I know what led you here: long boring hours, meaningless tasks, awkward chit-chat at the cooler… Yeah, I get it. Your professional life isn’t the way you planned. It sucks but don’t let that be the takeaway from your first Real Adult Job. I understand that you might feel you’re wasting your time when you could be doing so much more, but you can gain so much from this experience if you approach it with the right mindset.
The whole idea behind a dream career might not even be that great. As a child, you might have thought that you wanted to be a writer, but as you grow and learn more about yourself, you could end up feeling differently. You won’t be letting down your younger self; you’ll be recognizing that this path will no longer make you happy. So, getting a job that you don’t like all that much could be fundamental in determining where you actually want to go. Knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do. This position will help you grow, learn, and become a more defined person (career-wise)!
You will grow professionally.
One of the best habits you can get into as a professional when meeting someone is to ask yourself: “What can I learn from this person?” You might end up getting the insider scoop on the easiest way to do a task. You could gain a skill you never thought you would (like actually learning all the Microsoft Excel functions). You might even make life-long friends.
Approach your workplace environment with an open mind. You don’t know everything there is to know about your field — there’s always space to grow.
It’s a resume booster.
Despite this job feeling hopeless, it’s ultimately just a job. Don’t quit on it just yet. If it’s just different than what you expected, give it some time. Having a job means you’ll have the peace of mind that comes financial security. It’ll take up space on your resume and prove that you have tangible work experience.
By giving this job some time, you’ll be able to learn more about the company. You’ll get to see the inside workings in detail and your presence at the workplace means that you’ll be privy to other job positions. If there’s a better position that you aspire to, you can work towards it. Voice what you want and work to make it happen.
All this being said, if it’s truly dreadful, your mental health is more important and you should keep an eye out for other opportunities, something I’ll discuss a bit more below.
Weigh out the options and don’t despair.
If you’re not able to leave, you can gain much more than just the experience — you can use your new connections within the industry to network, network, and network some more! Companies often host networking events or send representatives to different conferences. This is your chance to meet other companies and gain insight into new opportunities or even industries.
When it’s time to go…
If you find yourself riddled with dread every single day before going to work, if none of your tasks are even remotely enjoyable and/or if you don’t feel at ease around others, your best bet sounds like leaving. Mental health is everything. Unless you’re in a terrible relationship with your coworkers and your boss, and you really can’t handle even one more day, try to stick it out while you find a new job. There are many resources on finding positions and not getting fired — for example, obviously don’t list your boss and coworkers as references! Keep your chin up, you can do this!
Having a job you don’t particularly love isn’t ideal. However, with some thought, you can make the experience into a better one. Think proactively and you’ll figure out what works for you. Don’t allow yourself to just slip into a rut. Good luck!
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