Unhappy at work but think you have no alternative? Think again!

Is your job getting to you and you can't see any way out at the moment? Have you become so dissatisfied that you are considering quitting your job, but you have no idea what you want to do instead? Before you leave a job without even thinking about it, read this article first. There might even be a chance of fixing your current situation or at least finding a new job to go forward with. Are you unhappy at work? This is what you should do.

Unhappy at work, what should you do?

You're no longer excited to up in the morning and struggle to even start work? Do you want to just pack it in immediately and hand in your resignation letter? Stop and think! Before you take this final step and leave a job, take a moment and ask yourself a few questions.

Why are you actually so miserable at work?

Can you put your finger on what exactly bothers you about your job? What is the problem which is making you unhappy at work? Is there a lack of team spirit or recognition of your performance? Do you not like the actual work or the rules imposed on you? Is there too much pressure from above or are you bored at work? Or are you unhappy at work because of a colleague? You're not alone.

Here are the top 5 reasons for leaving a job

• Low salary (53%)
• Poor behaviour of management (53%)
• Poor relationship with colleagues (44%)
• No or low recognition (43%)
• Monotonous, boring activities (32%)

Are you also part of the problem?

Perhaps it's not just external circumstances, but you yourself, who are part of the problem. So ask yourself if something you are doing might be making you unhappy at work. Are you perhaps naturally reserved and have difficulty being assertive with others? You might find that it is the job and the tasks themselves which you don't enjoy. Then you should figure out for yourself where you want your career to take you. If you just leave your job without thinking about the reasons why, you'll certainly face the same problems again in your next job.

Would small changes be enough to make you happy again?

Your colleague sitting next to you is constantly on the phone so loud that you can't even concentrate on your work. You are really distracted by this and make mistakes which management are not happy about. Talk to your team leader about the problem and find a solution together. Changing seats may help. Sometimes it's as easy as that, but not always (of course).

How long have you been unhappy in your job?

Can you remember when you started to feel unsatisfied in your job? What was the trigger? Of course, there are times in every job which are particularly stressful or when the atmosphere has reached rock bottom. However, these times don't often last long, they're just temporary. So don't let this discourage you too quickly. Keep at it! We tend to see the worst in everything. Try to think about what you enjoy about your job and get your motivation back. Your employer should be grateful for all the time and effort you've put in. That is the best place to be before your next salary negotiation...

Unhappy at work but you can't see an alternative? Here's how to overcome your career crisis

It's no use, you're miserable at work. For ages you've hoped it would get better, but you just see no way out of the situation. Don't wait too long. Eventually you'll be so depressed with everything that you'll have no energy left to pull yourself out of the rut. If you're constantly unhappy at work, it might cause you to experience depression, and we don't want to let it come to that. So, let's find a way out of the situation!

Work on your attitude!

If you just sink into self-pity and persuade yourself you have no alternatives to this job, then you will probably stay unhappy in this job forever. Stop playing the victim and change your mindset. That is the only way out of the rut. It is what it is. That's not nice to hear, but you have to accept it. Focus your energy on looking forward. Imagine how it feels to work in your dream job. If you can imagine it, then take the next step and get it.

What do you want from your job?

Are you unhappy at work but have no alternative? Then figure out what you want from your next job. Ask yourself what makes you happy at work, what areas interest you, what activities come naturally to you and what tasks do you simply find irritating. What gets you in the zone? What are you passionate about? What do you want from your job? It's best to write it all down. Let your thoughts flow, there's no right or wrong answer. This is the only way of getting a solid idea of what you're looking for.

By thinking in this way, can you develop new ideas and perhaps turn your passion into your new profession? If you need further inspiration, look at the JobTeaser portal. Here you'll find a wide range of interesting new job opportunities waiting for you. What are you waiting for?

Register now for free at JobTeaser and find your new dream job!

Hand in your notice, but in style!

Even if you have been deeply unhappy in your job, a clean break from your ex-employer is always the best answer. You never know when and where you'll meet again. If possible, only hand in your resignation letter when the new job is a sure thing and when the contracts are already signed. You should also consider these 9 points if you want to quit your job in 2023.