workers these activities should be left to your own bathroom. Office walls are not soundproof – we can hear you!
Please set your cell phone to vibrate. Nobody wants to hear “Mambo No. 5” or your son’s annoying whine for you to answer your phone set as a ring tone during a meeting or from their cube neighbor. It is also rude to answer a cell phone during a meeting or to look to see who has called if you set it to vibrate. Wait until after the meeting to check it. You’ll live.
If you work in a cubical do not put your phone on speaker. Your office mates don’t want to hear your conversations. While I am at it lower your voice, it carries. They are both distracting and annoying, again - stop it.
This last bit of office conduct is by no means any less important than those previously noted, it just happens to be the last one in this post - Answering other people’s phone conversations that you were not part of in the first place - “I heard you talking to Steve about ______ and I think…” Look, if your opinion is desired you would be asked for it but listening in and then trying to give your unrequested point of view is rude and grating.
Remember if you are polite, have common consideration for others and leave your disgusting habits home you will do just fine in the workplace.
The Healthcare Industry – Recession Proof?
I have read articles and heard talk that the healthcare industry is the only safe haven when it comes to a recession. I am guilty of believing this to be true until I did a little research of my own. If you think about it, it seems plausible that it is indeed recession proof. Just because money gets tight it doesn’t mean that people stop getting sick, needing routine boosters, pediatric checkups, having babies, getting cavities taken care of or having much needed surgery. So why did I change my position? After reading many articles to both claims I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that nothing is recession proof. Here are some thoughts as to why it is just as likely to be hit during a recession:
1. When money gets tight the first thing to go are “extras” and while a life saving heart surgery is not sacrificed the elective surgeries are. Cosmetic surgery is sure to get hit heavy with people putting off that much desired perky nose or pouty lip look until they are able to afford it.
2. With more people losing their jobs and healthcare coverage more families are applying for Medicaid and other government assisted health care options. While this is a great help to those in need, I have read a number of articles from many sources that reflect the same assertion: public healthcare programs usually pay hospitals much less than the hospital has billed. There is no negotiation for fees like there are with insurance companies. The government sets the fee they will pay – no negotiation - and the monies paid, in many cases, do not cover the actual cost.
3. For those who still have healthcare through their employer they may now have to pay higher deductibles and co-pays as companies try to save money by sharing the cost for healthcare. This may lead to the delay of routine care. People may skip a check up or dental cleaning in order to pay for groceries.
To wrap things up, while there is still a need for healthcare when times are tough, the healthcare industry is not recession proof. There is definitely a decline in routine and elective care as well as a loss that will be reflected on the books of many hospitals and doctor offices due to non negotiated payments that do not cover operating expenses. Without income generated to pay operating expenses things will need to be cut. It’s just the way it is.
1. When money gets tight the first thing to go are “extras” and while a life saving heart surgery is not sacrificed the elective surgeries are. Cosmetic surgery is sure to get hit heavy with people putting off that much desired perky nose or pouty lip look until they are able to afford it.
2. With more people losing their jobs and healthcare coverage more families are applying for Medicaid and other government assisted health care options. While this is a great help to those in need, I have read a number of articles from many sources that reflect the same assertion: public healthcare programs usually pay hospitals much less than the hospital has billed. There is no negotiation for fees like there are with insurance companies. The government sets the fee they will pay – no negotiation - and the monies paid, in many cases, do not cover the actual cost.
3. For those who still have healthcare through their employer they may now have to pay higher deductibles and co-pays as companies try to save money by sharing the cost for healthcare. This may lead to the delay of routine care. People may skip a check up or dental cleaning in order to pay for groceries.
To wrap things up, while there is still a need for healthcare when times are tough, the healthcare industry is not recession proof. There is definitely a decline in routine and elective care as well as a loss that will be reflected on the books of many hospitals and doctor offices due to non negotiated payments that do not cover operating expenses. Without income generated to pay operating expenses things will need to be cut. It’s just the way it is.
Career Myth - One True Calling
Today I would like to use this post to dispel the common career myth that everyone has one true calling. The myth states that everyone has one career path that is right for them and that their interests, talents, skills and personality traits are an infallible guide that will point them to this calling.
While this may be the case for some it is not for others. Take for example the person who as a child ate, drank and slept video games and as he grew fell in love with programming. He wrote his first game at the age of 15, acquired jobs with various gaming companies in his 20’s and now in his 40’s is programming more advanced games, is a guru to others and is still loving every minute of it. This is the way people believe the career life cycle is supposed to be.
Now let me paint a different picture and see if you can relate. As a child he found interest in many things. He even took a few career tests hoping to find what he was meant to do. When he did choose an interest to pursue whether it was from the result of a test or one he was suddenly drawn to he was excited at first but soon lost interest, decided he made a mistake. He then explored yet another interest just to have the same thing happen again. Bouncing from job to job he really didn’t get much satisfaction out of any of them. Now in his 40’s he is still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. Is he lazy? Does he have a short attention span? Does he have a problem with commitment? While it is possible that some people are just plain lazy and others fear commitment; chances are he is simply trying to wear a stereotype that is not one size fits all.
Well, I have a secret to share with you. There is more than one acceptable career model. The game programmer I mentioned earlier is a single-passion person while the second person is a multi-passion person. If you relate to the second scenario then you, my friend, are perfectly normal. You are simply wired to sample all that life has to offer guided by your ever-changing quest for knowledge and experience.
Multi-passion people can hold their heads up high and live fulfilled lives enjoying every interest they desire to pursue and make a great living at it. If you happen to be such a person check back with Careers to Consider, I will delve down into the concept of a multi-passion personality and outline just how you can create the career you were meant to have in a series of posts called The Multi-Passion Career Path.
While this may be the case for some it is not for others. Take for example the person who as a child ate, drank and slept video games and as he grew fell in love with programming. He wrote his first game at the age of 15, acquired jobs with various gaming companies in his 20’s and now in his 40’s is programming more advanced games, is a guru to others and is still loving every minute of it. This is the way people believe the career life cycle is supposed to be.
Now let me paint a different picture and see if you can relate. As a child he found interest in many things. He even took a few career tests hoping to find what he was meant to do. When he did choose an interest to pursue whether it was from the result of a test or one he was suddenly drawn to he was excited at first but soon lost interest, decided he made a mistake. He then explored yet another interest just to have the same thing happen again. Bouncing from job to job he really didn’t get much satisfaction out of any of them. Now in his 40’s he is still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. Is he lazy? Does he have a short attention span? Does he have a problem with commitment? While it is possible that some people are just plain lazy and others fear commitment; chances are he is simply trying to wear a stereotype that is not one size fits all.
Well, I have a secret to share with you. There is more than one acceptable career model. The game programmer I mentioned earlier is a single-passion person while the second person is a multi-passion person. If you relate to the second scenario then you, my friend, are perfectly normal. You are simply wired to sample all that life has to offer guided by your ever-changing quest for knowledge and experience.
Multi-passion people can hold their heads up high and live fulfilled lives enjoying every interest they desire to pursue and make a great living at it. If you happen to be such a person check back with Careers to Consider, I will delve down into the concept of a multi-passion personality and outline just how you can create the career you were meant to have in a series of posts called The Multi-Passion Career Path.
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