Five Signs You're in the Wrong Job

You struggle through the day, dealing with multipleit out, erases the original, and hands the printout
tasks, answering phones, needing to be on top ofto you to type. You excuse yourself, run to the
every detail of your demanding job. And then youladies' room, stick your head in the trash basket
go home drained, throw a Lean Cuisine into theand yell, "Do it yourself!"
microwave, flop down on the couch and eatYou do not enjoy the 'support staff' role. You
supper in front of a "Law and Order" rerun.need to find a job where you can be in charge;
Maybe you're in the wrong job. Here are somelooking for a supervisory position, or a job that
warning signs:leads to a supervisory position, could be perfect
1. Your coworkers file quietly into the office atfor you.
ten minutes of eight. They deposit their Starbucks4. You've been studying Microsoft Office for
cups on the desk, open their Day Planners, andmonths. Now you're busy creating a whiz-bang
silently get to work. Meanwhile, you're in theExcel spreadsheet so your boss can track
doorway of the employee's lounge, gazing downexpenses for each department. Then the phone
the corridor, thinking how the industrial carpetingrings....as the receptionist you field phone calls,
on the floor would be perfect for Rollerblading.connect the callers to one of fifty managers,
Rigid structure is not your bag. You need worktype letters, file correspondence, total up expense
that provides some freedom of movement,slips - and bite your nails 'til they're nubs.
some scheduling flexibility. If you're actuallyYou hate multitasking! To you multitasking means
coordinated enough to Rollerblade without endingdoing a lot of stuff adequately, rather than one
up in a cast, you might consider being a trainer atthing superbly. You've got the skills, now you need
the local gym. If not, sales or customer servicethe right job. Find something that utilizes your
that requires travel to clients' worksites wouldexpertise in Excel, rather than juggling dozens of
allow you to schedule your own day and enjoytasks at a time.
being on the road as you make your way to5. You're a supervisor, busy training a new
your various appointments.worker. Subordinates come up to you every few
2. The vice president in charge of finance handsminutes, asking questions you think they could
you a twenty-page proposal, complete withsolve themselves. You love the training aspect of
columns and columns of figures. He asks you toyour job, just not the interruptions.
proofread it, and by the way, he needs it in halfYou're a teacher at heart. There are lots of
an hour. He walks away, and you stare at thebusiness schools, computer classes, even high
clock, then the proposal, then the paper shredderschools and colleges that need someone with
sitting right next to you. You look at the clock,business acumen. Consider becoming a teacher or
the proposal, the paper shredder, the proposal,a business trainer, and focus on the needs of
the paper shredder.your students full time.
Obsessive attention to detail is not your idea of aYou might be surprised to find that the skills
good time. Maybe you need something thatyou've developed in your current job could lead to
involves more creativity, more input fromsomething better, and more in tune with your
yourself. If you have an artistic flair, computerpersonality. With a little tweeking of your job skills
graphic design is something you might want toand priorities, you might just find the perfect job!
try. While its does require an orientation to detail,Additionally, take the time to check out how
it also feeds that creative part of your soul.employers are looking at future prospects and
3. Your least favorite sales manager asks you towhat employee assessment tools they may be
type a letter for him - for the tenth time thatusing during the hiring process.
day. He types it up himself on his computer, prints