How can You use Bad Jobs as Stepping Stones to find Your Purpose?
“It’s OK to have a few jobs you hate. Explore what you are passionate about. Don’t spend your time wondering what you want to do. Try stuff out and learn new things.” Thanks Sean Kernan for the “Get-Out-Of-Jail” card!
Your post was written for those in their 20’s.
However this part is good for ALL ages. Not just the 20's.
We often stay in a job that we hate because we NEED the money. The worst reason to keep a job. We end up resenting the job and making ourselves and others miserable. Life is too short for this.
Normally bad jobs or breaks are seen as unstable job history in our resumes. Why? Bad jobs (or jobs that you hate) don’t tend to last long. What happens when you have a few of those in a row? The recruiter or hiring manager will not like it. It makes getting a reference hard too.
However, you could look at it as “I haven’t found my Sweet Spot yet” or the “Right Fit” for more traditional career speak. Companies with a high staff turnover have this mysterious uneasiness. Staff leave without their managers being willing to acknowledge that they may be part of the problem.
As long as you have enough cash to pay the bills, you could try out different types of jobs until you find one that you enjoy.
- One that you really Enjoy. The type of jobs that you would do for free because you love it so much. You get paid because you ARE good at what you do and other people notice it.
2. Figuring out what that is EXACTLY may need feedback from other people.
3. Ask some of your best friends or colleagues what they observe about you. You may be unaware of your X-Factor until someone points it out to you.
4. Be as gentle (or blunt) with the person until they are willing to receive your feedback. Some people may not get it at first, until they hear another two or three people saying the SAME thing. Perhaps in another way.
5. The BEST jobs are those that you are happy to accept in an instant or without overthinking about it. If you have to think too long, consider the pros and cons of it — then ask yourself why.
6. You don’t need anyone’s permission to try new things, even jobs.
“What would you do, if you knew that you couldn’t fail?”
Go and do that!
Ivonne Teoh