You probably wouldn’t be on this site if you didn’t hate your job, so we’re going to assume this article is relevant to you. The title is “What To Do If You Hate Your Job.”
Most career articles are written for an audience that’s older and further along in their careers than most of us here on STA–after all, that’s why this site exists. Below, we’ve included text from the Yahoo article, with our own commentary.
Yahoo: It often takes gumption–and humility–to work with someone like that [a nightmare boss], but it might be better than the alternatives. Instead of confronting a cranky boss, ask what you could do better; if nothing else, you’ll earn a bit of respect for soliciting feedback. To deal with a hothead, have a tepid response ready so you don’t react impulsively: “You make some good points. Can we meet later to discuss them?” If you feel you have to go over your boss’s head, develop a face-saving premise for doing so: You’d like to approach a senior executive, say, because he’s an expert in a subject you’re working on.
STA: Most assistants don’t have any power in this situation. The way assistant jobs are designed is to make them disposable. Most of the time, they don’t care if you quit, because there are 1,000 college grads desperate for a job who can take your place in almost no time. Therefore, you have no leverage.
Yahoo: Tempting as it is to blame others, sometimes employees just don’t have the skills, smarts, or drive required to thrive at their jobs.
STA: It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to use the copy machine. And an employee blaming him or herself for their job unhappiness is usually not warranted. The problem most assistants have is that they’re overqualified for their jobs. They have at least one college degree and possibly other work experience, but instead of doing something relevant they’re being squandered in a thankless admin job.
Yahoo: Don’t bash your boss or your company in chats with coworkers, and try to stay positive in a resignation letter or exit interview–you never know when you’ll need to ask for a favor. Don’t bad-mouth your employer in job interviews either; it could get back to your former colleagues and ruin your reference. Besides, it’s unseemly.
STA: No, we agree with this. You should bash your boss anonymously, on Save the Assistants.
