life help: I do not like the work I do. - Help.com

Is the problem that you don’t like it, or that you are bored by it?

what are you doing now? what did you do before?

Thank you for your response…

I believe that jobs in addition to be the means by which one can provide for ones family and self, must also bring satisfaction. Now I know that this is not something that most people find in their lifetime. Many don’t reach this goal because of fear, because they get used to their situation and find a comfort zone or just because someone is telling them (maybe they are right) that it is tough out there.

I come from an industry where I had to use my leadership skills on a daily basis, where I managed a team of 60+ employees. My job description included interacting with senior management for the company and senior officials for both local and federal agencies. Now, I am working in the financial industry. First I was very excited about this job because it promised to be a stepping stone in my quest to moving up in the chain and where I had potential to make as much as I was making in my previous job.

The truth is that I like 70% of the activities I conduct on a daily basis as part of my current duties. The problem? I feel that after getting a BA degree and given my experience my current role is not satisfying to me.

My duties require a great deal of SELLING something that I dislike. We are encourage to be aggressive in this area and I have a problem with it. I will not force sell something to someone if I know they don’t needed; the idea is SELL SELL SELL because this is how one gets paid… Sorry for the long response but hopefully this will give you a better idea of where I am coming from… Again, thank you.

Have you tried looking to see what other companies near you are hiring for someone with your experience?

xtrawa wrote:
Thank you for your response…

I believe that jobs in addition to be the means by which one can provide for ones family and self, must also bring satisfaction. Now I know that this is not something that most people find in their lifetime. Many don’t reach this goal because of fear, because they get used to their situation and find a comfort zone or just because someone is telling them (maybe they are right) that it is tough out there.

I come from an industry where I had to use my leadership skills on a daily basis, where I managed a team of 60+ employees. My job description included interacting with senior management for the company and senior officials for both local and federal agencies. Now, I am working in the financial industry. First I was very excited about this job because it promised to be a stepping stone in my quest to moving up in the chain and where I had potential to make as much as I was making in my previous job.

The truth is that I like 70% of the activities I conduct on a daily basis as part of my current duties. The problem? I feel that after getting a BA degree and given my experience my current role is not satisfying to me.

My duties require a great deal of SELLING something that I dislike. We are encourage to be aggressive in this area and I have a problem with it. I will not force sell something to someone if I know they don’t needed; the idea is SELL SELL SELL because this is how one gets paid… Sorry for the long response but hopefully this will give you a better idea of where I am coming from… Again, thank you.

yes and may I further add that this world is being polluted beyond belief
because of this needless SELL and needless consumption of junk.

Hope wrote:
Have you tried looking to see what other companies near you are hiring for someone with your experience?

No I haven’t. I have been considering a change for the past six months. I have tried to overcome all my objections about the job thinking that the way I feel responds to the fact that this is an industry new to me. I have justified it by thinking that I am in my current position because God wants me here but all these justifications have taken me nowhere. It is currently affecting the way I conduct myself at home, with my family. At work, however, I continue to give my 100% every day. At times I have stayed in my car for several minutes in the parking lot at work deciding whether or not to walk in the office that day. I fear that this will build up in me and will cause me to just walk away from the job one day. This will be something VERY unlike myself.

I have tried to talk myself into staying, thinking about those in the US military who are deployed in harms way as I am writing this note and they do so at times unwillingly just because they signed a contract; many do so because they love their country. As a former military Non-Commission Officer, I understand that. There are really no choices available to them, they either follow their orders or they face Dishonorable discharge. I have thought about those in third world countries who don’t have anything close to the many things that I have, I understand… but then ask myself why should I compare myself to them and not to the many others who are doing something they like doing, happy, creating a better tomorrow with their actions today.

There are truly no real answers or solutions; I will keep the faith that it will get better and that I find it in me to be able to identify the next opportunity. Thanks for your message.

I used to have a job where I was micro-managed, I couldn’t stand it. I left that job for something I thought I would like more. Now it’s a few years later and I have been laid off and can’t find a job. I never thought I would think this, but I regret leaving that first job, there was total job security there, benefits, profit sharing, a lot of things I took for granted. You are talking about your company promoting you. Maybe try to find some positive things about your job and focus on those. You are lucky to be in the position you are in!

It sounds like you are a very wise, courageous, considerate and thoughtful man. You are a great, responsible leader. You submit your will to God. His peace surely will guide you.

Many thanks to all. Your comments were of great help. I am planning on staying at my current job for a few more weeks. In the meantime, I am working on a business plan for my next great adventure… my own business. Again, thank you all for sharing your thoughts with me.