I Hate My Job: Now What?

By Dawn Papandrea

From an outside observer, it would seem Cameron Herald had it made. As the vice president of corporate development in a rapidly expanding 900-employee Internet company based in Seattle, WA, he was well paid, had great stock options, and worked in what he calls an "overall fun environment." Of course, that was before he collapsed in an elevator, sobbing.

"Somebody in an elevator asked me how I was one day," says the 34-year-old Vancouver, Canadian resident. "I said OK, and then collapsed. That's when I realized that the stress of what I was doing was way too much."

For one thing, Cameron had to leave his pregnant wife in Canada all week to work at the company's Seattle headquarters, only seeing her on weekends when he drove home. And then there was the corporate backstabbing, long hours, and mind games.

"The pace was that we were hiring three new employees a day. And the two founders of the company were fighting with each other, trying to buy the other one out. I felt like a pawn in their chess game," says Cameron. His 12-hour workdays began at 6:30 a.m., and he'd end them with dinner and a night out on the town. "I'd finish my day with a Manhattan and get up and do it all over again."

Cameron's breakdown made him realize that his paycheck would never be enough to counter the constant stress and strain that his job played on his health and personal life. "I decided to quit, and literally changed everything about my life."

Ever feel like Cameron? Perhaps you're not in the high-pressure situation he was in, but whether it's a nightmare boss, a stagnant position in a dead-end company, or an unfulfilled career dream, it may be time for you to stop complaining and do something.

For Cameron, that meant networking with some old friends and eventually becoming the vice president of operations for 1800GotJunk, a junk removal company that serves North America. The best part? It's located only nine minutes from his Vancouver home. Although the pace is just as quick as his old job - the company generates $65 million in sales - Cameron says the different mentality and teamwork culture makes all the difference.

"I just went for a run an hour ago. I have a waterfall at my desk. It's a casual, comfortable environment," he says. In fact, the company was just recently ranked the best company to work for in British Columbia.

His advice? "Take a look and find the companies that are well-respected in the industry. See which ones are ranked as good employers." Of course, he says, you must also expect some roadblocks along the way. "Maybe you'll have to get a part time job on weekends at Starbucks to pay the rent. Or maybe you'll have to use an executive recruiter to help me find a new position." Nonetheless, he adds, "every single obstacle can be beaten."

So agrees Andrea Kay, career consultant, speaker, and author of several books including "Greener Pastures: How to Find a Job in Another Place" (St. Martin's Press, 1999). "To even think you won't have roadblocks is unrealistic, so number one - accept them," she says.

Once you've done that, take time out to reflect, she adds. "Don't rush to develop a new resume. That's the mistake almost everyone makes. Instead, reflect on what isn't working, what's not right about where you are, what are your greatest strengths are, and what you love to do," says Kay.

That technique worked for Stephanie Jo Klein, owner of Klein Creative Communications, a promotional gift bag creation business based in New York City. Prior to her entrepreneurial endeavor, Stephanie was a freelance writer and fact-checker for numerous publications. "When I found myself writing for Fortune Small Business, writing profiles and tales from the trenches of small business owners, I found myself completely captivated by their stories," she says. "I realized I wanted to be like them."

Through her volunteer work with the Newswomen's Club of New York - she was the club's membership vice president in 2003 - she created gift bags for the club's annual Front Page Awards gala. They were so well received by the journalists in attendance that she decided to start her own business in early 2004. "If you're trying to figure out where you want to go, volunteering is a good thing to do," she affirms.

Although the talent and drive was there, the hardest part for the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) graduate was realizing that a career change was not something of which she should be ashamed. "It took me six years to figure out that just because I want to do something that I didn't study, doesn't mean I failed."

Once she accepted the change Stephanie registered at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, in its meeting, conference, and event management certificate program (see some study options on the right). "I got the course guide and I couldn't decide what I wanted to take next," she says. "Just meeting the people and the speakers was a great networking experience."

Kay agrees about the power of networking. "The best way to find a new job is to hold meaningful conversations with people," she advises. "Talk about your career with people who can guide you and refer you."

Ultimately, it's up to you to find a job in which you can be happy. "When you notice yourself not feeling challenges, not feeling energized, and watching the clock, start taking note," says Kay. Once your motivation to move on outweighs your fear, she says, you're ready to make the leap.

"It's a lot easier to quit than you think," adds Cameron. "Life is way too short to wake up in the morning and hate what you do."

You're not alone.
Fifty-nine percent of college-educated professionals in New York City say they expect to have three or more different careers over their lifetimes.
Source: Research by New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Career Change Tips

Review your skills and understand how they can be applied in a different environment.
Explore your options, set goals, and make plans to develop yourself to fit your new career path.
Acquire new skills by returning to school and/or volunteering
Do something you enjoy.
Source: Tony Lee, editor-in-chief of CareerJournal.com

Thursday, November 08, 2007

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