Move from the job you hate to the job you love

If you don’t like your job, you really should quit as soon as possible. Find out how, below, by clicking here.

More than 70 percent of those in the workforce aren’t happy with where they work. If you do the math, you spend 30% of your waking hours at your job. So you definitely need to love where you work.

Dead end jobs are not meant to be a place to settle down. They are stepping stones as you make your way toward a great job you can pour yourself into with joy. 

When we left the story last time, I was on the journey from Financial Disaster to Financial Freedom.

Then in mid-July of 2019, my transfer from Walmart Chicopee to Ellsworth allowed me to be closer to my family. I jumped right in to a full-time position at Walmart, with benefits. The move came with a big plus: I arrived just in time to enjoy the Maine summer weather I missed so much.

A “comfortable” position

Working as a CAP2 stock worker at Walmart is like a gym pass where they pay you to work out all day. I was in the best shape in my life! And I was really good at unloading the truck, so I did it a lot. God blessed me with a lot of great friends among coworkers and customers, friends who are still my friends today.

Before I continue, I must say that this move back up to Maine would not have been possible without the help of Ellsworth Assembly of God. A family in the church allowed me to live in their trailer in the church parking lot. What a blessing it is to be part of a church family that truly cares for strangers, and each other!

If you don’t have such a family, I really encourage you to find one as soon as you can.

From comfortable position to time to quit

I remember the week my dream job turned into the job from hell.

As Autumn began to arrive, things were tightening around me. The family who let me use the trailer needed it back to winterize it. The High School students and temporary workers at Walmart were beginning to leave. We had to unload 2-4 trucks every day, but there were fewer and fewer of us to get the job done.

I had to decide whether to stay at Walmart, or move on. This is how I knew it was time to leave:

• My bosses kept trying to get more done with fewer people,
• We were being run over,
• There was no hope for advancement: HQ was massively wiping out department manager positions throughout the country, and
• The HR guy encouraged me to stay by trying to make me afraid to move on.

As part of my Business School training, Donald Miller taught me that, to my boss, I am only worth what it would cost to replace me on the open market.

To my local bosses, I was a dependable team player who focused on customer service and stocking the shelves during my shift. I showed up early and stayed late when necessary.

However, my real bosses were in Bentonville, Arkansas. And to them, I was expendable.

Does any of this sound familiar to your current situation? If so…

This is what you can do about it!

1) Start looking for another job

I did not walk away and quit my job at Walmart, though I wanted to more than once. My family was counting on me to do my part, so I stuck it out. Each morning before work, I made small but significant steps forward.

For me, just looking for another job was therapeutic in itself. I did not feel like I was trapped anymore.

And the effort I put out each day to finding a new job helped me feel brave.

Although it felt productive to send out dozens of résumés on Indeed.com every morning, nothing ever came of it. What really worked was my following up on job opportunities suggested by friends. So I left Indeed.com behind, and focused my attention on businesses where friends worked.

And even though I didn’t get the job as a teller at Maine Savings Federal Credit Union, I knocked the interview out of the park! That experience encouraged me so much to keep on fighting for something better.

You don’t have to always get the job to make a step forward. Sometimes, the confidence of an affirming interview will be enough.

2) Keep doing a great job where you are

At Walmart Ellsworth, I didn’t open the bags of dry dog food and dump it on the floor. Instead, I worked harder, and faster. I doubled down on stocking the shelves, and helped our customers have a great experience.

If I was going to quit my job, I would make sure they were going to miss me badly when I was gone.

3) Pray a LOT

Whenever I was sad or discouraged, I would pray and tell God all about it.

When I didn’t feel like taking the next step, I’d pray for the inner strength to do so.

And at times when I was eagerly waiting to hear the results of my interview, I shared my anxieties with Him.

He kept me sane through stressful times.

4) Take a brave step

I had a great interview with the Front Desk Supervisor of the Bar Harbor Inn. But initially, he offered me no guarantee of employment once the winter season set in. So I dared not make the jump to the new position in uncertain times.

But then one Sunday morning, Denny and Sandy Nissley came to speak at our church. In their sermon, they called us to be bold and to take a step of faith, even when we are afraid. They asked us to come to the front of the church for prayer if we needed boldness to make a challenging decision. I rushed up, and placed the situation with the new job possibility in His hands.

Early the following week, I called the Bar Harbor Inn to see if the position was still available. It was, and my boss was desperate enough to open the possibility of staying on during the winter. It was sufficient; I quit my job at Walmart and started working the following week at the Bar Harbor Inn.

We all want financial freedom, but it comes at a price. For me, the price has usually been to take a bold step of faith as soon as I know that it’s within God’s plan.

Be ready to do the same.

After 39 years of walking with Him, I can personally testify, you will not be disappointed.

What advice could you give to someone who is looking to quit their job? Please let them know by leaving a comment below.