Job Autopsy - How to know if you love it or need to leave it

It's easy to say, "I hate my job," however, if we dig a little deeper, we actually might discover if we just altered some things about our jobs, we would actually love our jobs. Perhaps you like some aspects of your job, but it’s just that you:

• Hate your boss;
• Hate the pay;
• Hate the hours;
• Hate some of your duties;
• Hate the location;
• Hate your co-workers.

In order to know whether you should “Love It” or “Leave It,” you'll need to do some investigating as to what is wrong or what is missing from your current job. Until you identify these things, you won’t really know whether the things that make you unhappy at work are things you can change or they are just the “nature” of the work you are in. Once you figure this out, you will absolutely know whether to “Love It” or “Leave It.”

The easiest way to figure this out is to answer some simple questions honestly about your job.  This is what is known as a "Job Autopsy":

1. What duties do you dislike and would give to someone else if you could?
2. What percentage of your day do you spending doing these things you dislike?
3. What duties are you passionate about at work?
4. What percentage of your day is spent doing these things you are passionate about?
5. Out of all the jobs you’ve ever had in your life, which one did you love the most and why?
6. If there was one change you could pick at your current job to make you stay, what would that be and why?
7. What has been your biggest disappointment in your current job?
8. What would you miss the most if you quit your job?

By answering these questions, you should now have more insight as to what is really causing your job dis-satisfaction.  Quitting a job isn't always the answer.  Figuring out what you love to do, what your strengths are and then working in a job that allows you to do what you love is what will bring you job satisfaction.  Take the time to do a job autopsy and you'll discover your "perfect" job.