What to Do When You Have a High-Paying Job You Hate

Here's a piece from Career Journal that discusses what to do when you have a high-paying job you hate. Kind of. The article is about how to deal with the trap many people face -- they are in high-paying jobs they hate. So what should they do?

I know, many of you are probably saying "cry me a river" since tons of people are in LOW-paying jobs they hate. But for now, let's have a little compassion on those earning the big bucks and see what they can do to get out of a job they hate.

The article starts with an example of what NOT to do -- or at least what I would advise not to do -- quit without another job. I've told you why I think this is a bad idea, so if you need my reasons see Don't Quit Your Job Before You Get Another One.

The piece then gets to the heart of what people should do if they want a bit more career flexibility, and the suggestion is quite surprising. They advise you get your finances in order and, in particular, pay down debt. Why? Because then you have much more flexibility. If you need to take a lower-paying job, it's hard to do if you have a ton of debt that you're barely able to keep ahead of with a high-paying job. But if you have a bit of wiggle room between what you make and what you spend, you can afford to take a lower-paying job and your finances will still be ok.

That's one of the benefits of being debt free for me -- it gives me a load of flexibility. If I ever wanted to downsize my job or if I ever got fired or injured, I'd be in a lot better shape than most because I have no debt and keep my living expenses substantially below my income. There certainly is freedom in being debt free.

The rest of the article suggests how to find a new, better job with basic job search techniques. Here are a few of my past pieces you may want to check out as well:

• Ace an Interview by Preparing for It

• Plan What Your Want to Say in an Interview

• A Simple Recipe for Job Interview Success

Comments

[Double Journey]

I guess I'm the odd one out. I make a lot of money, and I quit my last job because I hated it. It would have been easy to just coast for a while, but I'm not that type of person.

I strongly recommend that other people don't do this. I have a lot of money in the bank, and could go years without working. I also have no debt. I also have very good credentials in a job market where the employees have the advantage. I ended up finding a job much faster than I wanted to.

All that being said, it wasn't as great as I thought it would be. People with high paying jobs most likely like to work, and it was actually the not working, not the lack of income, that drove me crazy.

[Shaun Kieran]

I'm sure there are many who'd like to be in the previous poster's shoes.

We live in a nation of DO-ers, and some people are wired so that when they realize they “hate” their job, it puts them on the line to DO something about it.

Mostly, that’s the way to go – but some times it’s not. Especially if doing something means throwing in your resignation and walking away.

Terri Cullen’s WSJ article was good on that point, but not leaving impulsively could be highlighted even more. Many people not only actively dislike their current job, but can’t leave because of entirely valid constraints and adult obligations - not character flaws.

If someone has to stay, there are all kinds of things to do which make staying more palatable – or even better than that. The key is to not “go negative” in a way that paralyzes or injects strong feelings which then impede someone from harnessing crucial energy for concentration, clear-eyed analysis, and taking the right action steps.