Photo by Jeff Sanders
Your first job will most likely not be your last. In fact, your first job may not last long at all. There are many reasons why people quickly quit their first few jobs, most notably, because they’re not fulfilled. The job market today is looking dreary, the applicant pools are increasing daily, and the likelihood you’ll end up working a job in your chosen career field is becoming highly unlikely. So, what may end up happening, or what you’re experiencing now, is that you find an employer who is willing to hire you to perform a set of tasks for which you are OVER qualified and don’t enjoy doing. This rapidly results in your extreme boredom and unwillingness to continue. Thus, you want to quit.
Solution?
Option One: you could quit. You could become unemployed again and repeat the extremely undesirable job search process to get another unfulfilling entry level job.
Option Two: delay turning in your two-week notice and try implementing these first:
Top Three Fulfillment Factors
1) Maintain a positive attitude. Smile even when it hurts. However, remember that being positive doesn’t mean you have to fake happiness. Being positive can also simply mean being ambitious. If you’re willing to do work no one else will, your boss will appreciate you, well, they should. Nothing will get you closer to fulfillment than your daily attitude at work. Whether your job is slaving away in a retail outlet, selling chicken at KFC, mowing your neighbor’s lawn in 100 degree heat, or selling Insurance door-to-door, your attitude can make or break every experience.
2) Keep your expectations realistic. Your job may not be as fun as college and you’re boss may not be as nice as your Grandmother. Many entry level jobs won’t challenge you enough, and even if you ask for more work, you’ll often be turned down. Expect to have down time and find creative ways to fill that time. The real world doesn’t move at the same pace as school, which means there will be an adjustment period as you figure out the culture at your office.
3) Have a long-term plan. Assuming you’re working in your industry of choice, many entry level jobs lead to much better ones in the long run and you should find out where you’re job can take you. Sometimes the current position you’re in leads straight up the ladder to the CEO. Other times, you’ll have to make some lateral moves to other companies within your industry to keep moving forward. Staying focused on what this job can bring you in the future will help minimize your current discomfort.
Backup Plan
Having said all of that, despite working really hard to stay motivated and keep your job, if you’re truly miserable, GET OUT! Find something better and quit. Life is too short to work a job you hate. However, you don’t want to quit until you find a replacement, or risk not being able to pay your bills in the interim. Quitting every time you’re dissatisfied may find you in line for unemployment checks more often than the state will allow. Good luck on your career and stay positive!
The Clueless Graduate,
Jeff Sanders 
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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