Signs You’re In The Wrong Job

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It happens to all of us from time to time: you wake up one day to find that you are suddenly in the wrong job, and maybe have been for a long time. It is always disconcerting when that happens, and can actually be extremely worrying if you feel stuck and you don’t know what to do. But it does happen to everyone probably at least once or twice in their life, and by itself it is not necessarily a problem that you need to be concerned about. The thing to be concerned about is knowing whether or not it is just a pang, or whether you really do need to start thinking about getting another job. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the clear-as-day signs that you might be in the wrong job. If you spot any of these, then you know it might be time to move on to something better.

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Wrong Job | Signs You're In The Wrong Job
 
It’s Making You Sick

This is one of those signs that you absolutely can’t ignore. It is one of the most serious too, and it’s something that you will definitely want to think about paying attention to should it becomes obvious that it is happening. If it gets to a point where your work is actually making you sick, then you will find that there is no clearer indication in the world that it is time to move on to a better job. But the question of course is how to know that it is the job making you sick, and not just that you are getting sick generally. You should be able to tell if, for instance, you tend to feel unwell when you have been working a lot, and then better on your days off. It might be as simple as the stress getting the better of you. That is a sign that you should really think about moving on.

Or it might even be more serious than that. Sometimes, you will get sick from a job because of the company’s poor approach to health and safety. This, again, is a real red flag, and one which you should wave to other people too, to help warn them of the company in question. At the extreme end of the scale, you might be working for a business that allows asbestos to be in use, and you could develop something as serious as cancer. If that does happen, you should be able to find a firm that handles claims of all sizes of this kind, and hopefully get what you are owed. But it is definitely a sign that nobody should be working for that company.

Sometimes it is a smaller infraction, but still something that shows that you should go elsewhere. For instance, if there is a constant attitude towards health which you find is making you a little sicker, then you should think about moving on to another job soon enough. As long as you are paying attention to these signs, you will hopefully move on before you get too ill, so that at least it doesn’t affect you all that much in the long run.

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Wrong Job | Signs You're In The Wrong Job
 
You Dread Going In

We’ve all been in that one job where we absolutely dreaded going into work. This is a horrible feeling to have, and if you do have it you should take it as a very clear sign that it is time to change jobs. Of course, you should wait it out a little first, to make sure that it is not just a temporary thing. These times can happen, and you are unlikely to be in love with your job every day of your life. But if you find that a feeling of dread persists, then it is no use remaining in that work – you should feel free to take yourself out of it as soon as you possibly can. Make sure that you identify what it is that you dread about it, however. If you are not entirely sure, you could end up accidentally recreating the same situation in another job, whereas if you are aware of what it is that is making you miserable, you can make a point of avoiding that as best as you can in the future too. That will lead to a much better quality of life.

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Wrong Job | Signs You're In The Wrong Job
 
You Complain About It

You might have noticed that you have started to talk more and more about what is wrong with your job, or that you are even just complaining about it in your head. These are signs too which should not be ignored. Probably the clearest indicator is if your friends say to you that you have been complaining about your work non-stop, especially if you didn’t even realize up to that point. When that happen, that can be an incredibly alarming situation, and it can really have a way of stopping you dead in your tracks. Once you notice just how often you complain, you can be sure that you are soon enough going to want to change jobs – and it is much better to put your energy into doing that, rather than the act of complaining itself, as much as you possibly can. Complaining is an indicator, but it’s not healthy to dwell in it too much, so make sure that you are able to get yourself out of it wherever that might be necessary.

You Dream Of Something Else

One of the more positive signs you can have is that you are constantly dreaming of doing something else for a living. This is one of the better indicators for the simple fact that it means you have a clear direction to move in. If you have a specific role in mind that you would just love to do, then you know that that is probably what you should aim for, and it makes sense to do so as soon as possible. The less time you waste on a job you don’t love, the better your life will be, so make sure that you are paying attention to yourself should you start to dream about another job in this way.

7 Signs Your Career is Impacting Your Relationship

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Work-life Balance|7 Signs Your Career is Impacting Your RelationshipA high-pressure job cannot only impact your general health and personal happiness, but it could also be taking its toll on your relationship with your partner.

As few things will be more important than your other half, it is important to identify how your career could be affecting your love life each day so that you can take the steps to improve your connection.

Here are seven signs your career is negatively impacting your relationship.

You’re Failing to Make Time for Your Other Half

If you head into the office early and leave work late, it is a clear-cut sign you are neglecting your spouse. If you want your relationship to work, you must set time aside in your busy schedule for your other half.

Even if you have the most understanding partner in the world, you must leave work on schedule to take him or her out for dinner or to enjoy some quality time at home together. It will make your partner feel both loved and appreciated, which could strengthen your relationship while providing you with a greater work-life balance.

You Allow Work to Cause Conflict at Home

As your professional and personal life can often intertwine, it can be easy to take various pressures and stress home with you after a tough day at work. Rather than seeking comfort and support from your partner, you might lash out at them for a small mistake or vent about your job.

It is, however, important to bear in mind that it is your employer or a client you are really mad at and not your spouse. It might, therefore, be beneficial to find more productive ways to unleash your anger or stress.

For example, you could:

  • Join a boxing class
  • Sweat out your stress in a yoga or dance class
  • Run on a treadmill
  • Regularly treat yourself to a relaxing massage

The next time you find yourself snapping at your partner after work, apologize for your behavior, and confide in them about your tough day. A kind word or hug from them might be all that is needed to lift your spirits.

You’re Avoiding Your Partner with Work

If you are regularly immersing yourself in your career to avoid returning home to your partner, take it as a warning sign that there are serious issues with your relationship, which you must address.

If you are unsatisfied with your love life, you cannot use your job to avoid your other half, as it is not fair on both you or them to do so. While work might provide you with a temporary escape from a difficult home life, you cannot allow the problem to persist any longer.

Instead, you must discuss your problems with your partner to identify the best solution for the both of you, which could be a trial separation, regular date nights, or marriage counseling.

Your Relationship is Breaking Down

Different factors can cause a relationship to breakdown over time, and it might not necessarily be one person’s fault. If, however, you are taking your stress out on your partner and returning home late from work, it could be affecting your connection.

While following the above steps can help, it is also wise to ask your partner if there are any changes you could make to restore your loving relationship potentially. For example, they might want you to stop working from home on your days off from work, to avoid taking work-related phone calls every evening or to stop consistently talking about your job.

However, a relationship breakdown might be beyond your control, as you could read these tips to identify if your partner is being unfaithful.

Your Work Priorities are More Important Than Your Relationship

While you might tell yourself that nothing or no-one is more important to you than your spouse, you could unwittingly be choosing work over your relationship.

For example, if you are missing important milestones in their life due to attending client meetings or adhering to tight deadlines, it is possible you are choosing your work priorities over your other half. Sadly, this could lead to resentment and conflict, as they might believe your job is more important to you than they are.

While you might work hard every day to provide a better life for you both, your job should not come at the cost of your relationship. For this reason, you must aim to switch off at the end of a working day, so you can both spend quality time together and share in each other’s accomplishments.

You’re Relying on Your Partner to Make You Happy

If your career is grinding you down, you might rely on your partner for personal fulfillment. Consequently, when you clash or argue, you might believe your whole life is falling apart, despite it being a perfectly normal blip in a relationship. If this is the case, you must take it as a sign that you are relying too much on your partner for joy and support.

Instead, you must find ways to improve your happiness and fulfillment, which could mean widening your social circle, finding a new career, embarking on a hobby, or discussing your heavy workload with your manager to take some of the pressure off your shoulders. It can remove some of the responsibility from your other half and could improve your relationship and independence.

You’re Too Tired After Work

Unfortunately, a demanding working day could drain you of all energy once you return home to your partner. As a result, you might have little energy to talk to your other half or to enjoy a fun activity together.

Sadly, your general mood and lack of energy could affect your spouse, as they could feel unloved and unappreciated. If you are struggling with extreme tiredness after work, it might be time to schedule a few well-deserved vacation days to restore your energy levels and give your partner your undivided attention.

The 5 People You Need Around You To Succeed In Business

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Success in Business|The 5 People You Need Around You To Succeed In BusinessSucceeding in business is not something that you can do alone. Whilst many of the ideas that you use will be entirely down to you, and you will be making all of the big decisions for your company, the truth is that you won’t make it unless you’re surrounded by some great, awe-inspiring people, who know the world of business like the back of their hands. But which people do you need around you if your company is going to become the next big thing in your field?

Here are 5 of them…

#1: The innovator
When you’re hiring for your business, you need to make sure that you’ve picked out some people that don’t always toe the regular business line. Whilst there are some things that are proven to work for most businesses, you’re never going to push through to the next level if you’re not surrounded by people who aren’t scared to take (well-informed) risks now and again, so pick out some innovators.

#2: The mentor
Whilst it’s a good idea to choose out some fresh talent, there’s nothing better than finding out a good mentor, who can tell you all that you need to know about your industry. Ideally, you’ll be able to talk to somebody who has a lot of years under their belt, and has owned various businesses (or one successful one) that has much in common with the direction that you’ll be taking. Seek a mentor!

#3: The expert
Most business owners do all that they can to teach themselves the various tricks of the trade. Whether you’re trying to figure out your IT, your finances, or that perfect logo for your brand, you have to understand sometimes that only the experts can get the job done properly. Seek out some IT support from places like https://www.capstoneitinc.com/location/treasure-coast/, and look into other ways to get the experts on board.

#4: The friend(s)
Often overlooked in discussions about business, you do actually need to have a good network of out-of-office, non-business friends. Not only will this keep you grounded, but having the support of your friends and family will really help you when you’re trying to make your way through the tough first few months (and years) of business, so don’t underestimate the importance of your support network.

#5: The passionate
You can have all of the people mentioned above around you in your business, but if there is no passion when you walk into your office, then you need to do all that you can to change this. Whoever you meet and manage to get on board, make sure that they’re bursting with passion, and that they really think about what they can offer to help make your vision a reality. Passionate people, apply within.

So, if you want to succeed in business, then make sure that you have these 5 types of people on board with you. It can make or break your company, so don’t get this wrong!

The Quest For Career Fulfillment

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Career fulfillment | The Quest For Career FulfillmentWhen embarking on a career, there are a number of goals that most of us want to achieve. The most obvious goal is the desire to earn enough to live on comfortably; enough for a stable home environment and, if possible, a few treats along the way. Secondary goals tend to include a pleasant working experience – getting on with colleagues, feeling valued, and so on and so forth – as well as a work-life balance that allows us to work to live, rather than live to work.

However, there is one goal that tends to be, at best, overlooked – which is somewhat surprising, given its importance to our overall well-being. The goal in question? Career fulfilment.

What is career fulfilment?

The concept of career fulfilment is, as one would expect, a desire to feel fulfilled – in some way – by the work we do. On a basic level, fulfillment is simply a way to achieve a sense of satisfaction from your career; a satisfaction that comes not from the wage you earn and the lifestyle you are subsequently able to afford, but from the work itself.

Career fulfillment is most commonly associated with careers that serve a greater good or improve the lives of others; careers like that of Cynthia Telles, which take a passion and turn it into a vocation. However, any career can offer a sense of fulfilment; some careers are more likely to offer fulfilment but any type of career can under the right circumstances be fulfilling in its own way.

How common is career fulfilment?

Unfortunately, not particularly. A huge number of people work for their entire lives without achieving true fulfilment – and for some individuals, that works just fine. Particularly in financial and city-related jobs, many individuals choose to work extremely hard in a role they don’t really care about, with the goal of retiring early. For these people, fulfilment is not a necessary aim; the end – early retirement – justifies the means, and they are willing to tolerate even an unpleasant decade or so, as long as they meet their eventual FIRE goal.

However, for those not focused on FIRE but instead just trying to make a living, fulfilment becomes more important – but it remains incredibly rare. A surprisingly large number of people dislike their job, and only 33% of workers are fully engaged with their role; which, given that engagement is more likely to lead to fulfilment, is concerning.

Why is fulfilment so uncommon?

The reason many people work without career fulfilment varies wildly. Some people just need to earn a living; what they do, or how fulfilled they feel, is fairly unimportant. For others, the work itself does not – and cannot – offer significant fulfilment. What’s more, some people don’t even see fulfillment as particularly important; even those who are not aiming for FIRE may be more than content to simply work comfortably, earning what they need to live on, and look for nothing more.

As a result, career fulfillment is best thought of as a concept that is important for some people. For others, it would be nice to have, but far from crucial – we all have different priorities in life, after all. However, this does beg the question…

What happens if fulfillment is important to you, but your career is not fulfilling?

The above circumstance is the worst case scenario: you may be someone for whom fulfillment is incredibly important, but you do not find that your existing role – or even your entire career – offers this fulfillment. The consequences of working in such a scenario can be extremely challenging, leading to dissatisfaction, unhappiness, stress, and even an exacerbation of underlying health conditions.

How can you tell if you are lacking in career fulfillment?

Common signs of poor career fulfilment include:

  • Disinterest in the work itself; you do not feel excited or enthused by the work you have to do
  • Frequent absenteeism; you will more readily take sick days and will usually try to use all of your available vacation days
  • Malaise or even depression during the working week, which tends to lift in the evenings or on weekends – i.e. times when you are not working

What can you do if you are not achieving career fulfilment, but want to?

First and foremost, it’s worth considering other methods of achieving a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction outside of the workplace, as some people find that this can help them to better manage their overall career concerns. After all, if your hobbies or out-of-work activities offer a sense of fulfilment, then achieving this from your career may become less important. You could, for example, consider volunteering or fundraising for a cause close to your heart in your spare time, and switch to trying to see the work you do as a means to an end.

However, if you find the above is not sufficient – or you simply want to achieve fulfilment in your career rather than your personal time – then switching careers is likely to be the best choice.

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Career fulfillment | The Quest For Career FulfillmentWhich careers should you consider switching to?

As we touched on above, while careers that can be considered meaningful are arguably more likely to offer career fulfilment, any career may be suitable. It’s just important to try and focus on a career where you feel that you would be happy with the work itself; where you feel that your contribution would be valuable (not necessarily in terms of money) in some way. To that end, it might be worth considering volunteering initially, so you can try out a few different ideas and see which affords you the most fulfilling experience.

In conclusion

Career fulfilment is not an essential – many people can spend their entire working lives without career fulfilment, but remain happy and content with this fact. However, if career fulfilment is important to you personally, then making a change that allows you to achieve the fulfilment you require could well be the right choice for your future happiness and well-being.

6 Reasons Women Should Work in Computer Network Administration

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StrategyDriven Career Development Article |Computer network administration | 6 Reasons Women Should Work in Computer Network AdministrationComputer network administration is a growing field that requires more professionals to balance the increasing workload, particularly as cloud technology and the internet of things becomes more prevalent in both professional and home settings.

A computer network administrator ensures that the various parts of a network are working together effectively to do what they are supposed to. Whether it’s ensuring that a log management system for companies is working across the network or identifying why someone’s computer can’t communicate with the shared printer, a CNA plays an important role in modern business. Here are six reasons why women should work in computer network administration.

Accessibility

The growing need for those with experience in computer network administration is creating a world of opportunities for those interested in pursuing this career. From a practical standpoint, this means that education in this area won’t go to waste. It also creates a more level playing field for women interested in moving into STEM careers.

For many CNA positions, a degree is not required. This makes the role accessible to those who are looking for a career change or who have devoted their earlier years to raising a family. Various colleges and trades schools offer high-quality part-time courses and co-operatives in computer network administration.

Continuous Education

No two networks are exactly alike, and the rapid growth and development of innovations in technology mean that the needs of a business are ever-evolving. Not only does this contribute to the overall accessibility of computer network administration roles, but it also means that there’s room for growth within that role.

By learning new things every day, women in computer network administration will create a strong knowledge base with which to advance their career and accept new opportunities as they arise. This versatility creates a powerful CV that has the potential to develop into a long and fruitful career in STEM.

Job Security and Potential

When you work in STEM, you rarely have to worry about being replaced by robots. In fact, as long as technology is integrated into various aspects of a business, someone will need to be on hand to fix it.

The USA board of Labor Statistics estimated that over the next 7-10 years, computer-related job opportunities will grow upward of 13% overall. Within that category, computer network administration is expected to grow by 6%, adding 24,000 additional jobs in this field.

Reasonable Pay

In addition to having job security, CNA jobs offer reasonable compensation to those in the industry. Network computer and systems administrators earn an average of $81,000 per year as of 2017. Considering the average household income in the US was $61,000 in 2017, this level of compensation is a great opportunity.

Challenge Your Mind

Women are natural problem-solvers, with the ability to think outside the box when approaching a problem. As such, working as a CNA creates an opportunity to challenge the mind and put one’s problem-solving skills to the test. Being able to overcome a challenge and find a solution isn’t just great for one’s career, it’s also great for their confidence.

Be a Role Model

It’s no secret that men make up the majority of the workforce in STEM-related industries. In fact, only a quarter of those employed in computer and mathematical science jobs are women.

Pursuing a career as a CNA positions you as a role model for other women and girls who are interested in advancing their career in this oft-male dominated industry. It makes you a part of a revolution of empowerment and contributes to a better tomorrow.

Final Thoughts

Working as a CNA is a gateway to a wider STEM career path, opening the door to opportunities for advancement and leveling the playing field for women in tech.