Have you ever felt like you are working at a dead-end job? If you think that you are, you are definitely not alone.
But, just because you think that you may be working a dead-end job, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are. Want to find out…read on.
No promotions in the last 10 years?
One of the many signs that you may be working a dead-end job is if you find yourself in the same position, for years and years.
If you were hired with the intention of no advancement, your current position may be fine for you. But, if you applied to work for your employer with the intent to move up and you have not, you may be in a dead-end job.
You should never have your work go unrewarded, especially if you were employed by the same company for years.
Has your pay level increased in the last 5 years?
Another sign that you may be working a dead-end job is if you have been working at the same pay level, also for a number of years.
Many employers automatically give their employees pay raises yearly or even quarterly. If you have been employed by the same company for an extended period of time without a significant pay raise you may be working a dead-end job.
There is good news though, if your only issue is pay, you may be able to turn your dead-end job into a great job. Ask for a raise! Indeed has a good article about how to do that.
Your employer has probably been waiting for you to ask. Especially after an extended period of time without a raise you have nothing to lose by at least asking.
Ask for a raise or promotion.
If you don’t get a raise after asking and are not given a reasonable explanation as to why not, you don’t have to keep working in these conditions.
Take steps. Speak to your supervisor or supervisors, ask for an increase in pay or ask for a promotion.
Most of your co-workers don’t really want a promotion, it is too much responsibility. Let your supervisors know that you are not one of those people.
Create a ruckus!
Another one of the many ways that you go about getting out of a dead-end job is by creating a ruckus, but in a good way.
Despite your possible frustration, you may want to consider giving your job, dead-end or not, a second chance.
With that second chance though, you must take action. Do good deeds in front of your supervisors, volunteer to work late or cover someone else’s shift in an emergency.
Your supervisors may mistakenly believe that you are currently satisfied with your job. You will want to show them that you want more and that you are capable of handling more. Harvard offers these tips for getting a promotion.
Does your job make you miserable?
If lack of promotions or lack of raises is not an issue but you hate getting up to go to work. Figure out why you hate going to work.
Do you hate the work itself? Do you hate your boss? Do you hate your coworkers? Do you hate the commute?
If you have spent the last 5-10 years doing the work, you do and you hate it…stop doing it! Easy to say right? But, if this is not work you want to do, don’t do it. Find something else.
Perhaps there is something peripheral to the work you do that you do like. Think about it for a while and pinpoint some component of your work that you have liked…there is something that kept you there.
If you hate your boss or your co-workers, can you move to another office in the company? Can you ask for a promotion and get away from this boss and those co-workers? If not, you should have enough experience to move to another company.
If you hate the commute, can you talk to your boss about working from home…at least part of the week? Most office work can be completed remotely now; however, many companies have not embraced it fully. Ask anyway.
Find another job.
Another option that you have, when looking to get out of a dead-end job, is seeking employment elsewhere.
If you have a family to support or bills that must be paid, you may only want to use seeking employment elsewhere as a last resort.
Finding another job is not easy, getting used to the new protocol is not easy either. So, think long and hard before leaving your current job.
If you can make your current job what you want it to be, stay there and keep moving up.
Conclusion
Unhappy with your job? Do something about it! I have always believed that “if you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
Ask for what you want. If your current employer does not agree that you deserve it, then go somewhere that thinks you deserve what you ask for.
If you need help with getting your resume together because you have decided to move on, I have a good book that will help you with that. You can get that with the link below;