According to The Conference Board, U.S. Job Satisfaction is at its LOWEST LEVEL in two decades. See the press release Here
For those under 25, satisfaction dropped 20% from 1987. I’m pretty sure I’ve been dissatisfied with my job since my honeymoon period wore off about a year ago. Why have a stuck around? Money and I can honestly say I’m scared to move on. Today I realized I’m really sick of my damn job.
I work in customer service. People call in to place classified ads with me and my job is to upsell them items that make their ads look better.
I have a freaking Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. What am I doing adding bolds and color backgrounds to ads? I’m not saying that I should be running a marketing department but I am saying I could be doing much better. I’ve asked for more responsibility and was turned down.
I’m pretty much sick & tired of busting my ass and not being happy. This job was not the right one for me but my "panties were in a bunch” about actually getting a full time job right after moving to a new area.
It does teach me a lesson in job satisfaction. What does job satisfaction mean for me?
• Job isn’t monotonous - Doing the same thing day in & out and not learning anything is boring.
• Having authority over how my work should be done – I should be able to be online as long as I can get my work done.
• Obtainable job growth. – I should be able to picture myself in my boss’s position one day.
What does that mean for me? I’m hunting for a job with a company that WANTS me to be satisfied.
My next steps:
• Company Research
• More networking with people who are happy with their jobs
• Reading more blogs about job satisfaction
What does job satisfaction mean to you? And am I crazy for wanting these things?
2 comments:
Hey, Regina. I went through the same thing just a month ago, and even though I'm in a "new" job now, I'm still not sure if I'm satisfied.
For almost two years, my job consisted of data entry. All day. I went to school for 4.5 years to get a degree and I spent 8 hours a day entering data. Then, on top of that, I had to take 2 pay cuts and our company laid off several other admin staff, passing their work to me. Not only was I entering my same boring data, I had to enter two other people's data as well, AFTER making less than what I made when I started. All of that along with having to drive back and forth between offices every day, not getting paid on time at least once a month, and when I would try to bring it up to the directors and all I heard was "too bad", I was miserable. But I didn't want to leave because I had bills to pay - I'm an adult now, right? I decided I would quit when I found a new job, but of course there wasn't much out there. Finally, I was so depressed that I just decided to quit. I couldn't take it anymore. I put in my resignation and was offered a position with our sister company doing basically the same thing and then a little extra. While I make more money at this position, it's still not what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I agree with your definitions of job satisfaction; I'm hoping for those same things and I worry all the time if I will ever be truly satisfied with what I do. My short-term plan is to take the GRE this summer and apply to grad school for next fall. Psychology was fun in college but a little BA degree in it doesn't take you very far.
Good luck in your search, I hope you find the satisfaction you're looking for. And I will say that it's comforting to know I'm not the only 25 year old who has experienced a quarter-life crisis. And sorry for writing a novel! :-)
-Nikki
Nikki,
Good luck on your short term goals! It's great that you have them and that you also have long term ones that will dictate your actions in the future. *sigh* I wish I could just wave a magic wand and make everyone's dreams come true. Good Luck Nikki!
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