One thing we can say for sure is that all of us have definitely hated our jobs at one point in our lives.
From not being appreciated to just flat-out not feeling motivated to do the job, there are a lot of reasons you can feel unhappy at your job.
Being unhappy with your job can have a great toll on your mental and physical well-being, so it’s always smart to prioritize your health over anything else.
So, to help you find a healthy way out, we’ve compiled what we know from our experience and poured it into steps you need to take in case you frequently catch yourself thinking, “I hate my job and want to quit”.
Key Takeaways
- Hating your job is more common than you think, but before jumping into any conclusions, take some time to reflect on what’s bothering you to make sure leaving is the right option for you.
- There are many reasons why you might hate your job including but not limited to: no career growth opportunities, no proper evaluation, a toxic workplace or even not being able to spend some time for yourself.
- If you’ve decided to quit the job you hate, try to learn some new skills and polish up your resume. Don’t quit your job until you find something else that you like more and make sure not to tell your coworkers about it.
I Hate My Job: What Should I Do?
If you’ve ever told yourself, “I hate my job; should I quit?” I’d urge you to think about the decision thoroughly first. No matter why you hate your job, the only time you should quit is when it’s absolutely the last option for you.
There are some things that you can do before quitting your job in order to figure out what’s best for you:
- Pause and reflect. The first and most important step you need to take is to back down and think of what you like about the job and what’s causing the stress.
- Look at what you personally value the most. Make a list of your values and compare them against the company’s. If they don’t overlap in the slightest, then it’s definitely not a good fit for you and your mental well-being.
- Figure out why you don’t like your job. Make a list of things and aspects of the job that you genuinely dislike. Try to grasp how much each of them is stressing you out, check if management can help you get rid of some of them, and lastly, evaluate whether those which are there to stay are worth the struggle.
Reasons For Hating Your Job
Here are some of the most common reasons that one might hate their job:
You Feel Stagnant
If you’re currently feeling that you have no opportunities for learning or for accelerating your career growth, then you definitely won’t be happy at your job. Being challenged to do better and to gather new knowledge in any work environment is the best thing you can do to advance your career goals.
And if your job is not offering this advancement, then it’s time to discuss it with your supervisor. Tell them how you’re feeling and what you think would work for you. Ask them about any career growth opportunities and whether advancing in the field is possible.
The Workplace is Toxic
If you’ve decided not to discuss your toxic workplace so you can show maturity and professionalism, that’s not actually in your long-term interest.
You should never be forced to endure a toxic working environment. It is not your job to change a coworker’s or manager’s bad attitude. But you have the chance to choose how to react to it.
As a preventive measure, you can try to distance yourself and ignore their provocations if they don’t work physically close to you. However, if it really gets out of hand, discuss the matter with your supervisor to see what can be done next.
You Are Experiencing Burnout
People need extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in order to keep going. If you have no passion or motivation for the job you’re doing, you’re definitely going to start feeling burned out.
Passion is what motivates people. To some extent, your job shouldn’t feel like a job. If you’re only waiting for your paycheck every month, then you definitely need to reflect on what changes you need to make.
You should sit back and think about why you chose this job to begin with. Figure out a way to make this job seem a bit more interesting again, and that could get you to keep the engine running.
You Feel Undervalued
One of the biggest reasons why people start disliking their job is because they believe that they are being underappreciated. Being undervalued can lead you to think you’re not really needed in the workplace.
If this sounds like you, arrange a meeting with your manager and ask them what your purpose is and what they think of your performance. This might rekindle that spark, as they will likely reassure you that you are valued and needed in the establishment.
You Dislike New Leadership
Around 50% of people have claimed that the main reason they quit their job was because they didn’t like their managers. A bad manager can destroy your motivation by showing no consideration for your hard work.
Ask your coworkers whether they feel the same way about your manager’s leadership style. After you get lateral support, try to talk with the manager and let them know that their style doesn’t bring out the best in you. Remember to be respectful when you do so, and remind them that you only want what’s best for the company.
You Don’t Have Enough Free Time
While it’s a great thing to be passionate about your job, most people just want to have some valuable free time. If you’re working a lot of overtime and often end up feeling overworked, then the FoMO (fear of missing out) can start to creep in, which is a big driver of unhappiness at work.
Don’t let the hustle culture tell you that you need to overwork yourself. It’s okay to just want to go to work and be done with it. Remember that you’re much more replaceable at work than at home.
One thing you can consider is asking your employer whether you could work remotely. This way, you’ll have more time to spend with your family.
You Hate Your Job: What is The Next Step?
Here’s what you can consider before you ultimately decide to quit your job:
#1. Take Care of Your Mental Health
If you ever catch yourself saying, “I hate my job, but I can’t quit!” you are probably overdue for prioritizing your mental health. As hard as it is nowadays to take care of yourself amidst the rise of the hustler mentality epidemic, keep in mind that your mental health should always be your main priority.
If you’re not doing well mentally, you’ll definitely have trouble working as well. So, always make sure to reach out for the help you need so you can properly decide whether you need to quit the job for your well-being or not.
#2. Start Networking
If you’ve made up your mind and you genuinely hate your job, there are a lot of questions you’re probably asking yourself:
- I hate my job, but I need the money. Is it responsible to just quit?
- Should you ask HR whether there are other positions available?
- Should you just switch your industry completely?
Regardless of what situation speaks to you, you definitely need to start networking. Look for people on LinkedIn and explore all the interviews that are currently available.
You should also listen attentively to people from different departments to figure out if another position is a better option for you.
#3. Learn New Skills
If you’ve decided to start looking for a new job, then this is the perfect time for you to learn some new skills.
Learning new skills can help you prepare for your next job hunt, and the best way to do so is by enrolling in courses (either online or offline), which you can add to your new and improved resume.
Whichever skillset you want to enhance, think of ways they can help you improve yourself. It’s important to show versatility since the labor market is pretty saturated nowadays. So, by learning new skills, the number of job opportunities increases, giving you more chances to find the right one.
#4. Fix Your Resume
If you’re looking for a position in a completely different industry than the one you’re in right now, it’s essential to update your resume.
Your new resume needs to have:
- A resume objective explaining your career change
- A skill section that is tailored to the job description
- Training and courses section that matches the industry requirements
- Relevant work experience
This way, you’ll highlight the proper accomplishments that can benefit both you and the new company as well.
#5. Apply for New Jobs
Once you’re all set with your resume, it’s time to start job-hunting. To make the process a bit easier, you can contact any of your connections or announce it to your network. Apply for all the open job positions that you think would work well with you and your lifestyle.
Keep in mind that you should always look for new jobs while you’re still at your current position. That way, you’ll have a secure income until it’s time to switch positions.
#6. Quit
With all the other steps out of the way, you’re now ready to quit your job. This is the last step and your last resort if you genuinely hate your job.
If you’ve already made the decision that you want to leave, remember to leave gracefully and not show any negative emotions during your resignation. This way, you’ll keep a good professional relationship with the employer in case you need a reference.
5 Extra Tips to Consider if You Hate Your Job
Let’s look at some additional tips you should consider if you hate your job:
- Be careful who you talk to. Try to avoid talking with colleagues about how much you hate your job and want to quit. Not all people want what’s best for you and they might use this information against you.
- Make sure to resign professionally. The last thing you want to do is to burn bridges with your employers and coworkers. They can be a great asset for your new job and it’s best to leave with a positive attitude. Your new employer might contact them to get to know you better, so it’s a good idea to leave a good impression.
- Don’t make it obvious that you’re looking for a new job. While job hunting for another option, make sure to never look for new jobs while you’re at work, especially if you’re using your work PC. Instead, do the job searching at home where nobody can track what you’re looking at.
- Don’t feel bad for disliking your job. It’s completely normal and okay to not like your job. Research has shown that around 85% of people don’t like their jobs. So, you’re definitely not alone!
- Always prioritize your mental health. Job opportunities come and go, but the thing that should always matter the most to you is your mental well-being. Without a clear and worry-free mind, you can’t work to begin with, so you should always put yourself and your mental health first.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve had enough of your job, there’s a lot to consider before you start waving the white flag.
Take a few moments to relax and contemplate how you’ve found yourself in this position before making any hasty decisions.
Think about the things you like and don’t like about your current job and what you wish could be different to identify what you need to look for on your next journey. If you’re ready to quit your job, make sure to do it professionally so you keep a good relationship with your employers.
Remember that your mental health should be your main focus. Your well-being translates to how well you do the job, so make sure to shift your focus to this first.
We hope this guide has helped you get the answers you wanted, and good luck finding your ideal job!
