After I finished playing college ball, I wasn’t sure what career path was right for me. I graduated during the 2008 recession with a bachelors degree in marketing, so I decided to pursue a job that was practical. I soon realized that working for the NBA wasn’t the right fit, but I decided to make my ‘unhappy job’ work for me.
When you’re at a job you don’t like, don’t be so quick to leave. Below are a few of the reasons to try and stay at a job instead of quitting right away.
6 Benefits of Staying in a Job You’re Unhappy With
Learn about yourself. Once you realize the job you have isn’t the right fit, take time to reflect. My first full time job was an entry- level sales role in the NBA. When the honeymoon phase was over, I took some time to think about my experience and asked myself the following questions:
- What do I like about this job?
- What don’t I like about this job?
- What benefits (besides the salary & health benefits) makes this job worth holding onto?
- Are there other roles within the company that I might want to try?
Taking the time to really consider what I wanted helped me plot out my next moves.
Helps you develop skills. Just because you don’t enjoy your job doesn’t mean you can’t learn from it. Some of the my best skills I learned were from jobs I didn’t like. For example, after a few weeks of working in sales, I was able to sell tickets for one of the worst performing teams in the league (it was hard, the team was really struggling!) The techniques and work ethic I developed have helped me succeed years later in the corporate and non-profit sectors.
Provides a security net. Hate it or love it- getting a regular paycheck gives you a security net that helps you financially. A consistent paycheck allows you to pay your bills, save for a rainy day and pay off debt. Not having to worry about financial stressors can give you a huge piece of mind.
Helps you consider your future. Maybe you don’t like your job, but, maybe you can also see yourself growing at your existing company. After a few months or years of putting in work, you might move up within the organization and find a role that works better for you.
Builds your resume. If you put in the work, most jobs can serve as fantastic resume builders. Despite not enjoying certain components of my job, I was able to showcase many of the personal goals I achieved. Those jobs I didn’t like ended up helping me secure bigger and better jobs.
Creates your network. Over time I realized that my personal network was more powerful than I thought. Even if you don’t enjoy what you do, you may meet really great people at your current job. Good co-workers can become great professional referrals or great personal friends.
Many former athletes will find themselves in jobs they don’t like or jobs that don’t quite fit their needs. If you’re not happy, take a moment to weigh all of the pros of your job, not just the cons!
Working in professional sports was one of the best learning experiences of my career, and when I realized the job wasn’t right for me, it provided me with so much: a financial security net, learning opportunities, and the ability to build my professional portfolio. Looking back, I was so glad I took the time to plan a graceful exit, a move that helped me learn without burning any bridges or prevent me from securing future work.