A major issue with adults continues to be job and career dissatisfaction. In one poll, 50 percent of those surveyed said that if they were starting over they would choose a different career. Some people are so stressed about their jobs that they don't want to go to work in the morning. For others, the problem of job stress is so severe that they're having health problems. One person put it this way: "I make a living at my job, but I don't look forward to going to work every day. In fact, I usually dread it, and when I'm there, I look forward to 5 o'clock so I can go home." A person in sales said, "I can make a big sale on Friday, but I hate my job so much that I don't look forward to going to work on Monday."
Unfortunately, many people chose a field of work that wasn't a good match. We all know some version of the saying about putting a round peg in a square hole; the implication is it doesn't work because it won't fit. That's exactly why so many people have been unable to really enjoy their work. They don't fit. Putting the round peg in the round hole and the square peg in the square hole is the basic concept for finding a career that fits. It sounds simple, but there are two problems.
First, many people completely ignore trying to find a match. They've been told, "You can do anything if you set your mind to it," so they choose their career based on criteria other than their talents. Second, many people don't have a clear picture of what their talents are. They make some bad assumptions about their strengths, or they may be steered by those around them who also do not have an objective view. However, each of us has a unique personality "shape" that is determined by our talents and interests. We have counseled many people who hated their work because they were in a vocational mismatch. When they found out their true shape, they were relieved and excited about their future work possibilities.
So, if you've realized you are in the wrong career, I recommend that you undergo some sort of personality assessment to determine the career that fits you. Once you know your shape, don't compare your strengths to those of other people. Instead, rejoice in your strengths and match them to a career that fits. Trying to be someone else only leads to frustration. Being yourself, on your job and elsewhere, is a more reliable path to satisfaction.
To Your Success!
Jerry
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