Got the Monday morning blues every morning? According to a report by leading UK recruitment firm, Randstad, a third (33%) of UK workers are dissatisfied with their jobs. But while the statistic warrants concern, it’s not exactly surprising. After all, when was the last time you saw a packed commuter train in the morning rush hour full of happy, smiling faces?
Another report by online recruitment giant, monster.co.uk, may offer an insight into this widespread career ennui. The study revealed over a third (34%) of Brits will stay in a job they’re unhappy with for more than a year before looking for another one, with 15% soldiering on for at least 18 months feeling unfulfilled.
"These findings say a lot about the British resolve, that we would rather persevere at something than be seen to ‘give up’ and move onto something else,” says Andy Sumner, Managing Director of Monster UK & Ireland.
“However, whilst it is always good to be sure you’ve done everything you can to make a situation work, you don’t want to make yourself unhappy. The right job for everyone is out there, so if you don’t feel like you’re getting the most out of your current job role, it might be time to move on and find something better," he adds.
But while it is unhealthy to fester in a thankless or unfulfilling job, it is advisable to take stock before marching into the boss’s office with your letter of resignation and embarking on a complete career change.
“Think about whether it really is your career that you want to change. Be very specific about what you do and don’t like about your current work and think about exactly what would make your working life more enjoyable,” suggests life coach and career development expert, Melanie Allen.
“Make sure you explore all your options and don’t rush the process. You may find that you can make a change in a less drastic way, for example, modifying your existing job by going part-time and pursuing another interest, moving sideways, finding a secondment opportunity or getting involved in another project,” she adds.
If you still want to pursue a completely new challenge, Melanie suggests asking yourself these ten crucial questions first.
Given the average Brit spends more than 40 hours a week at work, job troubles can be a dominant negative force over your life. But they are not necessarily insurmountable. Here are six of the most common work gripes with techniques on how to overcome them.