How to Enjoy Your Work and Find Job Satisfaction?
It may
seem surprising, but only 30% of all people find their work satisfying and of
those, only 10% find it extremely fulfilling. Even more of a surprise is that
of the remaining 70%, all describe their work as less than neutrally fulfilling
and 10% of them describe it as a living hell.
When we
consider how many hours a day we spend working, it seems amazing that so many
are willing to invest so much of their life into something they don’t find
fulfilling at all. In the current economic climate with so many losing their
jobs, it’s understandable that most people want to stay in jobs they don’t
particularly enjoy, but even in this climate, it’s possible to do something
about increasing satisfaction and fulfillment in the work we do each day.
Most
people do a job, and very few see it as a career and even less see it as a
calling. For many people, work is simply a means to make money; for others it
becomes a way of expressing themselves and what is important to them. It is a
way of expressing their creativity and a place for personal development that
influences their personal lives.
People
who see their work as a place for personal development usually experience
greater work satisfaction than those who only see it is a necessity and a way
of earning money. Finding a career that satisfies us requires us to take an
inventory of our skills, passions, values, careers available and our likes and
dislikes and searching for a career that ticks most of the boxes for us. It’s
important to remember that this is a journey and we may have to take jobs that
help us to achieve the big picture, rather than think the work we accept along
the way is the job we will stay in permanently.
Aristotle
once said, “Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lays
your vocation.” The key to finding your perfect career is to match your skills
and passions with the current skills need of the labor market. Ask yourself
regularly if you are happy in your work and if you are not, ensure you spend
time asking yourself why you are not and what you can do about it. Enlist the
help of your supervisor, a mentor, a friend, a colleague if necessary to help
you redefine your work purpose and ensure you maintain a healthy balance between
life and work.
Are you a positive thinker?
Do you take risks for career advancement?
How easy do you find it to talk to other people?
