Posted in Career Best Practices

Feeling Satisfied or Stagnant with Your Job? 10 Signs to Tell

When is the last time you checked in with yourself to gauge your job satisfaction?

Most of us have been working so hard lately, there has been little time to pause and reflect on whether we’re truly content – or merely complacent.

That needs to change.

Being content in your job makes you more productive and successful. It’s important for your mental, emotional and even physical wellbeing. If you’re just “going through the motions” at work, however, you may dismiss or minimize problems with your career – and miss out on opportunities for growth and greater fulfillment.

So, ask yourself: Are you feeling satisfied or stagnant in your career?

Here are 10 ways to assess your job satisfaction:

1. How do you feel on Sunday night?

Are you a bit bummed that the weekend is over, or do you experience a weekly case of the Sunday-night blues? Pay attention to your inner dialogue as you mentally prepare for the coming work week; it provides important cues about how content you are.

2. Does time fly by during the day?

When you do work that you really enjoy, you enter a “flow state” – what’s in front of you is all that matters, and time slips away. If you find yourself staring at the clock all day just waiting for the end of it, you’re probably not fulfilled by your job.

3. How excited are you on weekday mornings?

Sure, it’s work, but when you are satisfied with your job you look forward to certain aspects of it. As you wake up each morning, take note of how you feel. If you regularly have days where you’re looking forward to getting to work, that’s a good sign you’re in the right role.

4. What’s your relationship with your coworkers?

Job satisfaction is greater when people support and respect one another. Ask yourself whether your teammates work together to achieve larger goals, or if you’re surrounded by people who are just in it for themselves.

5. Do you feel like your boss appreciates you?

The relationship you have with your immediate supervisor is one of the biggest predictors of your contentment. To gauge your work satisfaction, consider: how much you learn from your boss; how much they trust you; how much they care about your happiness; and how much they value your contributions.

6. Do you complain about work to friends and family?

We all have aspects of our jobs we don’t love, but if you find yourself continually complaining about it – and never talking about the good stuff – it’s a big red flag.

7. How do you react when things get challenging?

When the going gets tough, do you want to throw in the towel…or do you embrace the struggle? When you love what you do, you take challenges in stride. The end goal is worth it.

8. Do you care about what you’re working on?

Check in with yourself periodically to see if that inner voice is saying: “I don’t care how this turns out – I just want to be done with it,” or “I understand the value of what I’m doing and I’m going to give this my best.”

9. Are you interested in what goes on in your company outside your own job?

When you are truly content in your job, you are naturally curious about areas for which you’re not directly responsible. Consider how much you care about what other parts of your organization are working on.

10. How do you feel at the end of the workday?

It’s perfectly normal to feel tired because you’ve invested your time and energy to produce something of value. But if you find yourself exhausted because each day is a struggle, it’s time to consider why that’s the case.

In a career rut? Looking for a change?

Whatever the reason for your job dissatisfaction, it’s important to remember that you do have options.

Make PrideStaff one of those options. Our staffing specialists can examine your skills, interests and career goals – and help you find a job that’s more fulfilling. Contact the PrideStaff office in your area to find out more about great local job opportunities.