12 signs your career isn’t a good fit for your personality
If you don’t feel as though the career you have is a good fit for you, or if you are concerned that your personality doesn’t align with the job role then you’re not alone.
Many people are in the same situation as you are right now, but it’s important to know that you can make a change.
Before you go from the frying pan and into the fire, you need to understand why your current role doesn’t suit you. You also need to look into the types of roles you would be good at, so you can make a positive change going forward.
1) Your job doesn’t use your strengths
At the end of the day, there isn’t a perfect job out there. When you begin to feel disillusioned about your work, it’s usually because you don’t have any opportunities to thrive. Before you quit your current job, it’s wise to do an audit of the job you have now.
Locate any areas that allow you to use your strengths, and take note of anything that energises you. If you can pinpoint things like this, you can then work with your manager to see if it is possible for you to incorporate more opportunities like this, within your current role. This is the best way for you to start feeling better about your career trajectory.
2) You feel negative about work
You know the role you are playing isn’t the right fit when you fail to find any joy in what you do. It may be that you just don’t feel satisfied when a project has been completed, or that you don’t feel excited about a new assignment.
Another sign that your job isn’t right for you, is if you feel snarky, sarcastic or lethargic about the tasks you are working on. You may find yourself wishing for the weekend when it’s only midweek, too. If you want to make a change here then make sure that you find a role that suits your natural talent.
3) You’re overwhelmed
Being overwhelmed can have a lot of causes. If you are a manager, then sometimes you may find that an employee just doesn’t fit the job. You may notice them being overwhelmed and this is a sign that you need to step in. That being said, if you are overwhelmed yourself, you may end up overlooking the top signs from your employees, and this can have damaging consequences.
It may be that you end up adding to your workload because you are not able to manage everything and this can work against you in the long run. As a manager, it’s your job to take care of your team, but you can’t do this if you are struggling yourself. If you want to make a positive change then it may be time for you to reevaluate your current position.
4) You have lost your passion
One surefire sign that you are not in the right job is if you have lost your passion for the job. Sometimes, you may lose your spark because of a difficult boss, or because you have shifting expectations. If you can, you need to do what you can to identify what you are passionate about so you can see if you can change your situation. If not then it may be time for you to look for another position.
5) You aren’t motivated
A lot of people tend to ignore the warning signs about their job not being right for them. You may find that you end up covering the way you feel with excuses and this can work against you. Sometimes, you have to reach crisis point to make a change but this is dangerous to your mental health.
If you want to help yourself here, then one thing you need to do is ask yourself, what gets you out of bed in the morning? If you can’t think of a reason that is making your daily grind worthwhile, then now is the time for you to do something about that. If you want a job that is less stressful or that gives you the chance to work from home, then why not get paid to sit down?
6) You’re not included
An early warning sign of whether or not your job is right for you is if you are not being included. If you are only ever being used as a resource then this is a sign that your job is not for you. Over time, you should be given more authority and you should also be given more opportunities to contribute. If this is not the case or if you find that you are not able to build your network properly then you may find that you never end up being able to advance in your chosen career.
7) Nothing works for you
No job is perfect. Every single job out there will have its bad moments and good moments. First of all, you need to try and examine your expectations so you can find out if they are at all realistic. Sometimes your job will be a launching pad to another.
If this is the case then you need to tough it out until you are able to secure your dream job. If the bad is constantly outweighing the good, or if you feel as though you are not able to move on then this is a major red-flag sign that something has to change.
8) There is no value alignment
If you don’t feel as though the company you work for aligns well with what you personally believe in then this will make things harder for you in the long run. You may find that you are not able to support yourself and that your mental health ends up suffering.
Some of the top signs include poor nutrition, complaining, lack of pride and low productivity. If you feel as though you relate to some of these signs, then it may be that your job doesn’t align with your values. If you want to do something about this then you need to find a job you feel passionate about. You also need to find a job that aligns with the way you feel about the industry.
If you are very proactive about recycling and being green, but the company you work for is actively harming the environment then this is a clear sign of value misalignment. The only way you are going to get out of this position would be for you to seek out another job.
9) You can’t be yourself
Another clear sign that your job doesn’t suit your personality is if you are constantly trying to be someone who you are not. Your job might be a poor fit for you because you have to put on a face or act on a daily basis. This can be exhausting, not to mention that it will eventually wear you down to the point where you forget what you stand for.
10) You don’t know how you contribute
If you don’t know how you contribute to the bigger picture or if you don’t know how you are being utilised for the greater good then this is another red flag. You may feel as though you end up feeling inadequate, and that you feel as though your company would operate the same if you left. If this is the case then this is a sign that you are not being given enough responsibility.
Every company should give you the chance to progress and they should also help you to get on a solid career trajectory. If your chosen company is not doing this, or if they are not helping you to move up the ranks then this is a clear sign that something has to change.
11) You’re focused on wants
Ask yourself, what do you need from your job? If you end up listing wants, such as the opportunity to make more money or a company phone then this is a sign that you are not in the right position. One thing you can do here is find a need for your job. It may be that you need to work this job so you can gain eligibility for a higher position, or that you need to do a certain amount of hours to move up the ladder.
12) You can’t speak up
If you don’t feel as though you can speak up about your job or if you don’t feel as though your boss listens to you then this may be a sign that you are working within a toxic environment. If you want to make a change here then one thing you can do is try and push yourself to vocalise your concerns to your boss.
It may be that you talk to them about any workplace bullying that is taking place or that you focus on telling them about the problems within the company. If you do this and they still don’t listen then this is a major red flag and you need to do something about it as soon as possible.
