by Dawn Rasmussen | January 26, 2012 | (0)

SO…MAYBE 2011 DIDN’T TURN OUT EXACTLY THE WAY YOU HOPED.

We started the year with an unbridled optimism that the economy would quickly turn around, only to be disappointed when it stalled out. And that financial uncertainty has made workers feel trapped with their current employers. About 84 percent of U.S. workers planned on looking for a new position last year according to a study by job placement firm Manpower in late 2010. But job growth didn’t and doesn’t match that interest, and most people aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

So what do you do when you’re in a job you don’t like, but desperately need? Well, as Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

So you drag yourself to work, weighed down by tasks that no one appreciates, and go through the everyday motions without considering the obvious. A poet Maya Angelou said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

Get back in the saddle and ride this horse…at least until the economy recovers. Try these seven tips to make your current job more than simply bearable.

1. Rekindle the flame. Just like relationships, jobs can become routine over time. Take a moment to recall your excitement when you first started. Just recalling the energy and ideas of earlier days (especially the parts of the job that have excited you) can get your momentum going and get you out of that rut.

2. Define problems and identify solutions. I once had a dream job…with an hour commute each way. Sometimes, it would take two-and-a-half hours to get home. The hours in traffic negatively affected my job perception. If I had requested to telecommute a couple days a week and management agreed, my attitude would have changed completely. Proactively seek responsible solutions.

3. Strategize your strengths. Job dissatisfaction arises when you can’t use your strengths. Recognize what you do best and find new opportunities in your current job. Consider upcoming projects that might be a good fit. Analyze each, link your strengths to project needs and then make your case to the boss. He or she may not even know you are interested or that you have the right tools.

4. Keep learning. In an era of massive cutbacks, the first thing to go is professional development (as we in the meeting industry are well aware). Don’t let this hold you back. Spend the money on yourself if you have to; you might learn a new way to transform your job and redefine your role.

5. Engage, engage, engage. When you tune out, you cut yourself off. You can be alone and unhappy, or like Maya Angelou said, you can create your own change. Know how smiling is contagious? The same is true for change agents—shifting your attitude can have a powerful impact on others. A proactive, positive outlook can positively affect those around you, and subtly engineer an attitude adjustment for your department or office.

6. Recognize burnout. Sometimes, morale drops when we have the least amount to give. Taking vacation time can shift your attitude and provide a positive readjustment and new perspective.

7. Suggest change. Executives think in terms of the bottom line…and if you can find a correlation between a proposed change in your job and making money, saving money or saving time, you will have their immediate attention. If you notice a modification that will benefit the company and your job, then develop a plan and pitch it.

I’d love to hear from readers who have transformed their so-so jobs into dream jobs. Send me a note and tell me what steps you took and any advice you have for those who are still struggling. One+

Dawn Rasmussen

Dawn Rasmussen, CMP, is the president of Portland, Ore.-based Pathfinder Writing and Career Services. Clients from across the United States and Canada and from all career levels have benefited from Dawn’s highly- focused and results-oriented résumé, cover letter, and job search coaching services. Many professional groups as well as colleges and universities have appreciated the insights and expertise she shares during presentations on topics, and she is a frequently requested national speaker as a result. Dawn also shares her knowledge as the official “Get the Job” columnist for One+ Magazine distributed to over 26,000 meeting professionals worldwide, and Talentzoo.com, a job site for creative and marketing professionals. Recently, she was quoted on CBS MoneyWatch and also in the Chicago Tribune. Additionally, Dawn is a recognized career expert on Careerealism.com, which is a top 10 world contributor to TalentCulture.com’s weekly meeting #tchat ‘meeting of the career industry minds’ on Twitter. When not helping clients, you will also find Dawn quietly donating time at the Oregon Employment Department as a volunteer teaching unemployed workers how to build compelling career documents as part of her ‘Pay it Forward’ philosophy. With Dawn’s coaching expertise, caring nature, and well-connected networking, she is known as the meeting and hospitality industry’s leading career management partner.

TAGS: careers , jobs , career development , column , professional development