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Quick Career Advice Reply 3. How to Be a “Career Resilient” Employee Dear Ann: I make a good salary and have excellent benefits at my job but I don’t find the work very interesting? However, I don’t know for sure what would be more fulfilling. What should I do? What makes work satisfying? The answers vary not only from person to person, but change over the course of your life. One thing is for sure, if you don’t know what to ask for, you won’t get what you want. Monetary compensation, however, does not create satisfaction. Research has shown that satisfaction with your work depends more on internal factors such as feeling that you’ve done a good job or experiencing balance between work and home than external factors such as money, approval, recognition, title, benefits or power. Companies are becoming increasingly aware that their employee’s satisfaction with work has an impact on the bottom line. A recent study reported in the Wall Street Journal showed that even small gains in employee satisfaction result in increased customer satisfaction which, in turn, leads to higher profits. Satisfied employees are also more likely to be retained by organizations, which can significantly affect productivity and profits. Although some innovative companies have programs to attract and retain employees, most employees today are responsible for directing their own careers—knowing which training to pursue, assignments to accept, roles to take on. To select opportunities that will be satisfying to you, you must do a thorough self-assessment. To begin with, a career involves much more than just the job you do. You need to look at your life a whole to develop a vision of a future you want. What is the balance you want between your work and your personal life? What outlets do you have for your talents, interests, values? Do you recognize your best problem-solving, communication, and learning style? Do you know the work environment and roles that are the best fit for you? Even a small shift in your assignment can make a tremendous difference in your satisfaction. Bottom line: you’re responsible for figuring it out.* |
