In the fast-paced world of employment, job stability is a coveted aspect that many individuals strive to achieve. However, some find themselves facing the perplexing challenge of not being able to maintain a job for an extended period. In this article, we will explore the common reasons behind job instability and provide practical insights on how to overcome these hurdles.
Why Cant I Keep A Job
Jumping from one job to another can mess up your mindset. It can make you question your career goals and what it is that you truly want. The following are the possible reasons why you can’t keep a job:
1. Lack of Professionalism
Professionalism is a person’s attitude, behavior, and conduct in a work environment. But this does not necessarily mean you only need to show professionalism in those settings.
Being professional at work entails demonstrating a strong work ethic. But what does this mean exactly?
- Being punctual, not just when you go in at work but also with your meetings and deadlines
- Contributing to your team in achieving a particular goal
- Striving toward collaborative success and not prioritizing individual credit (just putting it out there again)
- Communicating effectively with your co-workers
- Meeting company expectations and goals
2. Poor mental or physical well-being
You don’t work in a bubble. Problems in your personal life carry over into your professional world. Without proper treatment from health professionals and support from your organization, you may have difficulty staying focused, feel overwhelmed by day-to-day tasks, or become burnt out.
If your mental or physical health gets in the way of your dream job, investing in self-care routines and seeking professional help is vital. Feeling your best can make you more fulfilled, both personally and professionally.
There’s also the case of showing discipline, integrity, and dedication to the work you are doing. But these should be a given already.
Professionalism also involves following through on your commitments. You need to show up if you agree to cover for your co-worker’s shift. You need to be reliable once you commit yourself to something and not go back on your word.
3. Career Progression
One of the reasons people tend to leave their jobs frequently is the search for better career growth and development opportunities. Career progression plays a crucial role in an individual’s decision to either remain in their current position or to look for a new challenge.
When employees feel stagnant in their current role and do not see any potential for growth or career development, they might consider quitting their job as a way to pursue other opportunities. A lack of growth opportunities within a company can be a strong motivation for employees to opt for a career change.
In some cases, individuals quit their jobs in favor of self-employment or entrepreneurship. This may be driven by a desire for greater flexibility, more control over one’s work, and the potential to achieve higher levels of success.
4. Wrong work environment
While adaptability and flexibility are important employee soft skills, you shouldn’t bend over backward to adjust to a company culture that doesn’t fit your needs. Every company, as do you, has its own way of conducting business. Maybe you need a quiet office to concentrate, a strong employee value proposition to motivate you, or new opportunities to challenge you.
Whatever your requirements are, your job performance will likely suffer if they aren’t met. As a consequence, managers may want to find someone who’s a better fit.
5. Lack of opportunity
A lack of career development opportunities is the reason why a lot of people search for new jobs. If you feel stuck in your career and don’t have opportunities for advancement, it’s no wonder your motivation drops and you find yourself scrolling through LinkedIn for new jobs.
Rather than looking for a new position in the same industry, it might be time to re-examine your current job role and consider a career change. If you want to stick it out at your current organization, don’t be afraid to make polite inquiries about the availability of promotions and policies around raises.
How to improve your work commitment
Here’s how to improve your work commitment in five steps:
1. Analyse your personal values and passion
The first step to improving your work commitment is analysing your passion and personal values. Analysing what you’re passionate about and your personal values help drive your dedication and enthusiasm to work. This way, when you feel a lack of commitment, you can tap into your passion and interests to fuel your commitment. When conducting an analysis, do the following:
Identify your personal values
Think about your personal values and how they align with the organisation you work for and the role. If your personal values don’t match those of the company, the less passionate you are about what you do for the company. Make a list of all your values and determine those that are flexible and those you can’t compromise. Compare that list to the company’s values to see whether you’re the right fit for the role.
Identify your passion
The more passionate you are about what you do for a living, the more committed you are to your duties and responsibilities. Think about why you applied to your current job and what interested you about the position. Write down your reasons to use as a future reference every time you feel your commitment decreasing. Reminding yourself why you chose the company and the role in the first place can help you improve your commitment.
2. Determine your commitment level
After assessing your personal values and passion, determine your current commitment level. Determining your commitment level helps you identify the areas that need improvement and how much work you’re supposed to do to improve your job commitment. Here’s how to determine your commitment level:
Identify what’s expected of you
If you have a written job description, re-read it to assess what your employers expect of you. Read between the lines and curate a list of the duties you perform effortlessly and those you don’t. Use this list to identify where you fall short.
Ask your manager
Schedule a meeting with your employer to discuss your performance in your role. They can give you an honest opinion regarding your contributions and tell you if you’re fulfilling your commitment to the company. Be open to constructive criticism as they may give you some harsh truths you don’t want to hear. Use your performance review to make a detailed list of all your shortcomings.
3. Examine why you’re not committed
Once you determine your commitment level and identify your shortcomings, examine why you’re not committed to your job. In most cases, you may find that there’s a reason that’s causing your lack of commitment. This can be anything from having issues with your employer to not believing in what you do. Other possible reasons that make it hard to commit to a job include:
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working in the same job or position for too long
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conflict with colleagues and colleagues
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personal issues, such as financial problems or family matters
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lack of recognition for handwork
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lack of bonuses or incentives
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lack of interest in your job
4. Develop solutions
After examining what’s causing your lack of commitment, develop viable solutions to implement to improve your job commitment. For example, if you’ve worked in the same position for too long, consider changing careers to something that excites and motivates you to work harder. If you receive no recognition for your work, speak with your manager about the issue and find an ideal way to move forward. If they don’t make any changes, you may want to find another job opportunity that recognises your contributions. Try to find a solution for every problem you face regarding work commitment.
5. Take action
Once you know what you’re supposed to do to improve your job commitment, take action. For instance, if you always come late, be punctual by waking up early. If you spend too much time on your phone during work hours, turn it off to increase your concentration. Other ways you can take action to improve your job commitment include:
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taking an online course to learn a new skill
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volunteering to help
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putting more time and effort into your daily tasks
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asking for more responsibilities
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completing certifications and licences
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requesting frequent evaluations
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being a team player and participating in team projects
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showing interest in other colleague’s work
Conclusion
In conclusion, the journey to job stability is multifaceted and requires a combination of self-awareness, continuous learning, effective communication, and personal responsibility. By addressing common challenges and proactively seeking opportunities for growth, individuals can enhance their job stability and build successful, fulfilling careers.
FAQs
- Q: How can I improve my job satisfaction?
- A: Explore new challenges, participate in projects of interest, and seek recognition for your achievements to enhance job satisfaction.
- Q: What should I do if I feel overwhelmed by workplace stress?
- A: Identify sources of stress, implement healthy coping mechanisms, and consider seeking professional support if stress becomes overwhelming.
- Q: Is networking essential for job stability?
- A: Yes, building a professional network opens doors to opportunities and provides support during challenging career moments.
- Q: How can I balance work and personal life effectively?
- A: Achieve work-life balance by setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and recognizing the importance of downtime.
- Q: When is it time to consider moving on from a job?
- A: Recognize when efforts to improve job satisfaction are not yielding results and be proactive in seeking new opportunities when necessary.
