Rate Your Job Satisfaction

While no one is happy at work all the time, there are usually early indicators of job burnout or job dissatisfaction. When these occur, we should start questioning whether we are working for the right employer or whether we are working at the right job. One of these early indicators is stress, including workplace stress. Do any of these sound familiar?

Physical signs:

Workplace signs:

Evaluate yourself

Understanding what is most important in your life may help you determine whether your current work environment is the right one for you. It will also give you ideas about what you might want to change. Rank the following ¹:

Money and Benefits

What's important to you? Rank your current job Competitive wages 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Sick days 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Holidays 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Medical insurance 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Disability/Life insurance 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Wellness programs 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅

Quality of Work Life

What's important to you? Rank your current job Interesting work 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Environment allowing for a high level of patient care 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Safe environment 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Hours/flexibility to meet personal/family needs 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Professional growth and advancement opportunities 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Are your contributions valued? 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Job security 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅

Attitudes and Interpersonal Relations

What's important to you? Rank your current job Supervisor relationship 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Coworker relationships 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Ability to effect change 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ Can make your opinions known without reprisal? 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅ 1∅ 2∅ 3∅ 4∅ 5∅

You Decide

Is your current work situation in sync with what is important in your life? Is it close? Do you need to change your current environment? For example, can you improve the relationship between you and your supervisor? Should you look for new opportunities?

Before you make your next move, however, you may want to evaluate whether your next employer has the right work environment for you. For more information, read Assessing an Employer.

Footnotes

¹For "What's important to you?" 1 is "not" and 5 is "very. For "Rank your current job" 1 is "poor" and 5 is "great."

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