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Don’t Give Up!! The Power of Perserverance
by Mike Goldman
I’ve seen too many great career opportunities ruined by people who give up
too fast…
“This job is too hard”
“I’m just not comfortable here”
“I’m not used to this type of work”
“There’s too much pressure”
“People expect too much of me”
There are many reasons to quit. Quitting is easy. Persevering is hard. Sticking
with it through the tough times is critical to achieving any level of career
or monetary success.
Let’s face it, after a brief honeymoon period; most people are unhappy at their
jobs for the first few months. It’s natural to feel uncomfortable with new surroundings,
lose confidence in yourself and wonder if you made the right decision. It typically
takes 3 to 6 months to settle in and feel comfortable in any new job.
It’s like working out…you wake up in pain the next morning for a while, but,
before you know it, you’re feeling better, looking better and the aches and
pains are gone.
To make matters worse, most people quit without ever communicating their concerns
to their employer! Imagine leaving your husband or wife without trying to solve
problems by discussing them first. It’s not such a far fetched analogy considering
you spend about as much time at work as you do with your family.
What’s the result of giving up too soon? A resume full of short-term jobs (“job
hoppers” scare employers to death) and a life of entry-level positions. Remember,
your superiors on the job got where they are by gaining valuable job experience
and struggling through the tough times. Want to be where they are? The formula
is easy. They paid their dues; you need to be prepared to pay yours.
Here are some tips to help you improve your perseverance on the job:
1. Take a long term view – Take yourself out of the moment
and decide if quitting would get you closer to your career or monetary goals.
Have you really given this job enough of a chance? Sometimes you need to start
at the bottom of the ladder before you can work your way up to the position
you’re really looking for.
2. Talk to someone – Talk to your supervisor and tell him/her
your concerns. You’d be surprised how understanding they can be. If you’re working
through a staffing firm, talk to them. Staffing firms can be a great mediator
when there are workplace issues.
3. Find a mentor – Find someone at work that’s done what you’re
doing. Talk to them. Take them out to lunch. Find out how they did it and what
problems they had. How long did it take them to feel comfortable?
4. Clarify expectations – Talk to your supervisor and ask him
to identify his expectations of you. Also ask him to put these expectations
in time buckets (3 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc.). It’s amazing how many problems
can be avoided by clarifying expectations up front.
5. Have fun – Just because it’s work doesn’t mean it can’t
be fun. You shouldn’t have to be miserable 8 hours a day. Do you have ideas
for contests, programs or after work events? As long as they’re workplace appropriate,
I’m sure others will appreciate your ideas.
I’m not saying you should never quit a job. Just give things a chance! There’s
nothing wrong with moving on to a better opportunity or a better situation if
you realize a job isn’t right for you. Just make sure you’re doing it for the
right reasons and you’re not “poisoning” your resume and your career.
About the author:
Mike Goldman is the owner of Pridestaff of Paramus, providing
workforce solutions to companies in Northern New Jersey. Mike also spent 17
years consulting to Fortune 500 companies and is a writer and speaker in the
areas of career management and workforce strategies.
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Disclaimer: The information
presented and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily
represent the views of PartyPlans.com.au and/or its partners.
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