Today, I spoke to Julie Jansen, who is a speaker, author, facilitator, trainer, coach, and business consultant to Fortune 500, privately held companies and nonprofits. Her books include I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not This (2nd edition), and You Want Me To Work With Who?, both published by Penguin. In this interview, Julie talks about why people are stuck in a job they hate, why you shouldn’t aimlessly apply to jobs, how to choose the right career, and more.
Julie, why are so many people stuck in a job they hate?
There are so many reasons! Right now, many people who are working are watching others lose their jobs and therefore they are just thankful that they still have a job and this attitude greatly compensates for their dissatisfaction. Also, people believe that there isn’t any hiring going on (not true!) and that they need to sit tight until more companies are hiring.
Putting aside the current state of the economy, it’s a human tendency to stay stuck in a negative situation because at least it’s familiar. Finally, job search activities such as networking, “selling” oneself and writing a resume and cover letters tend to be uncomfortable for most people.
With a poor economy, it’s easy for job seekers to just apply to every job available. Do you think this is a good tactic?
It’s a terrible tactic. Hiring managers are even more selective and cautious right now about whom they interview and eventually hire because they don’t want to make a poor decision and they think that the candidate pool is enormous. If someone applies for any job they can, instead of coming across as focused and passionate they will appear defensive and desperate. They will also naturally increase the number of times they will be rejected.
What questions should you ask yourself before you choose a career?
There are so many questions to be answered before identifying a new or different career:
- Who am I really? What are my values, interests and preferences?
- What is most important to me in my work?
- Which of my favorite skills am I willing to use every day? Which skills might I possess but don’t want to use anymore?
- What concessions can I make – money-wise, time-wise, going back to school, etc.
Going through a full round of self-assessment is the first step. Next, it’s important to know what obstacles and opportunities actually exist in your new potential career. In other words, applying a serious “reality check” to a career before pursuing it. Talking to people who are in the career now is crucial! It’s best to play with the new career in some way first – intern or work part-time – so that you can get a real flavor of what its about.
If you already have a job and hate it, should you quit? What should someone do about their 
situation?
First, understand what exactly it is that you hate. Is it the corporate culture or your boss? Is it the tedium of doing work that you have been doing for years? Is there anything you can do to change or shift your current job first before deciding to move on? If, on the other hand your hateful job has caused your self-esteem or confidence to erode then it’s time to bail as soon as possible. Before you quit however, try to get as many tools in your job search in place – update your resume, organize your contacts, ensure that you have a computer and all the appropriate software set up at home, etc.
What steps should someone take to find meaningful work?
I have actually identified ten types of meaningful work because often, someone knows that they are missing meaning but they don’t know how to define it. They are:
- Rewards and challenges
- Interesting field or industry
- Expressing your ideals and values
- Contributing/making a difference
- Solving problems
- Changing your lifestyle
- Feeling passionate
- Supporting a cause
- Innovating/creating
- Learning
While you could argue that all ten are important, most people really focus on finding two or three of the ten. Once you are more clear about what is meaningful to you, it’s much easier to identify and find meaningful work. The process to do this is the same as looking for a job – understanding who you could work for (or starting a self-employed venture) and networking into the people who are doing similar types of work.
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Julie Jansen has empowered thousands of professionals to find success, satisfaction and fulfillment at work. A dynamic, much-sought-after speaker, author, facilitator, trainer, coach, and business consultant to Fortune 500, privately held companies and nonprofits, Julie helps senior executives, managers, business owners, and professionals in all industries learn how to increase their effectiveness and jumpstart their careers. Her books include I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not This (2nd edition), and You Want Me To Work With Who? Julie has been quoted in Psychology Today, Fortune, The New York Times, Essence, Cosmopolitan, The Boston Globe and other national publications and is a frequent guest on national TV and radio. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and the Connecticut Press Club and sits on the Advisory Board for Baruch College’s Computer Center for the Visually Impaired. Julie writes content for Yahoo! HotJobs, JobDig.com, and CancerandCareers.org.
