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There are plenty of things to complain about at any job (even a good one). Either you’re getting shorted on your hours or you’re starting to feel like a clerk in a law firm. You’re boss is always micromanaging or he’s never around. The equipment and headcount you require are not forthcoming or you have so much additional money in your department that you’re making up ways to spend it so you can keep your budget for next year.
Your vacation keeps getting pushed back or you have so many hours saved up that they’re forcing you to take days off, even when you’re in the middle of an important project. Sometimes it seems like the perfect job is just a pipe dream, but with a little hard work and a change of attitude, almost any job can be just what you’re looking for.

Here are a few simple solutions to turn your negative work experience positive and make your current job into your dream job.

• Talk it out. If you’re having a problem with your boss or a co-worker, staying silent, stewing, and mumbling under your breath (“I believe that’s my stapler…”) are only going to make the problem worse as your tension builds until you explode. Instead, be assertive. Approach the problem head-on, in a non-threatening manner. Explain your position and ask if you can come to some kind of compromise in order to foster a productive work environment for all.
• Take control. If you experience ongoing problems with your peers at the office and all attempts at reconciling the issue are rebuffed, you may have to take matters to the next level by going up the chain of command or filing a formal complaint. You will feel like you’ve done everything in your power and perhaps a little publicity is all that is needed to get things back on track.
• Set boundaries. Most corporations care about one thing: the bottom line. So you’re just going to have to take care of yourself. If you don’t want to stay late or work weekends, simply say no. Setting boundaries for what you are and are not willing to do will let people know what to expect from you as well as ensuring that you get what you want.
• Make friends. You spend a large portion of your day at work, so don’t hesitate to get cozy with the people you work with (just not too cozy). Chat it up, go out for drinks after work, or invite them over for a BBQ. People are social creatures and sitting within arm’s reach of another person but never speaking to them just isn’t natural.
• Be understanding. There will be times when you wonder how so many incompetent people got jobs at your company. But keep in mind that you have probably made plenty of mistakes yourself. So maybe instead of lambasting them to anyone within earshot, you should be professional, privately point out their error, and ask if they could use any help. Chances are they weren’t trained properly (out of the hiring pan, into the fire), so an offer of assistance might bring you a favor down the road.
• Turn that frown upside down. Attitude is the key to everything in life. It will color how you act and react in any given situation, as well as the pleasure you get out of every day. If you’re constantly in a sour mood and wake up dreading work, well, you’re not going to have much fun. But if you train yourself to see work as an exciting adventure, you may just find that it meets your expectations.
• Get Zen. Don’t get too upset over problems at work. After all, it’s just a job. Nothing is so important that you should let it drag down the rest of your life. When things get rough, just shrug your shoulders and let it roll off your back. Hanging onto stress is a recipe for disaster. You’ll find that if you can just forget about it, you’ll have a much more positive work experience.

Lisa Gables works for Discount Vouchers where you can find Comet discount vouchers.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 7:53 am and is filed under Career, Job Search. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.