Why Did You Hate Your Last Job?
If you’re looking for a new job, or even a change in career, it’s important to know why. If you lost that job, then the answer is simple. If you quit or are considering quitting, then you need to find why so that you don’t end up going into the same situations time and time again. Here are some of the most common reasons people look for a change in their work-life.
You didn’t get the career development you needed
In studies looking at why people quit their jobs, this is consistently the top ranking reason, i.e. the most common of them all. A lack of growth and development opportunities can make it feel like you’re working in a dead-end job. To make sure it doesn’t happen again, take the time to create a career development plan for yourself, and look at employers who are willing to help you stick to it. Of course, you can take opportunities outside of your job to develop your skills, as well.
Lack of trust, autonomy, or respect
Some people have no problem being under strong authority, following instructions to the letter, and simply “getting through” their work. However, if you have noticed that you are distinctly not being given any control or autonomy over your work, it’s one of the clearest signs that you should probably quit that job. In these cases, the problem is usually a specific manager or company culture, but it also gives you an idea of what warning signs to look out for when applying, too.
The work didn’t motivate you
What kind of work are you best suited for? That can be a very difficult question to answer. Even if you’re working with subject matter that you’re interested in, the kind of work you do with it can drastically affect your interest. The Birkman test breaks down workers into four distinct types: doers, communicators, strategists, and thinkers. Taking the test can help you find out where in a team you belong, and what motivates you in the workplace. As such, you might find that your next job isn’t all too dissimilar to the last one, but you like much more you’re working in a way that motivates you.
It doesn’t meet your work-life balance needs
At some point, most people in their careers are going to realize that a) they’re not able to put enough time and energy into their work to focus on their careers or b) they’re not spending enough time at home, with family, or on things they enjoy. Finding a good work-life balance is not easy, but workplace flexibility is becoming more common, so perhaps aiming at jobs that offer that flexibility could help it easier to find the specific balance you’re craving
Hopefully, the examples above can give you a good idea of why you didn’t suit your last job and, more importantly, help you get a better idea of what kind of role you should find next.