The swamp job. It’s scary, but it happens. The one we trudge through day in and day out, hoping one day to reach dry land. However unfortunate it is to be stuck in a dead-end or unfulfilling position, many people may not even realize they are plodding through the swamp, sinking as they swim. That, or they fear the prospect of change.
As college students, we aspire to find exciting opportunities where dullness is nonexistent and monotony a thing of the 20th century. We may have yet to experience a so-called swamp job, but it’s important to know the signs ahead of time to guard ourselves against the possibility. Here are 10 indications that you are stuck — and sinking fast.
Each morning is a harder uphill battle than the last. In Greek mythology, there is a king named Sisyphus who is forever condemned to shove a massive boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down each time he tries to push it up. If your mornings increasingly resemble Sisyphus’ eternity, you are likely lacking a fulfilling job.
The 64-oz. coffee jug just isn’t cutting it anymore. I have a friend who prides herself on her colorful Texas-sized mug she takes to work every morning to help her stay stimulated and alert. However, come mid-morning, not only has she hit a hard caffeine crash, but so has her enthusiasm for work. While most of us need a little caffeine punch every morning to start our engines, it shouldn’t override our true motivation to stay dedicated and determined in the office.
The morning transit to work resembles rush-hour road rage. Idly sitting bumper-to-bumper on the way back from a long day’s work is enough to tick someone off. However, the mere thought of going to work shouldn’t continually incite similar angst and tension in the early morning.
Your fingers spend more recreational time on your iPhone than the keyboard. I’ll be one of the first to admit that having a readily available smartphone is a distraction. But if at work you’re more enthralled with trivial Facebook updates, Words with Friends and weather updates than the assignment at hand, you’ll know your priorities are surely mismatched.
The blank Word document is always open on the computer screen. I have had my fair share of days when I watch the pulsing cursor synchronize with the passing seconds. An internship or job you truly love should really inspire you to find new avenues and challenges for constant growth, change and innovation in your work.
You count down the seconds like it’s New Year’s Eve. Barely surviving another shift just shouldn’t be on your daily to-do list.
You feel like a complete loner. It’s one thing to be introverted. It’s quite another to be caught in the middle of a company culture that is completely dissimilar from who you are.
You live for the weekend. Every now and then, who doesn’t? But if it’s a weekly habit to feel work is an inconvenient interruption to your social life, you may need to reconsider the employment options.
The thought of new tasks, more work and increased responsibility is horrifying. Gaining more experience and responsibility is an indication of well-deserved growth and success. If neither appeals to you in your job, then the job is not for you. Period.
Most importantly, supervisors take little interest in your professional and personal development. An organization should be invested in your performance and satisfaction as one of their own interns or employees. Your time is valuable — it should at least be recognized from time to time.
