It’s no secret that I’ve never really loved my full-time jobs. I’ve had part-time jobs I loved, but those won’t pay all my bills or support my online shopping habit. My first “real world” job was in TV ad sales. I was a sales assistant and essentially the middle (wo)man between national TV stations and ad agencies when it came to buying, scheduling, and running their commercials. I told myself I would be there a year max. Fast forward three and a half years and 2 promotions later and I was still there and hating it. I was burning out at 25. I wasn’t learning anything new anymore, I had to work with people who were just generally awful and mean people, and I was the youngest in my office by about 15-20 years. I was calling my mom to complain regularly and naturally being dramatic about how this job was “ruining my life”. But, to be honest it kind of was. I would go home every day drained with absolutely no desire to do anything else. I wasn’t being productive outside of work and that is not only problematic for your well-being but also makes you a terrible employee. I resented my job and as a result, started to inadvertently suck at it.
Now, I work in a role I enjoy with people who don’t make me want to throw my computer out the window every 5 seconds. I like what I do but it’s still not that *dream career* I’m searching for.
In any situation, whether you like, love, hate, or settled for your job, there are ways to be a better employee. My mom always said “no matter what you do, be the best at it”. I haven’t always taken her advice, but I try. So, no matter what your situation is, here are 4 ways to be a better employee:
- Learn a new skill
After spending a lot of my time whining about my job and hoping for a new one to move on to, I realized I was an idiot. I’m not going to land a new job in a new field if I don’t have some kind of experience in it. Even though my current role wasn’t giving me the tools I needed to land the job I wanted, there were plenty of other ways I could learn something. I started taking any free online courses I could to get a feel for what interested me. Then, I took it a step further and applied for a grad program. You don’t have to take this massive of a leap to learn something new, even watching a YouTube video on something or reading a how-to article can boost your creativity and value as an employee. It will also keep you from feeling complacent.
2. Ask for more
Often times you can end up feeling under appreciated, over worked, and trapped in a job. This leads to burn out, poor performance, and general unhappiness. If you think you deserve more, ask for it. Whether it’s a bigger title, more money, more perks, or something else, you won’t get it if you don’t ask for it. Even then, you still might not get it but at least you tried.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling bored at a job, ask for more work. Take on new tasks that might now be your responsibility but you can give a shot at anyway. In my current role I’m not responsible for contributing to the company blog but I had some downtime one day and gave it a go. Now, I contribute regularly and found it’s something I really enjoy doing that adds a little more fulfillment to my work week.
3. Take time off
I don’t know what it is about some people these days but they never take days off. I work with people who never take a lunch, never get out for a walk on a nice day, never take a day off, and sit at their desk all day everyday. I have no idea why some people are this way but it’s probably not an ideal way to spend all your days. Even when you’re super busy, you can afford to step out for a few minutes and get some air. It doesn’t have to be a lavish vacation, but spending some time away from work and the office is crucial. It helps you re-group, take your mind off things for a bit, and de-stress. It’s one thing to show up for work but it’s another to show up for work. If you’re not all there mentally, maybe it’s time to take some time off physically and come back with a fresh start.
4. Find a mentor
No matter how good you are at your job there will always be someone doing it better. Someone who has more experience, more opportunities, and broader knowledge on the industry than you do. It can be incredibly helpful to find someone outside of your company to ask questions to and who can act as a sound board when you just want to chat about your latest ideas or ventures. Having a mentor can be the crucial difference between a having a mediocre career or having an outstanding one.