What Does It Take To Finally Get Career Satisfaction As A Kenyan Professional?

By Perminus Wainaina

What are you yearning for in your career this month apart from the paycheck?

Is it peace at work, a chance to pitch your ideas for the first time ever or is it a satisfying feeling that you are indeed at the right place with the right employer?

According to a survey carried out late last year about the Kenyan Job market, 80% of Kenyan employees today are unhappy about their work.

And they listed bad pay, job security and the proximity of their work from their home as the main determinants of their work satisfaction.

QUICKLY SEE THIS >>> Why Emotional Intelligence Matters In Your Career Development

Also, some of the other reasons could be the feeling you get the first thing you get into the office and start counting down the hours until it’s time to go home.

You generally feel as though you have nothing else left to give.

Having coached professionals for several years now, I can boldly advice you that satisfaction has to come first from within before looking to solve any other any external factors.

So let’s look at 5 of the probable reasons why you are not getting the satisfaction you need at work

1. You are working because ‘you have to’ not because you actually want to

You come into the office very early in the morning and work on tasks that feel meaningless and of less importance to you.

You ultimately do it because you are asked to and because you know results will be expected from you, but if you were given the option to decline the task, you would do so in a heartbeat.

2. Your work does not allow you to grow

The job you have faithfully worked for in many years does not allow you room to expand or climb up the career ladder, or simply not possible.

You are the Assistant accountant and it will remain so until you finally quit.

3. You haven’t set your career goals yet, so you feel like your work is a waste of time

Maybe you started in an entry level position & you’ve never had the chance to evaluate what you actually want for your career.

You haven’t figured out what you want out of that particular job or even career.

4. Your boss micro manages every task you do, you feel trapped

You consider yourself a responsible and productive employee but your boss frustrates your efforts by following each step you take and providing directives here and there on each process.

5. Most importantly, you are a loner. You avoid befriending everyone in the office

Yes, you come to work on time, you do your work excellently but you never connect with anyone. You are good with your boss but you still feel unhappy.

Could be you avoid your colleagues’ effort to connect or they avoid you all together due to some reasons.  As a result, you feel lonely and very unhappy.

So, should you even expect to feel fulfilled and happy at work?

Nobody said you should ever have to spend half of your life, bitter and dissatisfied behind their work station.

I mean, that would be a true definition of modern day slavery without mentioning work place torture itself.

Luckily, whether you are feeling anxious, lonely or just unsatisfied while at it, you can get a solution.

Here is what you can do about it…

1. Firstly, get yourself the right balance

While there is that pressing need to feed yourself, pay rent and maybe HELB, remember that you also need to enjoy your work.

If you absolutely dread it, be willing to take a pay cut as you search for something that is truly fulfilling.

2. Take a pro-active approach if you feel micro managed

With this, there is no other way out.

You just have to be prudent enough and solve this yourself. Let your boss know what your agenda is over the course of the next few weeks and when they can expect whatever it is you are delivering.

This way, you’re letting him/her know that you shall deliver and how you intend to do it. The result could be peaceful coexistence & breathing room to complete your projects.

3. Get a professional advice before taking any step

A career coaching program could be all you need to realize the main loop holes in your career life.

Talk to a career expert and get to understand where the problem is and why you feel the way you do. Some times as professionals we just need a logical explanation to a problem and a probable solution to getting around it.

So, don’t hesitate!

4. Finally, Break out of your lonely Shell!

You might not like everyone in the office.

In fact some may irritate you and that’s okay.

However, ensure that you at least have a few people you can talk to and interact after work. Work on your social skills first before presuming that your work is really dissatisfying.

With this in mind,

Know that if you want to find happiness at your work, you have to realize and accept that it’s not an impossible mystery or puzzle.

It is just a matter of identifying your problems and finding an approach that helps you succeed.