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Yes, we all know what that really means, but for the sake of this article, let’s all play along.
Ok, this friend of mine found her dream job last year (or at least that’s what she thought at the time) in a posh area in the north of Jozi, with an appetizing salary to boot. The hours were flexible (or at least, that’s what she was told during the interview process), and there was ample room for growth (ha-ha!).
For the first week (yes, you read correct) she was happy at her new home away from home and excited about all the prospects that would come with this new endeavor.
Now, six months in, she wakes up every morning miserable as hell and cursing her phone’s snooze button. She drags her size five feet to the shower, pacing herself for yet another shitty day at that dreaded office. Another day that will manage to give her several more reasons why she absolutely hates her job. Her attitude has deteriorated so badly that even her loved ones are miserable for her.
She arrives at the building every day and tentatively pastes painful smiles on her face while greeting everyone in sight - the thoughts in her head screaming “SHOOT. ME. NOW!” It’s business as usual. She relives the same sad state every single day of every week and spends her weekends drinking herself to an amnesiac stupor.
At this point, you’re asking, “Why doesn’t she just quit then?” And believe me, she says she wants to; she’s been threatening to resign since her week-long fairytale ended. The truth however, as most people in a similar position would tell you (and to quote D’Angelo) is that “it ain’t that easy”.
What with the economy being as volatile as it is and unemployment being at an all-time high (she knows what being jobless is like), it makes sense to just grin and bear the misery until something better presents itself. Fair enough.
But what to do in the meantime to make her job more bearable is the problem she tasked me with finding a solution to. And me being the empathetic writer that I am, was more than happy to oblige: on condition that I impart my assistance publicly.
1. I’m a M$%!@*%# P.I.M.P!
Ok, so you’ve been working there long enough to deduce that you don’t want to be there any longer. Then make it known that you’re available and back in the market. Update your CV and get in contact with companies that are recruiting. PS. LinkedIn is your BFF.
2. Break the Cycle
Before you even get that call about a possible interview, make a list of things you utterly hate about your current job: your two-faced boss who takes your ideas and makes them theirs, your self-centered colleague who needs everything to be about her, including stuff that isn’t, everything. Identify the exact root of your disdain towards your current job so that you know what to avoid when conducting your job search.
3. Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems
My friend was under the false assumption that a big, fat pay cheque was the only source of job-satisfaction. Boy, was she wrong! Don’t make money the primary reason for a move when weighing your options.
4. Get Your Wax On, Daniel-san
Take up a distraction to help deal with the stress and to help prevent falling into a depressive state of mind. Be it a hobby or an addiction - whatever floats your boat really. My friend took up drinking and smoking more than her usual amount of cigarettes in a day; someone else might suddenly develop an insatiable appetite for sex instead. I’m not judging.
Disclaimer: I don’t encourage or condone any sort of drug use. Crack is whack yo!
5. Don’t Burn Bridges
When you do eventually get that life-changing call or that In Mail from a prospective employer, don’t start jump on sofas and cussing out your boss. We’re all grown-ass adults here (the jury’s still out on Charlie Sheen and Jeremy Clarkson though). Maintain amiability at all times, no matter how tempted you might be to behave otherwise.
You never know how or when people will be of use to you in the future.
