The Gift of a Bad Job

You probably have experienced it: the job from hell. You might have a toxic boss, or work in a company that’s going under, or on a team that defines the word dysfunctional. Bad jobs can actually be a gift, if you choose to see it that way…

1. Bad jobs show us what “good” we are looking for. We learn clearly what we want by experiencing what we don’t want. Bad jobs can actually help us create our “must have” list for the next go-around.
2. Bad bosses teach us how to supervise. When you are suffering with a “bad” supervisor, make mental (and written) notes on how you plan to change things when you get the chance to manage others.
3. In a ship going down, sometimes you get to be captain. One worker used her experience in a company that was going bankrupt to her advantage. As her co-workers bailed out, she stayed on and gathered more experience and a better title. She used those assets to give her career a boost.
4. Dysfunctional teams often teach you teamwork. Many project managers know better how to operate after working on a team with a weak leader. You can also cause great changes by simply being your best. Then, you have a great story to tell in an interview.
5. Bad jobs make us passionate about making a change. The saying goes, “The good is the enemy of great.” When things are good, you are more likely to stay in a job you have outgrown. Use your passion to move you forward.
6. Bad jobs cause us to seek outside advice. When you are frustrated within a company, you are more likely to network, to seek mentors and to pay for outside coaches to help you. These activities all broaden your perspective.
7. Bad jobs make us appreciate what we get later. Gratitude for a great boss, a good salary and benefits is always appropriate. The grateful person is a delight and makes a great employee.

There you have it. There are gifts in even a bad job. Use your passion to get up, get out and start over in a fresh spot.