Do You Have a Corporate Dead-End Job?
May 21st, 2011 // 8:26 am @ admin
Many people when thinking about a dead end job they think about low paying unskilled jobs such as working as a cashier at McDonald’s or as the stock person at the local grocery store. A dead end job is not only limited within the confines of unskilled work. Many of us may very well be at a dead end and not even know it.
Shelly is a mid manager at a large publishing company. Shelly performs well and works hard. Although she has made various lateral role moves throughout the company, she has essentially not had a promotion or an increase in her level of responsibility in 10 years. Shelly has also seen very little increase in her salary while her company has been profitable for many years. In addition, Shelly has long lost all the passion for her job that she once had and is now contemplating a career change. At this point it doesn’t matter to her whether she gets a promotion or not. Shelly is a dead end job.
Anyone no matter their level is susceptible to working at a dead end job. These jobs only serve to delay our career growth as we continue to advance as professionals. Here are four signs that you have a dead end job.
You lack passion for your work
Lack of personal fulfillment at work, can be draining on one’s energy. It takes much more energy to motivate yourself to work hard at something that is unfulfilling. This lack of passion will eventually lead to a desire for another job or a change in career. If you are unhappy, dissatisfied, and restless at work then you may be at a dead end job.
Unrealistic Work Objective
Is the goal for your entire job assignment not based in reality? Do you know that you can not realistically meet the expectations for which you were hired? If this is so, you may be set up for failure, a loss of your job, and a potentially damaged reputation. Take time to reconsider your employment today. You may be at a dead job.
Are your goals aligned?
Do you find that your job and your career goals are not aligned? Based on your career goals, is your job not adding any value to you or moving you closer to the kind of work experience that you want. If this is the case you may be at a dead end job.
Little to no increase in salary
Have you worked at the same job of years, seen an increase in responsibility without any sign of a potential title change, promotion, or raise in salary? Or maybe you fit the profile of the previous question, but without the increase in responsibility. Begin to evaluate how your current job is moving you forward in your career goals. You may be at a dead end job.
If you relate to anyone of the previous four signs, read my blog next week to find out what to do about your dead end job.