Tuesday, October 16, 2018
It’s one thing to take an entry level job for the experience and money. It’s another to still be there 10 years later. Maybe you even got a promotion to middle management, but you can tell that’s as far as your boss and her boss see you going. You’ve tried working long hours and taking projects that no one wants. All that’s done is make your boss call you “indispensable.” Uh-oh. “This dead end job is ruining my life!” you shout.
And you’d be right on all counts. You ARE stuck in a dead end job. But don’t panic yet.
Here are some ways to get on the road again:
Schedule a managerial update.
Make sure your boss knows how much you (and the people you supervise) do on any given day. Your boss doesn’t have to be all ivory tower to miss the amount or quality of work you do. They might know that you or someone on your team is stressed out or having some personal issues in any given week. You have to show her. You have to tell him. Not just during work performance reviews. Schedule a monthly update, especially if you supervise employees your boss rarely interacts with.
Share your list.
Make sure he or she knows what you do, too. If you are taking projects that are not in your job description, keep careful track of your projects and your hours. I was in a job in my 30s in which I spent as many hours on extra assignments as I did on the stuff I was being scrutinized for. Also, make sure you keep any stats that might come with any project you or your team works on. Did your writing save the day in a crisis? Did you save the company money? Make sure everyone knows it.
Solve a problem!
Nothing gets upper management’s attention than someone who independently solves a problem. They might not even know the problem exists, and if you identify it and the FIX it for them, it’s going to go a long way toward getting you noticed and compensated. One note of caution: Stay away from the word “indispensable.” If they find you to be just that, they may not ever give you a promotion. They want to keep you right where you are…working all hours for them!
Prove your worth (to your boss).
You’re not talking to yourself. You’re not talking to your BFF. Or a colleague. Speak in your boss’ language. But remember your boss is person not a robot. Choose the right time, not when they’re at their busiest (or grumpiest). To do this, ask them to schedule a meeting with you at a time that’s convenient for them. Perhaps they want something in writing first. Keep it simple and make it clear. If they like to read bullets and you write long paragraphs, you won’t get what you want, and you’ll have wasted your time.
Say after your efforts, nothing changes. Then it’s time to move on if you can. Sometimes it’s just baseless fear that keeps us sitting in an office we don’t enjoy. Other times we have a reason we must remain…such as mortgages and children, or even health issues. Answer these questions and rate them between 1 and 5 in terms of how much they’re affecting your decision to stay or leave:
Yes or No? Rate how much?
- Is this job adversely affecting your physical or mental health?
- Do you or your family need the income?
- Is this a job or a career?
- Do you like something about this job that you wouldn’t get anywhere else?
- Are you deciding to stay in this job, or is someone else telling you to stay?
Now, add up your numbers in numbers 2-5 and divide by 4. Round up. If the answer you get is less than your answer to number 1, then you might consider waiting for the notice you deserve. If it’s more than or equal to your answer to number 1, it’s time to move on! Nothing is worth your health because if you lose your health you not only lose your job, you lose quality of life, or even your life!
What you’re doing here is weighing leaving and staying to create a better life balance. You’re taking an objective look at how it would change your life either way. You may decide your reticence to leave is unfounded. You may decide you need to stay for a while.
If you make a choice to stay, start exploring other options.
Consider other similar lines of work, or go back to school. Ask people doing what you’d prefer to be doing to lunch. You might even ask them if they’d mentor you. Set goals, priorities, and deadlines. Think about how you can change yourself to change your life in a proactive, routine way. Sometimes change is better for us if it’s slower, especially in today’s job market.
If you still feel unsure, talk to someone you trust–a friend, a coach, a therapist. I’m here if you’d like to share your story and set up a strategy.