Many people compare themselves to their friends and family and think to themselves ‘why don’t I have a great job?’ If you are miserable at your job or don’t feel like you are fulfilling your potential, this might be the reality check you need today. Here are 6 reasons why you might be feeling stuck or not contributing to your full potential which you have full control over to change. Work on these and you might see a huge transformation.

Lack of Market Understanding

Before we get into it we have to face reality. Due to the pandemic, the unemployment rate has been over 10% in the United States. The average unemployment rate for the last 80 years has been between 5-6% in the US. If the unemployment rate where you live is over 8%, don’t become too picky about your work for the time being, and be grateful to be employed. If the unemployment rates are lower than this, you have a better opportunity to explore new opportunities. Meanwhile, continue to add more value than expected and take the opportunity to step outside of your job description and learn new skills or strengthen current skills that you enjoy.

Not Clear On What You Want

Many people don’t honestly know what they are looking for to feel fulfilled at work, and so no matter where they work, they won’t ever be fully settled or happy. You need to take some time to think about what you are looking for in a job, and what you are hoping to gain and achieve. For some, this is great benefits, a certain location, or a high salary to provide for their family. Other people are looking for a long-term position, having the right leader, or want to gain experience in a specific industry. By being clear on what you want, you are much more likely to be happy and fulfilled.

Don’t Know What You Offer

Once you know what you are looking for in a job, you also need to think about what you can offer. What skills, expertise, contacts, and experience can you bring to the table? Do you offer solutions and are a team player that will be an asset to any working environment? Or do you tend to complain and just talk about problems? Knowing your top attributes so you can sell yourself while also being honest with yourself about areas and skills that you know you need to work on will help you sell yourself in a genuine way instead of overselling.

Having a Bad Attitude

Attitude goes a long way when it comes to landing the job of your dreams. The value of attitude is higher than even skills and experience in many situations. A positive attitude means people want to be around you constantly, which is an asset to any workplace. On the other hand, if you act ‘too cool for school’ and are not willing to learn and adapt to a new environment, this is going to set you back.

Disloyal Perception

Suppose your resume shows you yo-yoing between jobs every few months. This is a red flag to many hiring managers and they will question your intentions and loyalty. Employers don’t want to hire people who are likely to quit within a few months. It’s a waste of everyone’s time and money. The net result of this is that you might be overlooked for the job that would have made you feel happy and fulfilled.

Not Working On A Foundation

Good punctuality and a strong work ethic will get you far with any new company and will accelerate your growth, and growth leads to happiness. The formula is simple but just because it is simple it doesn’t mean it is easy. A common mistake many people make is not working extra hard to establish a positive personal brand. Once you establish the right foundation, the doors of opportunity will begin opening up.

There are many things about a job you can’t fully control. Having a horrible boss that leads with fear, the work you do goes against your values, the company has no vision are just a few examples but you can even take control of these but being clear on the things you don’t want in a job and if you have a handle of the things you can control, you will be in a better position to successfully pursue opportunities that will give you what you are looking for.

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