Making your job work for you

Being at work takes up a large part of your life so there’s no point in staying somewhere and doing something that bores you or makes you miserable.

If you find yourself surfing the net, making personal phone calls and emailing your friends to get you through your working day, it’s probably time you made a move or changed your role, to be fair to both yourself and your employers.

Dusting off your CV and scouring the internet for new positions is one option, but putting in the effort to improve things in your current employment could transform your life. The probability of being approached by some god-like figure that has your vocation mapped out for you is somewhat slim, so it falls upon you to set new career targets.

There is no reason why this has to be seen as a chore, with help and support widely available from employment counsellors and recruitment agencies and various training schemes on offer. And you can make a dramatic change, without having to completely pack up your desk and move on.

Alison Taylor, a careers coach at careers development agency Learndirect, says: “Identifying the cause of your unhappiness can be the first step to finding a way to improve your work life. It may be that you don’t like the job, the department or even the people you work with.

A new challenge

“Do you need a new challenge? If so, develop new skills or gain qualifications that can lead to improved job prospects and satisfaction.” It’s never too late for a career change - and you can do this without swapping your employer. Neil Wilson, Managing Director at recruitment consultants Badenoch & Clark, says, “Only you can take control of enhancing your career. Once you’ve taken the first step, it isn’t hard to find good quality advice and support to make your ideas a reality. This is an important aspect of the work that our own consultants do every day.”

The starting point is to look at your skills. And before you turn your life upside down, consider carefully whether or not your current environment can provide what you need. Here are a few pointers:

• Is there the opportunity to explore new avenues in your role or team? Perhaps there are other internal opportunities available at the company.
• Talk to your boss or to your HR department and tell them how you feel. It’s in both your interests to sort this out.
• Learn something new by making the most of your employers’ training facilities or schemes available to you.
• Put yourself forward for new tasks. Have the confidence to step outside your comfort zone, you may unearth skills you never realised you had.
• Is it the money that is driving you away? Is there room for negotiation as far as your salary is concerned? Don’t be afraid to request a pay rise but do be clear about why you are worth it.

Useful resources

Try the learndirect.co.uk Advice Line - 0800 100 900 And there’s plenty of career advice in the Looking for a job section on www.badenochandclark.com