Steps for Successful but Unhappy Professionals to Find Meaning

Steps for Successful but Unhappy Professionals to Find Meaning

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Sometimes you can feel dissatisfied in your current employment position, even when you’re well paid and in a senior role. There are personal reasons you can feel unhappy, such as no longer feeling appreciated by your company, or maybe your responsibilities have become too routine, and you need a fresh challenge.

Occasionally these thoughts can arise from situations outside of your control. For instance, if you are aware of upcoming redundancies or the outsourcing of department responsibilities.

Many job seekers find themselves scrolling through endless online career sites looking for a new role. However, this rarely results in landing the job of your dreams. Consider taking these actionable steps to find more rewarding employment opportunities.

1. Use Your Existing Network

Your current role offers instant access to industry resources. The chances are you regularly speak to vendors, clients, and competitors, and it’s vital to realize these business professionals all have an opinion of your abilities.

If you’re confident you do a good job, your associates probably have the same opinion. Rather than seeing these different groups as people you may not interact with after you land your new job, consider them a possible avenue to finding your ideal role.

Although it may not be an obvious networking opportunity, think of a competitor company you contend with for business. You probably respect their staff even when they make your day more difficult.

There’s a good chance they also appreciate your talents and could be the ideal destination for your next career move.

2. Don’t Leave Too Soon

It can be tempting to hand in your resignation and make a fresh start as soon as possible, but this is a risky strategy. It may not be a fair assessment, but potential employers could consider you to be a better candidate if you’re already in another job.

Recruitment heads could speculate that an unemployed candidate may not have the skills to meet their needs. However, if someone else is willing to pay for your abilities, it can make you seem like a more suitable applicant.

Leaving an employment position can also add unnecessary pressure because you no longer have an income. This uncomfortable scenario could make you feel more desperate in an interview, negatively affecting your performance.

Additionally, if an employer is looking to hire a candidate with your skills, you have more competitive leverage to negotiate an improved package if they feel they have to pry you away from another company.

3. Make an Objective Assessment

There’s no doubt you excel at your job and have the skills to progress further up the industry career ladder, but how do other people perceive your abilities?

There are unconscious actions you take each day that contribute to how others see you. At the beginning of this post, we discussed how competitors and clients form an opinion of your abilities. If you impress them with your professional work, this is a sound basis for networking when seeking new employment opportunities.

However, it’s crucial to understand your daily personal behavior is also under scrutiny. While you’re in your current role, think about if colleagues see you as someone who often arrives slightly late for work. Examine your social media posts; is there anything you wouldn’t want to show a potential employer during an interview?

If there’s anything in your own internal review that makes you uncomfortable, change the behavior, and amend your social media habits, so they’re not a problem when the time comes to land a new job.

4. Keep Assessing the Situation

When you’re unhappy in your current position, it can seem like the only option is to move to a different company. However, the situation can change over time. Your employers may notice you’re speaking with influential industry figures and feel you could be ready for more responsibility.

Or perhaps they realize you’re considering leaving their employment and begin to appreciate how valuable you are to the company. You can further their acknowledgment of your importance by offering to take on some of the less popular short-term projects.

While others may shy away and not make a contribution, your boss will no doubt be grateful that you pitch in when needed.

5. Practice Without Risk

It can be easy to assume the grass is greener in another company. But this is not always the case. Simulate the process of applying for a new job without sending an application. Take the time to amend your resume; many larger businesses now use algorithms to scan initial employment documents, so it’s essential to tailor each application individually to include the keywords in the job advertisement.

Think about what questions an interviewer may ask and prepare answers. Learn about the company culture from online employee posts, industry publications, and customer reviews. After going through the hard yards necessary for any job application, you  could find the opportunity isn’t as appealing as it first appeared.

After performing all the required tasks, if you still believe that a position looks to be an excellent opportunity, then may be time to send in that application.

6. Take Recommended Assessments

It’s always a good idea to keep your skills up to date and be aware of the latest industry standards. Use online assessment tests such as Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Career Leader.

You can also perform recommended career exercises, such as the Five O’Clock Club’s Seven Stories exercise, 15- and 40-Year Vision exercises, Values exercises, and “brainstorming all possible jobs” exercise.

Be Positive

Above all, try to maintain a positive mindset. Business situations can change quickly, and you may find your skills are precisely what your current company, or a different enterprise, need to take their firm to the next level.

Focus on your personal skills and ensure others know about your talents. The most unexpected of sources could contact you with new employment opportunities.

If you follow the above steps, you’ll be in an excellent position to negotiate with current and potential future employers for a financially and personally rewarding next career move.

Ivy Exec
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Ivy Exec

Ivy Exec is the premier resource for professionals seeking career advancement. Whether you are on the job, or looking for your next one - Ivy Exec has the tools you need.

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