By Markey Read

Millions of people in the US suffer through jobs and professions that do not suit them and that make them miserable. And millions of people are often shocked when released from those very same jobs by their employers.

The majority of people, however, can point to the steps that resulted in the loss of the position . . . after the fact.

Some of the common signs include:

• Being late to work more often.
• Having no desire to perform the tasks/responsibilities.
• Calling in sick more often.
• Being sick all the time.
• Chronic complaining about co-workers, job, and/or the company.
• Being consistently bored in meetings.
• Oversleeping often.
• Forcing yourself to go to work everyday.
• Feeling depressed.
• Feeling like the day/week/month would never end.
• Feeling generally dissatisfied with quality of life.
• Regularly not sleeping well.
• Feeling like your situation is hopeless.
• Being placed on probation or being demoted.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you should change your job or career. It could, however, give you cause to ask some probing questions . . . and give yourself some honest answers.

Some common self-inquires to answer are:

• Is your daily work satisfying?
• Have you received any critical feedback from fellow employees, supervisors, or managers regarding your performance that you felt was unfounded?
• Is there anything you can do to improve your performance?
• Are you clear about your responsibilities?
• Are you performing your responsibilities to your highest ability?
• Are you bored with your work?
• Do you need any additional training or support?
• Are there one or more relationships in the office that are interfering with productivity – especially a manager or supervisor?
• Do you have regular (weekly, monthly, or quarterly) upsetting events that reoccur?
• Are you distracted from your job by personal challenges?

If any of these questions has led you to think that a change is in order, take some positive steps toward the change. You do not have to change everything at once. Most people report feeling greatly relieved when they take a first step toward change.

Some possible first steps include:

• Stop complaining and start talking about what works.
• Get out of the office at least once in the day for fresh air.
• Reorganize your office/work space to be more efficient.
• Complete and clean out old rotting projects that sap energy.
• Clean out computer files and filing cabinets to make room for more of what you want – release what you do not want more of.
• Inventory your accomplishments – collect examples of your work in a plain folder to put into a portfolio later.
• Make a list of why you stay and why you think you want to leave.
• Identify the true source of the feelings for a change.
• Start writing down your personal, professional, family, etc. goals.
• Talk to a friend/partner/spouse/ counselor who can help you create an action plan.
• Take one action each day that will bring you closer to your goal.
• Reduce or eliminate sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and high-fat foods – they feel good in the moment but really only postpone the obvious.

It has been said that the only constant is change itself, and yet human beings generally resist change. I’ll say that again people resist changing until the changing appears as less painful than the not changing.

There are numerous resources that can help you make positive changes in your life. Some options include: Employee Assistance Programs, community-based counseling services, private career counselors & therapists, friends, family, and professional peers. If you choose to use a friend or family member, be sure that the person selected is really available and has the skills to listen and offer positive alternatives.

One of the most valuable lessons to learn from all this evaluating and changing is to remember how you got into this position. Write down the red flags that you can see in retrospect and keep the list in full view while making choices for future positions. If you find you that you land in similarly dissatisfying positions over and over, you are not paying attention to the signs.

When the signs are ignored and the same mistakes are made over and over, people tend to start job hoping and creating a history of “Bad Job Karma.” Potential employers can smell you coming and will get nervous about hiring you. Job Karma is repairable – it starts with paying attention to the signs and making new choices.

Make one change today that will improve your outlook.