Think back to that first day you entered the offices you’ve now occupied for some time. There was hope, excitement, and even a bit of nervousness. The recruiter sold you a promise of purpose. A job that was more than a job because you would make a difference. They told you there was an opportunity to grow and advance your career. The hiring manager told you they had state-of-the-art this or that with the latest cutting-edge technology. They sold you on a family atmosphere where you would soon meet your next best friend. However, over time you begin to realize your dream job is just a job.
Three months in, and there are signs of dysfunction. Your one-to-one’s are more like social hour where your boss prods you to set them up with your friends. The endless meetings begin with 20 minutes of gossip and end with nothing resolved. But you ignore these toxic workplace signs because you have hope this is your dream job.
After six months, you start to realize the state-of-the-art this or that and the cutting-edge technology amounts to mostly lipstick on a pig. What should enable you to do your job efficiently slows you down and causes you to make inaccurate statements. As a result, your credibility gets questioned. You ask for training only to learn that there is none. You ask for help and find you aren’t alone. Countless others are as untrained as you. You are seeing the signs more clearly and begin to realize your dream job is just a job.
One year later, you are still pretty clueless about what you are responsible for, never mind how to do your job. Despite the overwhelming feeling of ambiguity around your responsibilities, you are praised left and right but without specifics. Even worse, you’ve noticed that same trend with most people. There is a constant stream of style without substance, a culture of all talk and no show. Further, you’ve yet to feel a part of that purpose the recruiter sold you on during the interview. Now, more than ever, you feel your dream job begin to slip through your fingers.
That hope that made it easy to ignore the signs of a toxic workplace is fading. Your dream job is just a job. You are a soulless corporate drone with no passion for what you are doing. Saying anything about the issues and misrepresentations during the hiring process means you challenge the story everyone tells themselves about the company. If you stop drinking from the kool-aid tap in the breakroom you most certainly will become an outcast.
How to Deal When Your Dream Job Turns Out to Be a Nightmare
Businesses today want to inspire a level of devotion from their employees that has never been seen before. They invest a lot of money into employer branding to attract top talent. Sometimes, just like the picture of a Burger King Whopper, the reality doesn’t come close. Here’s what to do when your dream job turns out to be a nightmare.
Try caring less
The brutal truth about most bosses is they don’t know the difference between someone giving 100% and someone who gives 20%. Most likely, your 20% is most people’s 100%, so caring less ends up being caring enough.
Keep your thoughts about the kool-aid to yourself
When your dream job turns out to be just a job, keep it to yourself. Don’t blast out passive-aggressive social media posts or share brilliant hate-my-job or terrible boss memes. Avoid losing your job by not complaining about it, at least until you’ve found a position to replace it.
Don’t just quit
Your frustration is justified. You are working for a company you don’t believe in. You feel deceived because they sold you a bill of goods. Most people can’t afford to resign without another job waiting. Finding a new job can take time. Before giving your resignation, have a new job offer in hand.
Get ready for the job hunt
It is easier to get a job when you have a job, so caring less is crucial when your dream job is just a job. Job hunting takes time and energy. Update your LinkedIn and create a compelling profile summary. Focus on keywords that hiring managers will notice. Dust off your resume and get it updated. Tap into your network, or focus on building it back up. Additionally, prep yourself for interview questions. Finally, line up references before you start applying for a new job.
Resign in style and don’t leave with a bang
When your dream job becomes just a job it is tempting to give everyone a piece of your mind when you are ready to quit. It is a small world, and you may cross paths with your coworkers again. Resign with grace by giving a minimum two-week notice. Offer assistance with the transitions so you can leave the company with no hard feelings. Preserve any future opportunities by maintaining your personal brand when quitting your job.
Last updated on June 19th, 2021 at 09:35 am
