For many, work is the cause of frustration instead of fulfilment. If you are in this situation, it’s a good idea to find the reasons that might cause this problem. Is it a bad atmosphere at work? Too many responsibilities? Unfair treatment by the boss? Maybe the job is simply boring you.
53% of Americans are reported to be unhappy at work – according to the Conference Board
Doing things below your qualifications, you lack challenges and are taken away the opportunity to show initiative. That situation places you a thin line from burnout. If your job doesn’t use your professional potential, consider changing it. Of course, changing one’s work shouldn’t be a spontaneous decision. Deciding on it when at your worst is not the best choice. It’s best, if such a decision comes from your own needs and initiative instead of outside circumstances, like being jobless, as being under pressure can make you rush into making poor decisions.
1. Think about how much you know about yourself
Before starting to consider any work-related aspects it is a good idea to focus only on yourself. Try to picture yourself outside of work, what are your every-day preferences. Do you enjoy spending time with a large group of people or do you feel intimidated and uneasy in such situations? Or feel the thrive towards the unknown? Do you like trying new things, the uncertainty and adrenaline is your push factor? Or maybe you prefer sticking to situations you are well familiar with and new ones make you so stressed that failure is almost inevitable. Are you a person who enjoys drifting between different field? 
Or do you prefer sticking to one and improving only at that?
Such analysis will help you get to know yourself a bit better. They will also point you in the right direction in terms of finding the perfect job.
2. Define the reasons limiting your growth at work
Before changing your job, it’s a good idea to think about which aspects of your work are stopping you from improving and developing.
Is it the fault of the field at which your company is currently working at? You might be feeling like you have stopped or are even going backwards. Is it because your responsibilities are limited to a narrow field and you aren’t given any assignments that require a different approach or some more consideration? Maybe you feel like the means of work that you need to use at your job are outdated and not as effective as the new ones or we just would like to test other ones out. All these and more might cause you to feel ‘stuck’.
3. Define your professional potential
What lies behind the phrase work potential? It’s an estimation of your character and professional experience combined. That will help you identify what fields of work and what positions will match you best. It’s important to identify your character features and divide them into your strong and weak sides. This will help to avoid starting a job that is not suited for you. It’s important to consider, whether to take a job that seems to be full of advantages, if it interferes with your character. For instance, if a certain position would require a lot of contact with clients and you consider yourself an introvert or just lack patience then maybe it’s not worth it.
When you do things below your qualifications, you lack the opportunity to show initiative. It places you a thin line from burnout.
Another aspect of work potential is education and experience. This concerns everything from the degree you have, work experience, to any courses or classes that you took additionally.
When you have defined your work potential, you will probably ask yourself a question why you haven’t changed your job beforehand. This thorough analysis will not only make the process of finding the perfect job much easier but will also help you build your confidence and help you realize the vast possibilities you hold to make a change for the better in your professional life.
4. Define your expectations towards your future job
When you have defined flaws in your current work and aspects that limit you there, it’s time to set some expectations towards your future job. Knowing your work potential, figure out what it is you are looking for in your dream job. Try to be precise during this process so that you can mention your expectations in your job interview.
If you have answered questions from point 1 then you can identify whether you wish to work with people or limit this contact to a minimum. Depending on your attitude on trying new things you should know whether working on diverse and challenging projects would fit you best or maybe sticking to similar assignments that won’t bring too many surprises will make you happy.
5. Start the search for the perfect job, but take your time
You identified your expectations. Have drawn a conclusion from the dissatisfaction from your current job. And you know the professional potential you hold. Now it’s high time to start looking for a different job. It’s important to acknowledge that to do something right you need to sacrifice some time. If you are not under pressure from any external factors, then it’s more beneficial to take it easy and stop yourself from sending 10 applications a day. It’s doubtful that you will find many perfect job offers this way. You might either end up in a job you are unhappy at or just end up wasting your and the recruiter’s time.
Knowing your work potential, figure out what you are looking for in your dream job
If you don’t commit enough time and effort now, then you will find yourself in a similar situation a couple of months later. It’s crucial not to get discouraged if you haven’t found an offer that suits you. The job market is vast and diverse. Every day plenty of new offers come up. So waiting a few more days or weeks might be the time needed for your ideal job offer to appear.
Summary
In conclusion, changing your workplace is a big decision. Even though I have mentioned it multiple times I will mention it again: TAKE YOUR TIME. That advice concerns the decision-making process, the analysis of your character, as well as the actual search for a new job. Before rushing into the decision to change your job, you might consider talking to your boss. Ask him for a slightly different position or getting some different responsibilities. As work is a huge part of life, it’s crucial to find one that you enjoy. Above all, it should let you thrive and develop.
