Finding a job we love is not easy! It’s hard after graduating from college, entering the real world and then realizing what we went to school for is either not interesting anymore, different from what we expected or we like it but something is missing and we aren’t sure what it is.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a job life span for millennials between the ages of 20-24 is 16 months and 25-34 is 3 years.
So, what does this mean? Well job hopping for the sake of job hopping is not the best. So before you start re-writing your resume, cover letter and applying to new positions it is important to take a step back and evaluate your current role.
To do this, I want you to dig deep and ask yourself the following eight questions:
Can I grow within my role?
According to a recent Gallup survey, 87% of millennials indicate their professional growth is important within their role. Looking at your position is there more you can do within your role or is there another skill set you can gain to enhance your position and tasks?
Do I have a supportive environment?
When you have something to say at a meeting, are people listening and taking it in or zoning off? Do you have coworkers that support you and that you want to be around or do you find yourself wanting to eat lunch alone and have no one to talk to?
Am I energized at work?
Are you doing the same thing day in and day out and are totally bored or are you energized by your daily tasks? Are you finding yourself getting a little lazy and saying “no” to tasks that once excited you or are you asking for more projects?
Is waking up on Monday morning not so bad?
By all means most people don’t love Mondays BUT there is a difference between not being so excited to head to work and completely and totally DREADING going there. Do you stay up late worried about going to the office and then hit your snooze button a million times to get out of bed for a job you don’t love?
Do I have a supervisor that coaches me and provides feedback?
In the same Gallup poll, only 17% of millennials say they receive meaningful feedback from their supervisor. Does your supervisor suggest professional development trainings? Do they give you feedback, both positive and negative, to push you forward to being a better professional?
Do I have work/life balance?
According to Deloitte’s millennial survey, 65% of millennials believe that flexibility in the workplace increases work/life balance. Can you leave your work at work and come home with a free mind or do you stress about what happened during the day and it’s now affecting your personal life? Are you spending your nights and weekends doing work and it is keeping you from other things you want to do personally?
Am I using my strengths frequently?
According to Gallup, 70% of millennials are more engaged at work if their managers focus on their strengths. Are you able to do what you’re good at on a daily or semi-daily basis? Does your company value your strengths and assign your projects and tasks accordingly?
Do I know how my daily tasks are moving the mission of my organization forward?
Do you have a clear understanding of how your job functions impact the organization?
Now, that you’ve answered these eight questions, look more deeply at your answers? You most likely are not going to say “yes” to all of them. Did the ones you said “yes” to outweigh the “no” answers in terms of importance and priority in your life?
If the answer is no, you need to take action. Try these four steps:
Determine what is most important to you.
What is the single thing that is most important to you in your current role that could possibly change? Out of these eight questions, what is one item that you feel can change for the better?
Create an action plan.
Are there projects on the table that haven’t been assigned where you could use your strengths? Could you suggest monthly meetings with your supervisor to provide feedback? Is it possible to adjust your work schedule to leave at a decent hour? Are there professional development events you want to register and attend? Think specifically about what you would propose to your boss and an action plan for completing it.
Schedule a meeting with your supervisor.
With your action plan in hand, speak to your supervisor about your concerns within your current role and a potential solution. This is not the time to make demands, but a time to have a reciprocal conversation about the company’s needs, your strengths, and how you can better work together to come to a solution.
Prepare for the “no.”
Your supervisor might not be on board right away, but don’t be discouraged. Try suggesting a month follow up on your proposals or a middle ground between what you are asking.
Finding a career, we love is by no means easy but taking a step back and evaluating where you are will make a huge difference. In order for your position to change, you need to be instrumental in the process. If you are still unsure where you stand or if you should be going through a job search, just sign up for my free job analysis email course where we will walk through step-by-step how to make a professional change in your life.
- Cultivating Relationships - July 20, 2021
- Empowering Our People - July 13, 2021
- Finding Purpose - July 6, 2021
Being an entrepreneur, is both a blessing and a curse. I can see there is an limited potential for growth. I can also see the limits I place on my growth. Luckily, I am the only one who can place those limits AND tear them down. I think one of my biggest challenges currently is finding a healthy work/life balance.
Blessing and a curse is spot on. I wish I would have read more blogs similar to this prior to starting my own business.
Blessing and a curse is spot on. I wish I would have read more blogs similar to this prior to starting my own business.
I have always worked for myself (since I was 16) but I can imagine how helpful it would be to have career advice and support. Especially for the 20 something’s. Life seems to be far more complicated then it was when I was growing up. The career world is certainly changing rapidly.
Thanks so much for reading and it really makes such a huge difference knowing this earlier in your career for sure
Well this is great career advice for 20 somethings! Great post!
Thanks Elizabeth!
You seriously always have the best advice! I wish I had been reading your blog years ago!! I definitely could’ve used this advice back then! 😀
Thank you so much Melissa! I am so glad it helps!
What a great resource! Thanks for the tips.
Thanks so much Melissa! That means a lot!
Where were you 15-20 years ago??? Ha! This is such great information.
Aw, thanks Jennifer!
These are great tips and resources. I wish I would have stumbled upon this when I was younger.
Thanks so much Nicki!!
I was just talking to my son tonight about being in the workplace and not just settling in. This is excellent advice I want to share with him!
It’s so important to keep challenging yourself and asking these key questions!
These are such great questions we should all be considering!! Definitely helpful when figuring things out! Great blog post
Thanks so much Allison!
This, this is helpful for someone like myself who is still young and trying to figure out what the heck to do with my life! <3
That means a lot! Thanks Tiara!
All of the information you share is so enlightening. Your website is such a fantastic resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners!
That’s so sweet and thank you so much Sharee!!
This is a great resource for millennials in the career force who are looking for growth or just need that push out to entrepreneurship.
Thank you so much Jourdan! It never hurts for a little push
Great article for millennials and people who are working out figuring things out!
Thanks so much Molly!!
Love this! Life is too short to stay in a job that is depressing or not your passion. These are really great questions to get that dialogue going and I love that you included an action plan!
Thank you so much! It’s so important to evaluate where you are currently at professionally and what steps you might want to take moving forward.
This is great! I am actually going through a tough time at work. It was really validating to read this post and see that I’m not crazy in my decision to look for another job. I am no longer happy at work. I don’t get benefits. My employer refuses to give any outlet for growth. I’m drastically underpaid. I hate going to work any day of the week. And my work-life balance is awful – when I leave work, I’m exhausted and I come home and complain all night. So, I decided to get out. Well, first I tried to talk to my boss and come up with an outlet for growth and it was like talking to a wall. I don’t think he even looked at the presentation I gave – he plays on Facebook all the time. I’m so glad I came across this. You really helped me validate that I’m making the right decision. Thank you!
I’m so sorry that you are going through all of that but so happy that you made a choice to get out! There is nothing worse for our mental health than bosses that don’t get it and just make each day painful at the office! For real.. if you ever need anything, just send me email (alissa at notokthatsok.com). I totally get it!
I figured out long ago that I am not good when I have to work FOR someone else. Why build someone else’s dreams when I can build my own! I started my own business, became successful and never looked back!
That’s so incredible Taylor!! Congratulations on finding what you love and all of your success!!