Badenoch and Clark’s 2010 Happiness at Work survey revealed that 78% of the respondents were very content with their jobs.  The key motivating factors given were the quality of the work they do and the salary they receive. In fact, the Happiness at Work Index shows that people are generally much happier than they were before the recession began.

Great news, but what if you aren’t satisfied with your job?

Before you decide to leave your job and company, take a step back to consider if it’s really the right decision. We all think about changing jobs from time to time, but that won’t always solve our problems.

Sometimes people are unhappy because of the way they’re thinking and how they perceive the world. However, factors like working relationships with other employees and your boss, shortages of resources and other issues can stress you out at work. So, write down what you like and dislike about your workplace and your job. Think about whether you are able to achieve your full potential in your current employment, but be realistic about your skills and expectations.

Enhance your skills

If your frustration is due to a personal weakness, lacking a particular skill for example, ask if your employer is willing to send you on a training course. Find out if you can take some time off from work to study. If not, you might want to consider an evening class or home study course.

Gain a work-life balance

Ever feel that the demands of your personal life and your work are too much, and feel that you can’t cope with the pressure? Ask your employer about flexible working, as companies are accepting it more readily these days. In fact, 29% of the office workers surveyed by Badenoch and Clark said that they’ve gained this opportunity at work. Flexible working is seen as the highest ranking benefit outside of a traditional benefits package.

So, before you jump ship, think about the following:

• What does your work-life balance look like and how could it be improved? Make sure you don’t work any longer than you really have to. Speak to your employer and boss to see if you can work condensed, part-time or alternative working hours.
• Will your employer allow you to work from home, and how? You could ask to work from home on certain days, to reduce the commute – time that you could spend either working more productively or doing some personal things.
• How much time do you put aside for activities other than work? Take up a new hobby or develop a new interest to allow you to relax and grow as a person.
• What is most important in your life? Set time aside for friends and family.
• What makes you feel happy as an individual, what do you enjoy most?

Remember that you do have certain legal rights, including the ability to ask an employer for flexible working conditions. On the other hand, if you’ve lost interest in your work and the company, and don’t feel that anything is likely to improve, then it’s perhaps time to move on.

Bear in mind that not everyone can work in their ideal job, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying to find one that you can enjoy. After all it’s better to swim with the current than against it, and this principle will help you to find happiness.

Useful Links:

• The Happiness at Work Index
• Good Reasons for Quitting Your Job
• Who Can Request Flexible Working
• Things You Should Consider Before Quitting Your Job

Related posts:

1. Your changing CV Your CV is not a fixed document – as you...
2. Deciding When to Change Jobs. Time to Move On? Deciding to change jobs or careers is typically a fairly...
3. Advice on Changing Careers There’s no work in my chosen field… You can do...
4. No more 9-5: How the world of work is changing Whoever said that work and pleasure should never be mixed...
5. The Changing Role of Working Fathers It could be goodbye yummy mummy and hello dishy dad...