What Happens When You Fall Out of Love with Your Dream Job?

Landing your dream job can feel surreal. You’ve worked so hard to get to this point and finding out you’ve got the job is a huge relief. But what happens after you’ve been at this job for a little while and it doesn’t live up to your expectations? Whether it’s because the place has a negative culture, the people aren’t nice, or the work isn’t what you expected, falling out of love with your dream job can come as a bit of a shock.

You’ve spent so long to get to this goal, but now you’ve achieved it, it’s not the right fit. It’s like the disappointment of seeing a gorgeous top in-store, but when you try it on, it doesn’t fit how you thought it would.

As you would with anything that doesn’t fit, it’s time to find something that does. Here’s what to do if you’ve fallen out of love with your dream job.

Is it just a phase?

Starting a new job can be difficult – especially when you have such high expectations. Whether it’s after a week, a month, or a year, there are some things you can do when you start to feel those first seeds of doubt trickling in.

Check-in with yourself

The first thing to do is to check in with yourself. How are you feeling? There is probably a range of emotions going through you, from disappointment to fear, anger to sadness. Realising your “dream job” has become a nightmare is as heart-wrenching as breaking up with someone you were once in love with. It’s important to treat it this way too. Don’t do anything too drastic until you’ve had some time to think about it. Did something happen that changed your thinking, or was it a gradual process? Thinking about what triggered these thoughts is helpful, as it may be an easy fix. This leads us to our next point.

Give it time

One of the most important things to do when you first start thinking these thoughts is to give it time. Rushing into any decisions can backfire later, so take some time to reflect. Has something changed recently? Has something happened in your personal life that’s overflowing into work? Or are you simply bored? Tracing these triggers will help you figure out what’s wrong and if you can fix it.

Seek opportunities

There’s an aspect of everyone’s job that is repetitive. Even if projects differ daily, there’s usually paperwork or some structure that remains the same. If you’ve fallen out of love with your dream job, it might be time to shake up your daily routine. Reach out to your manager to see if there are any opportunities you may be able to take on, or if you’re able to try some different tasks. Having something new and exciting to do will help you see things in a new way—and potentially help you realise that your job isn’t that bad after all.

Try the same job at a different place

Workplace culture and the people around you play a big part in how you feel about your job. If you’ve got a team that’s difficult to work with or a negative workplace culture, it can be hard to feel positive about going to work every day. If you’re still unsure if your chosen industry is right for you, why not try for a similar role at a different organisation? By trying the same job at a new place, you’ll confirm whether it was the business you didn’t like, or the job itself.

Talk to someone with experience

If you’re struggling to manage how you feel, reach out to someone with experience. This may be someone in your role who has been there much longer than you or someone in the same industry. Talking to them about how you feel and asking questions about the role will give you some insight as to whether what you’re doing will always stay the same, or if progression, as you get more experienced, occurs.

Where to now?

So, it’s official – you’re breaking up with your dream job. What now? While it can feel overwhelming and like you’re starting from scratch, there are some things you can do to find your next career.

Know your skills

No matter what job you’re in, there are always transferable skills you can take with you. Your strengths are central to how you approach career change. Technical skills are secondary and can be learnt; your strengths are what make you unique and have a huge appeal to potential employers. This can be skills like customer service, managing a team, or even organisation. List down skills you have that you could take into any job.

Volunteer

Unsure where to go next? Volunteering in different industries can give you an insight as to how other places run and what’s involved. You’ll learn quickly whether it’s something you want to do or not! Ask lots of questions and be sure to go in with an open mind – your new job could be something you never expected. Keep in mind – not all industries will allow for volunteers, so if you’re wanting to try something out, it’s best to talk to a career counsellor or someone within the organisation for advice on where to start.

Career counsellor

If you’ve got too many thoughts swirling around in your head, talking to a careers counsellor can help you get them all out in the open. Career counsellors work with people who have questions about different career and educational paths. They will be able to assist with what transferable skills you have, as well as point you in the right direction of where you need to start.

Falling out of love with your dream job can be overwhelming. It can be devastating to realise that what you once thought was the only career for you, isn’t anymore. But the good thing about dreams is you can have more than one! While it’s normal to be sad about your ‘dream job’ not working out, there’s also an opportunity to find and start your new dream – and that’s exciting. No matter what job you choose next, Biz Corporates are here to help with a wide range of apparel, perfect for use across multiple industries.