5 Red Flags That Scream “You Chose The Wrong Job”

By Lilian Wamaitha
“Like so many graduates after university, I couldn’t wait to land a job. Knowing how the job market is, I started applying for jobs before I was even done with my final year exams. After six months of sending applications, I finally landed an interview and a role as a HR assistant afterwards. This was what I wanted, at least I thought it was, after all, I loved working with people and it was just right to pursue a career in that line. As the months went by and had already pushed through my probation period, I started feeling a certain push, like something inside me was burning but my subconscious was trying to fight off this feeling.
To be honest, in as much as human resource was what I thought I wanted to do with my life, the place I worked at and the job responsibilities I was given were just too boring for me. The job I had come to love was now draining me of energy every single day I stepped into that office. Being 24 and still trying to figure out my life, I must say that this was the most depressing period of my life. Waking up to go to a job that you no longer care about is somehow disorienting. Unlucky for me, it had to take a year and a half of doing the same thing to realize what I really wanted to do with my life…”
This is an email I received from one of our readers. It was a long email but something about it made me stop and reconsider.
So many of us are in such a situation. You have reached that point where your job no longer interests you. Sad to say, you feel like you are in the wrong career.
This is why I had to write this article because so many of us are suffering and for some of us, we have come to accept that it’s okay to be comfortable with that situation. After all, the job market is hard and landing a good job seems to most like a far-fetched dream.
While this is somehow true, don’t you think that you deserve to enjoy what you do? We were all put in this world for a reason and I can assure you that it’s not to hold on to a job that is not the right fit for you.
Here are 5 signs that should tell you that you are in the wrong job.
1. You do not enjoy any aspect of the job
Muthoni Ndegwa, a recruitment manager at Corporate Staffing Services, says that if you find that you are being pushed to deliver all the time, you are probably in the wrong job.
“Lack of passion translates into not being motivated for the job. You probably took the job for other reasons such as money and prestige rather than how it would help you grow,” she says.
And this is one of the biggest mistakes that a majority of us make. We all need to make a living at the end of the day but it’s not worth it, if you are not okay with what you are doing.
2. You hate your boss
This is a common one for people who are in the wrong job.
When everything your boss does makes your blood boil and you no longer respect them as the key decision maker, it means you are in the wrong profession.
When a job is draining, you will find it natural to blame others for what you are going through and most probably it’s your boss.
All of a sudden you start feeling cheated, like your boss takes you for grated while in reality they do not.
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3. Your skills set do not match the job
Are you an engineer working in sales or customer service or an accountant working in communication? If your skill set do no match what you are doing, you are in the wrong job.
I know that the job market being tough drives us to take any job that lands on our laps. But I can’t tell you how many professionals I have seen who want to transition back to the career that matches their skills but find that it’s too late, she says.
Let’s consider two procurement professionals. One graduate three years before the other but lands a job in administration. The other one graduates later on and lands a job in procurement. Now the one in administration considers changing careers after a year to procurement.
The employer without a doubt will consider this youngster who has a year of experience in procurement than the latter who has four years in administration and zero in procurement.
This is what happens when you take a job that does not match your profession. When you want to go back, you will have to start at entry level while you have years of experience in another different job.
If you are in such a situation, consider switching back as soon as possible before it’s too late.
4. You salary is okay but you still want to leave
“Lack of job satisfaction may be the huge cause for this. For example if you came from a fast paced environment into a slow one you will not fit into the company, “ says Ms Ndegwa adding that, “when job satisfaction is low, you have an unsupportive boss and nothing else really excites you, then you are in the wrong job.”
5. No growth and development in your job
Most people get into a job to grow and gain experience but if you have not noticed any career growth that is not the job for you.
She says that, “Most job seekers look for a job with a bottom line. This includes: career growth, experience, career stability and expansion of your knowledge and skills set. If you feel that the job is not geared towards the bottom line, it might be a wrong job.”
Ask yourself, ‘Where do I see myself in two years?’ This question helps you work within your particular dream or goal. As such, when it is time to move on you already have a career path set out.
Bonus >>> 5 Steps Towards Building A Happier & Better Future For Yourself
In the end
We all consider a job for different reasons and therefore, there is nothing like being 100% satisfied with your job. Every job has its challenges and it’s up to you to find a way to motivate yourself. There is always room to make a job interesting and all you need is to be told what to do and not how to do it.
Lilian is a Communication Officer at Career Point Kenya. Got any other questions regarding job satisfaction? Email me through lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke.