Job/career dissatisfaction

Overview
Job dissatisfaction can be the result of a complex tapestry of factors or a single cause. Negative feelings about your job may reflect discontent with career choice, communication problems or other difficulties within your organization. In many cases, job dissatisfaction is the result of a poor fit between a person and one or more of the following factors:
values
skills
interests
a need for independence vs. structure
status
schedule
salary
organizational culture
working conditions
possibility of achieving personal and/or professional aspirations
Job dissatisfaction often includes some element of personal dissatisfaction due to unresolved personal problems, family concerns or a struggle to find meaning in life. The potential effects may include lowered job performance, withdrawal, increased absence, counterproductive behavior and health problems.

Factors that may increase job satisfaction include feeling valued and appreciated, as well as being rewarded. Being involved in a task-based group that provides feelings of power while meeting personal needs such as camaraderie may also increase job satisfaction. Other factors include family-friendly work policies, flexible work schedules and on-site childcare. Your level in the organizational hierarchy can also play a role -- the higher the level, the more satisfaction tends to be expressed.


Characteristics
Physically, job dissatisfaction may lead to stress-related physical complaints such as fatigue, muscle tension, or weight gain or loss.
Psychologically, you may feel nervous or queasy before going to work or while you're on the job. You may develop low motivation and self-esteem, as well as feel unappreciated or inadequate. You may become irritable, sarcastic, angry, resentful, preoccupied or frustrated. Impatience or restlessness are also common. You may feel burned out or that your life lacks meaning or purpose. You may wonder whether your supervisors or superiors want you to resign.

Socially, you may withdraw or isolate yourself at work or in your personal life. You may notice increased tension in work or personal relationships. You may miss more days of work or dread going to work. Other characteristics may include:

boredom or lack of assertiveness
changes in work performance
blaming yourself or others
increased alcohol or drug use
poor communication
perceived lack of control
Sometimes job dissatisfaction can be more than you're able to handle at the time. Symptoms such as sleep disturbances, decreased energy, changes in appetite, anxiety, depression, inability to concentrate and hopelessness may warrant further evaluation by a health care professional.

As with all physical symptoms, consult your medical doctor to rule out a medical condition. If these or any other symptoms cause you distress that doesn't seem to improve, seek additional help and support from a mental health care professional.


Coping strategies
You might start by identifying any abilities or aptitudes that are underutilized in your current job. Finding ways to apply these abilities may help enrich your job and make it more satisfying. If appropriate, discuss sources of dissatisfaction with your supervisor, and suggest or explore options for making changes or adjustments to your job.
Seek balance between your work and home life. Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. If you're grieving the loss of a former job or responsibilities, take time to process your feelings. This is also important if you're emotionally disengaging yourself from your current position in anticipation of leaving the job.

Consider seeking career counseling or professional help with job searching. Career development or assessment experts primarily focus on helping clients determine what they want to do with their careers. Job search experts, on the other hand, typically help clients with the job search process. Some job search experts follow a traditional routine, such as helping you sharpen your resume and interviewing skills. Others have a more creative process, such as challenging you to identify the skills you want to use, where you want to use them, and how you would find a job that requires those skills.


Summary
There are many reasons for job dissatisfaction -- and many solutions. Because most people can expect work-related difficulty at some point, it's important to keep your work and home life in balance. Both personal and professional satisfaction interact in the creation of your overall outlook on life, sense of well-being and general health.