I Hate Working in General – We all experienced at least once in our life to be in a job that we loathe. For some people, they can point out exactly the reason why they hate their job, but there are those people who didn’t know why they hate doing their jobs in the first place.
I Hate Working – Possible Reasons
There could be a wide array of reasons why one loathes one’s job. We listed down the possible reasons that could contribute to the dislike of one’s current role. You could hate a job for one reason, but it is possible to have multiple reasons to loathe one’s job.
- A Difficult Boss
This is a classic one. It is the most portrayed reason for the general dislike of a job in many films and fictional works. You probably have watched the immortal movie called The Devil Wears Prada. It is a story of a journalism graduate who applied as a personal assistant for a mean executive editor in a prestigious high-fashion magazine. The protagonist named Andrea, played by the talented Anne Hathaway, was disillusioned by the office’s toxic and materialistic culture and found herself questioning why she was letting her soul be crushed chasing for a job that she hates and a boss that doesn’t value her. Disillusioned by the sabotaging ways of the people she worked for in climbing up the corporate ladder, being surrounded by fake people, attending excessively luxurious parties, being forced to fit in thus sacrificing her true self, founding herself she is not herself anymore, she eventually realized that that job is not for anymore and eventually she quit.
The movie’s point is that even the meanest and hated boss is also a human, with flaws and sufferings. She realized that even though the world hates her boss too much, she eventually has seen her boss in her vulnerable times, like going through a divorce and the difficulty of running a successful company. So, if you have a high maintenance boss and have a harsh way of managing people, think about the amount of stress they might have been experiencing. They are just doing their job. My advice is don’t take it. Personally, you might be too sensitive to feel affected by your boss’s behavior. But if you think that your boss’s behavior and attitude are unjustifiable or inhumane, then it is time to call it quits.
- Unfriendly Coworkers
If you find yourself working with unfriendly peers, you need to know that it is prevalent, and you have all the right to feel concerned. An organization needs to have harmonious cooperation between members to be successful. Establishing a good rapport with your co-workers is important because everyday work would be challenging and stressful if it doesn’t. If there is a lack of communication between members of a company, then it will interfere with the operation of the services of the company and will lead to a decrease in productivity. Be the one who initiates healthy communication. If you did everything you could to establish a rapport, but it still doesn’t work, then it’s time to move on to somewhere where your efforts are appreciated.
- Unreasonable Workload
Another common reason why most people quit their job is the unreasonable workload. If you are in a role where you are given a responsibility meant to be done by three people at a given time with low compensation, you are underpaid and have an unreasonable workload. Sometimes, greedy company owners give responsibilities that are meant to be for two to three people to a single employee to cut on costs while not sacrificing production. This is a common scenario in startup companies where they can’t afford to pay for many employees but still expect an established company’s production capability. The employees then suffer shouldering an unreasonable workload but being paid inadequately.
- Being Forced To Do Things Outside The Job Description
This is also not a surprise, and many stories in ex-employee forums about their complaints about being forced to do tasks that are not discussed in their job description. Of course, it is justifiable if you are cross-trained for tasks if there’s an overlap among teams in a certain department. It ensures that the operation will run smoothly just in case someone in the team will suddenly resign or be terminated. It will take a while before someone is hired for the replacement, so it is better than someone to take over the workload in the meantime. Still, if you think that you are being forced to do things outside your job description, then it is time to rethink your current position.
- Toxic Office Culture And Office Politics
Many employees have also experienced this in their work, and it is also one reason many employees leave. If you are in a highly competitive work environment and it seems like every little thing is stressful, this job might not be for you. Among other things like an established toxic culture within the company that are way below the line that usually benefits the senior management is too much to stomach for one to stick around. Another one is corrupt office politics that could crush the souls of righteous employees who only long for a fair and harmonious office environment. If the people you respect started to leave the company, you might realize that there is something wrong going on under the table.
- Low Compensation
A really low payout is one of the reasons people quit their jobs to find something better. In this modern world where the cost of living is too high for one to meet, a low salary is not enough. It has long been established that the salary you earn should equate with your skills and experience. Of course, an employee with a below-average skill and short experience rarely receives high pay. It could be possible in some companies if they are generous enough. If you find yourself earning a really low salary against your at par skills and impressive work experience, then it is time to move on.
- Harsh Working Conditions
This is not a very common reason, but still, there are cases of people leaving because of harsh working conditions. These scenarios usually occur in field jobs and less likely in office jobs where the environment is typically secure. If you are working in an office space where the management neglect to address these conditions like unsanitary or poorly-ventilated office space, interior spaces that are dangerous to the health, and office spaces that are near too loud, hazardous, or dangerous, then you might rethink staying there for long.
- Few Benefits
It is one of the reasons that might force people to quit their jobs. In job hiring posts, good benefits attract candidates to apply for the role other than the job description and the salary. If you happen to be in a position with very few employment benefits, you will not maximize your time and effort.
- No Career Growth
We work because aside from the compensation and benefits, we want to improve our skills and gain experience to excel in our field and get promoted to a higher position. If you are doing the same things repeatedly in seven years and are still in the same position, you are not advancing in your career in that company. If you are eyeing a promotion for a year and your boss is teasing you for it even if you are working hard and doing your best but refuse to give it to you and give it to someone else, then it is time to rethink your future career in that company.
- Doing Something You Are Not Passionate About
OK, this is another common reason why people quit their jobs. As a kid, we all have grander dreams of what job we want to be when we become adults, but as soon as we grow older, we become more grounded and realistic with our choice of careers. Being passionate about a job is different. You might be working in a high-paying job but loathes everything that you do. If you suddenly wake up one day and question yourself, “what the hell am I doing in this job?” then you are in the wrong place, and you might feel that you should be doing something else.
Why Do I Feel That I Hate Working?
Aside from the constant external factors, there might be an internal issue contributing to why you hate your job so much. It is important to determine these factors to help you understand yourself better and help develop the right course of action for your situation.
- Lack Of Empathy, Need For Acceptance Or Validation
We all long to appreciate our efforts and seek recognition and validation from our superiors and peers. These feelings stem from our childhood when as a child when we do something good, we are rewarded by our parents, and when we do something bad, we are subject to punishment. The need to seek validation from others extends even in adulthood, particularly in the workplace. We tend to secretly long for appreciation in accomplishing our tasks in our jobs, and when they do, we feel blissfully productive and accomplished. However, when these needs are not met, when our efforts are not appreciated, we tend to feel unmotivated in our job, which leads to hate our job.
- Personal Issues
We are taught that we shouldn’t bring our issues into our jobs because it is not professional. Sometimes, underlying personal issues affect our productivity in our job. These issues seep slowly into our daily engagement in work in the form of distractions. Subconsciously, a person experiencing a great deal of distress has a distracted mind. Unsettled problems at home or underlying attitude issues affect productivity in the job. That is why one should set aside these problems because when personal issues clash with work problems is a recipe for disaster.
- Feelings Of Inadequacy
Sometimes, we feel we are not enough in our role, and we may feel we shouldn’t do what we do. Feelings of inadequacy is a normal feeling, and we all experienced this at least a few times in our lives. We should at least pursue to fill the void in each area of our lives to experience fulfillment and balance. Learning more skills and practicing more increase our self-confidence hence decrease our feelings of inadequacy.
- Conflicting Values
Have you ever heard that each company has core values that they promote and at the center of their company culture and reflect its members’ company values? Each company has its core values, and sometimes they list them on their company profile like virtues of honesty, integrity, obedience, hard work, etc. Did you know that you have the core values that are important to you and reflect your thoughts, actions, and behavior? Conflict happens when the company’s core values don’t match with your own. One example goes like this. If the company values tradition and convention but personally value freedom and change, you might be in the wrong place. You must be in alignment with the values of your company to work harmoniously.
Before You Quit Your Job
If you had enough of everything and are considering leaving your dead-end job then you should prepare and make a list of factors to consider before jumping into action.
- Consider the Financial Aspect
If you are thinking about quitting, you might consider the financial aspects of suddenly leaving your stable job. Ensure you have a side income source to fulfill the financial gap between your old job and your new job. Before you make a final decision, you should list down the pros and cons of leaving your current job. If you find a job that you think pays better than your current company, it is worth trying. Make sure, though, that you have a plan B just in case you have a fallback.
- Make The Transition Smooth
Another thing to consider is the transition from your current job to your new job. Make an official notice to your current manager about your desire to leave. Fulfill the requirements before leaving, make sure you don’t have a bad record or an unfinished business. Return the company properties such as laptop, phone, or other office supplies you are using in your job and make sure you fill out the clearance form and check the items for damage before returning them. Finish your remaining week or month of work and ensure that you don’t have unfinished work before you leave.
- Update Your Resume
Before you resign, make sure to update your resume and add additional details that you accumulated from your current jobs, like new skills, credentials, or training. It will help you to secure your next job and add to your self-confidence in job interviews. You should also update your LinkedIn profile of the additional details you might have missed. It will also help your connections, and future employers see your qualifications and land your new job.
- Save Your Work Samples and Compile Them Into A Portfolio
If you are working in a creative role, you should consider saving your work samples’ soft copy and compiling them into a portfolio. A portfolio is a compilation of an artist’s body of work that showcases his creative skills and style. Compiling your work also will show you how much you improved in the past few years and will give you solid information about your creative style. It would be best to create an online portfolio since many potential employers are transitioning from traditional hiring to online interviews.
- Do Not Badmouth Your Boss Or The Company
If you are considering leaving for negative reasons, you might think about not mentioning your critique to your co-workers or on social media. It will only make it worse for you to find your next job. Ensure that you don’t burn the bridge with your soon-to-be former boss and co-workers to have a smooth transition to your new job professionally. Arguing with your boss or co-worker not only hurts the person involved but can also hurt your career. Make sure that you leave your company officially and professionally.
- Learn About Separation Benefits
If you are planning to leave your company, you should consider knowing your ex-employee benefits. This is the time to read your employee manual for the possible benefits and pay you will receive after you resign. You can also feel free to ask your Human Resource staff about your benefits when you leave. This will help you financially to start the next step in your career. It’s better to ask about your government-mandated benefits and other monetary perks you will receive after working for quite some time in that company.
- Don’t Quit Without A Plan
It would be best if you also considered creating a solid map of your plans for your next job and career. List down your detailed plan for your career. A good plan gives you a sense of direction in your actions in applying for a new position. Before you quit, make sure you have a clear set of immediate goals that you want to accomplish after you leave, the more specific, the better. If you are considering a career change, make sure that the transition is smooth, it’s better if you already possess a few experiences or sample works related to your new career. It will help to give your future employers an idea of your qualifications.
- Make a Budget List
If you think that it will take a while to land on a new job and you don’t have a side hustle, you should consider creating a budget list of your expenses to accommodate the effects of unemployment. Cutting on your expenses and stretching your budget will help you cope with surviving the days that you don’t have a stable job. A budget list also gives you a clear view of your financial status and will give you a view of what you need and what is essential for the time being. Make time to consider finding a part-time job while you are still searching for a more stable job. It will help you with your financial needs.
- List Potential Employers
Make a list of the companies you want to apply for and search if the role you want to apply for is currently available. It would be best if you considered the salary, working hours, benefits, perks, workplace proximity, and career growth. When you are done in the list, narrow down your list into the job posts you are attuned to. After the job list, you should also list down your current skills and experience and match them with your job search qualifications. Search also about the application process and how long the duration it might take. Search about their ex-employees’ online reviews to give you a hint and tips of what it will be like working there. Contact one at a time and be patient.
What to Do If You Hate Your Job but Don’t Want to Resign?
If you still hate your job but didn’t want to consider quitting for various reasons, these are the things that you should do to ease up the problem that might give you a different perspective of your current job and renew your motivation.
- Communicate With Your Boss
Sometimes, communication is the key. If you are dealing with a difficult boss, you should consider setting up a private talk to communicate your problem. You might be surprised to learn about the truth in the situation, and both of you might come up with a solution to your situation. If the boss isn’t the problem, communicating with your boss also helps you see a different perspective from another person, and he or she might offer you a solution to your problem. Just think that your boss is a human too, they think and feel differently than ourselves, but the most important is to have open communication that can establish a sense of trust and respect.
- Do Something You Love While Working
If you hate the menial and boring tasks in your job, do that something you love while working. What I mean is that not every task that you do in your work is oppressive, right? There must be one or a few tasks that suck less, and you still enjoy. Shift your focus in that part of your job, and you might be surprised that the tasks you hate do not bother you anymore. We all experience getting sick of repetitive tasks from time to time. Still, if you learn to trick the mind into enjoying these tasks without breaking the consistency of your work’s quality, your work’s quality, you are a genius.
- Set Goals That Are In Your Control
If you are a perfectionist or have a high expectation in your job, it will only frustrate you if you pursue your unrealistic goals. You should set a more grounded goal that you can control rather than stress yourself with things you can’t control. A more realistic goal is also achievable, and it will give you a sense of satisfaction and self-confidence in doing another task. Setting realistic goals has many advantages. A solid map of your immediate goals gives a sense of direction to your job and will make your job easier if you think about it.
- Be Consistent
If you feel you are not a right fit in your job and feel inadequate, you should learn to be consistent in your productivity. Consistency also attracts a good impression in your employer and will give you extra credit in your work. Being consistent in your productivity improves the quality of your work and helps you also master your skillset. This will add points to your chances of getting promoted to a higher position to open many opportunities to your career. Being consistent also increases your sense of responsibility and will create more improvements in your character as a person.
- Help The Newbies
Your company might have newly-hired employees. It is also better to help them in their first work in your company. Orient them in the company culture and the daily tasks they will do in your team. Remember that you are a newbie before, and helping one will give you a sense of joy in doing an act of kindness.
- Learn As Much As Possible
Even if you are not considering resigning, you should also learn as much as possible while still working in your current role. This will not just improve your skills and working experience. It will also prepare you for more challenging roles in your next employment. In your daily work, give yourself the challenge to push yourself to a limit in learning about your job. It will sharpen your mind and increase your skillset, and it will give you a sense of self-confidence. In absorbing new information, you will also increase your knowledge about the fields in your current role.
- Find An Accountability Buddy
Finding an accountability buddy in your job increases your productivity and teaches you a sense of responsibility in finishing your tasks. Ask a coworker to monitor your progress and declare a punishment if you fail to do the task. This will help you push yourself to the limit, increase your potential to finish your job, and improve your work quality. Another benefit of an accountability buddy is finding a friend while doing your job when there is no workday, setting up a casual activity of fun with your co-workers while not talking about work. This will help you to get to know more about your co-workers.
- List Ideas To Make Your Job Easier
If you think that your job is boring and your tasks are not challenging, then list down the things that will improve your work system. This will not just make your job easier it will also increase your skill in thinking about creative solutions to your problems. If you are in a job with an outdated system of doing the work, please communicate the concern with your boss. Search for new ways of doing your work and suggest them in a department meeting. It will help you increase your chances of being promoted.
- Take A Break
If you are working in a highly competitive and stressful job, you might consider taking a break once in a while. Give yourself grace and let yourself rest from your highly stressful job. Ask for a vacation or leave to detach yourself for a while from your job and find peace and renewal. Just allow yourself to breathe fresh new air sometimes. Sometimes a new environment is all we need to be alive.
- Start A Gratitude Journal And Be Grateful You Have A Job
Start a gratitude journal about the things that you are thankful for in your life. This will give you a positive perspective in viewing your job and will increase your motivation to do your work effectively. A gratitude journal helps you to see the things that you overlook about your job and realize the things you never think about before. This will give you a sense of peace in reconciling yourself with your work. You may know now that a lot of people don’t even have a job and didn’t give a chance to be hired in one. So be grateful that you have a job right now even if it sucks.
Also read I Have No Idea What I’m Doing – How to Overcome the feeling
