Fat paychecks and fancy perks don't equal contentment. You need something deeper. Agree with any of these statements and it's likely your job falls short of fulfilling.
Your company isn't inspiring. If you wish your company had a purpose a bit more noble than padding the owner's bank account, spearhead a community project, such as a book drive, suggests Nicole Williams, career expert at LinkedIn and author of Girl on Top. "It's great PR for the company, brings the team together and makes everyone feel good about their work."
You don't care about the projects you work on.When you're stuck with tasks you could do in your sleep (or that bore you to sleep), consider ways you might combine your interests with the company's goals-perhaps by updating the website or making connections to nab new clients. Before you run your plan by your boss, come up with solutions for how you'll cover your old to-dos while taking on the new project, Jordan-Evans says.
Your boss never talks to you. It's like a high school crush: Sometimes you gotta make the first move. If your organization doesn't require employee reviews, ask for a meeting with your supervisor, Boucher says. "Think of it as a dialogue-and a great time to address any concerns your boss might have about your work."
Your opinions don't matter. It's really frustrating to feel that you aren't being taken seriously. But spouting off an uninformed opinion is the fastest way to make higher-ups tune you out. "Attend industry events, read insider blogs and ask questions," Williams says. "Once you digest the info that's out there and integrate it with your own ideas in a thoughtful, insightful way, people will definitely start listening to you."
There's no opportunity to get promoted. Room for growth is key to being happy at work, especially when you're first starting out. Before you resign yourself to being an assistant for life, ask your manager, "What are you looking to accomplish this quarter, and how can I help?" Giving your boss a boost makes you an MVP, Williams says. And when a spot opens higher on the ladder, odds are, she'll be happy to give you a leg up.
