I've totally had job burnout before. When I d...

2010-05-15T20:21:21.715-07:00

I've totally had job burnout before. When I did & couldn't take it anymore, I found another job & quit - life's too short to be competely miserable.

The symptoms described here are more consistent wi...

2009-10-13T11:33:19.129-07:00

The symptoms described here are more consistent with the typical "bad job" rather than classic burnout. I would argue that, by definition, burnout is a long-term effect, and usually causes us to turn our backs on an entire vocation, rather than just a specific job role.

But some of the points do transfer. Firstly, we have to realise that a job is not our entire career. While it may come to light that "this [industry] isn't for me", there's also a strong chance that it's just a matter of being stuck in a crap job.

Regarding the lack of a "perfect job", I do agree that it's difficult to find, and especially hard when you're fresh outta school. Think of the Dream Job as a 100. It checks every box — from the easy commute, to the pleasant co-workers, to plenty of lights in a swanky office — but surely you'll sacrifice one or two list points for an overall good experience. Is a job that scores a 98 no longer worth having? How about 80? 70?

The question, therefore, is how low can you go? How many aspects of a job are you willing to concede before you realise you're in a crap situation, and thereby need to quit?

So while I reject the term "first-job burnout", I can certainly embrace the notion that your first job may suck, and may drive you up the wall, or to a strange and depressed state (as it did to me.)

My advice, since I seem to be the one giving it lately, is to take a first job that will ensure you the ability to get your second job! Much as you may have to concede that no job is perfect, you will have to realise that this isn't the last job you'll ever work. First steps, people. Try to evaluate the job for the contacts you can make, the amount you can learn from co-workers, the reputation of your firm, the publicity of your projects.

If you're not learning, not being challenged, not meeting people, not working on cool projects, AND not getting paid, please get the hell outta that job, even if it's your first.

Comments on Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes: Avoiding First-Job Burnout

I've totally had job burnout before. When I d...

The symptoms described here are more consistent wi...