This will be my third and final–for now–post about my search for a more fulfilling career.
For my first post in this series, I interviewed three Product Managers and learned that although they shared a title, each found job satisfaction by applying his distinct style and interests to his work.
For part two, I became aware that the simple act of helping one coworker every day helped me feel like my job mattered.
This post takes this theme a step further by answering the question: can I find fulfillment in my current work simply by changing my approach to my job?
To answer this question, I wrote a list of the values and skills I most want to nurture in my work, then answered the following questions about each value and skill:
- How do I feel constrained from using [value/skill] in my work?
- What’s within my control to make this situation better?
- What’s outside my control?
I came up with a long list of both values and skills, but for the purpose of this post, I’ll share just three values.
Value #1: Connection
I enjoy my work more when I feel connected with my coworkers. I found this challenging prior to COVID-19 because of minimal opportunities to hang out with coworkers outside of work. It’s now been many months since I’ve seen anyone in person, and most of the people I work with don’t even turn on their cameras for Zoom calls.
I can’t stop COVID, but here are a few things I can try:
- Learn how to improve my interpersonal communication skills and practice with coworkers
- Turn on my camera in every meeting
- Invite colleagues to virtual lunch
Value #2: Growth
I want to feel like my job is an opportunity for me to grow. However, as a contractor, no one is going to invest time or money into helping me develop my skills or climb the corporate ladder.
That doesn’t mean I can’t work on myself, though. There are skills and knowledge areas I can improve upon that will make me better at my job. All I have to do is find time to learn and practice.
Value #3: Service
The most rewarding part of my job is when I can help my customers solve problems. Unfortunately, on my latest project, someone else has been assigned the role of “business liaison,” so my contact with my customers is very limited.
However, one responsibility I originally thought would be tedious has turned out to be an area where I thrive. When a colleague resigned, I inherited his role as the administrator for a software application. Although the work itself is pretty straightforward–responding to support tickets and granting people access to content–it gives me a chance to get to know people from different departments and try to make their day a little better. There is always an opportunity for improvement here, from closing tickets more quickly to writing clearer emails.
My job description, reimagined
Based on the above analysis, I am now rewriting my job description to include the following bullet points:
- Develop interpersonal relationships with colleagues to build stronger connections, boost morale, and foster collaboration
- Create and fulfill personal challenges to expand my skillset and deepen my knowledge of subject matter relevant to my job
- Strive for continuous improvement in communication, time to closure, and other aspects of customer service
Through this exercise, I can avoid feeling like a victim of circumstances beyond my control and instead devise creative ways to make my situation better. Whether this will be enough to make me want to stay remains to be seen. I may still seek a position somewhere where there are more opportunities for the experiences I value; like connection, growth, and service. But if I can feel more positive about the work I do in the meantime, it’s worth it.
Do you find your job fulfilling? If not, what do you feel is missing? What can you do to make your situation better without having to quit?
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