3 Steps Towards Fixing an Unhappy Career

Many people find themselves in a rut at work from time to time - that can be normal. Sometimes that rut is short-term. Sometimes we are unhappy in other areas of our life and blame work.

But sometimes, without a doubt, it is our career that is making us unhappy.

When I work with people who are miserable in their jobs, the first things we do is figure out WHY they are unhappy. To fix an unhappy career, you need to make sure to confirm there isn't something outside of work causing your misery and just manifesting itself at work (like an unhappy relationship, or stress about moving, children or those types of things).

I have found that people make the biggest career MISTAKES when they:

Leave their job too soon for something entirely different (i.e., corporate world to dog walker) because they don't stop to understand their emotional pains and reflect
Lack self confidence and don't take the time to recognize their strengths and value themselves
Don't take the time to actually understand why they are unhappy and plan an effective course for their careers

Once you confirm that there isn't anything else causing our unhappiness, you can focus on fixing your career.

By answering these 3 questions, you can figure out WHAT is causing the unhappiness and understand how to fix your unhappy career.

1. What are the things you LOVE about your company?

What we need to do, is determine if it is the company or the actual role or career you've chosen that is causing the unhappiness. So let's start with focusing on what makes you happy. Can you identify the things (tangible and intangible) at your company that make you happy? For example:

Do you like your coworkers?
Do you like your boss?
What about the hours? Pressure?
Do you like your clients or value your relationship with your customers?
Do you appreciate how you have been grown and developed or promoted within the firm? Do you think the company values your contributions?

If you find that most of your answers result in a negative response for intangible things - i.e., relationships or how you are valued - then you might just need a new company rather than an entirely new career.

But if you enjoy your coworkers, boss, or like the culture and feel you have been valued - AND ARE STILL UNHAPPY - then go to question 2.

2. What are the things you love about your job

Does it take you a long time to answer this question? Can you actually identify why you like your job? Do you still feel mentally challenged? Did you set out to change the world and feel like you can still do that?

Spend a lot of time on this exercise. Try and determine whether you actually like what you do. If you can, picture yourself doing similar work in a different environment or for a different company. Does that make you feel happier? Or do you feel as though doing that work - even for someone else - would still make you unhappy?

If you can't figure out anything you like about your actual job, it is probably time to reevaluate your career.

3. Figure out what you value what you would enjoy doing

This one is a little harder but if you decided that it isn't the company that is making you unhappy, and that your job is no longer rewarding, you now need to figure out how adjust your career path. You can work with a career counselor or complete career assessments. You can spend time talking with friends and mentors.

You can even make a list. List your strengths. List what you value in a company. List your skillsets. Eventually, the picture of a rewarding career will emerge.

What you want to try and figure out is this - what am I good at? what type of environment do I want to work in? and what careers can I pursue that leverage my talents?

The answer is not necessarily to go back to school or do something else entirely. Most of the time, it is only small tweaks that are necessary to have a rewarding career.

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