At some point, almost everyone in this industry starts to wonder if they are with the right company or if it is time to move on. Sometimes you feel that way after a bad week or meeting that did not go so well with the boss, but that is generally just a rough patch. What I am talking about is that sickening feeling and anxiousness you get when you wake up each and every morning knowing you have to go to “that place.”
Sign #1 – The Morning Blues
How many times are you hitting snooze in the morning before actually getting out of bed and grabbing a shower to start your day? Worse yet, how often are you just sitting at the end of the bed putting your head in your hands dreading the start of the day?
When this happens, you are all but guaranteeing you are going to have a bad day. Sadly, when you do this day after day, it really never seems to get better. It is almost as if you have an impending sense of doom the moment you put that suit on and head to work.
Sign #2 – Excessive Stress that Impacts both Work and Personal Life
This business is stressful enough without actually hating the job. For some, that stress is actually a rush, because these individuals really do enjoy their jobs. When you are in a company or at a hotel you do not like working at, however, even the smallest of things can trigger stress.
To make matters worse, a negative and stressful work situation will often find its way home with you, which is when things really start to go downhill. When your work life starts to negatively impact your home life, there are only two outcomes: find a new job or you will find yourself in an empty house.
Constant stress is also extremely hazardous to your health. Work pressure is one thing but being completely stressed out all day can start to break down your immune system as well as leading to some very serious health problems. Stress has been linked to cardiac problems, depression, anxiety, premature aging, and headaches, just to name a few. That list goes on and on and none of it is good.
Sign #3 – You Hate Your Coworkers
There is an old saying that you don’t necessarily have to like everyone you work with, you just need to respect them and get along at work. The key there is “everyone.” It is ridiculous to think you are going to like every person, but it is simply unnatural not to form some positive relationships with coworkers. You are going to be around these people for at least eight hours a day, far more in most cases, so there has to be some type of comradery and friendship.
Even if the job itself is not so bad, the fact you are not getting along with anyone is simply not healthy for you. This will eventually lead to work conflicts that will more than likely result in you losing your job anyway. Remember, you are the one that is not getting along with anyone, not the other way around. Regardless of work performance, the company may have no choice but to cut ties for the sake of the overall operation, so you might as well beat them to the punch.
Sign #4 – Work Life Balance is Gone
Work-life balance is something I never really considered until I entered the hotel side of this industry. While I was working in restaurants, it was never a problem. However, from just about from the first day I started working in hotels, I realized things were about to change fairly dramatically. The moment I walked through the doors, I worked more than a month straight, often days of 12 hours or more, without a day off. You quickly realize if you keep that pace up, you will both hate your job and start to lose your health.
Now, while I never worked that length of time without a day off again, my quality of life during my first few years in hotels was never really very good. There was significant pressure to be at the property virtually anytime there was a function going on. I can honestly admit, I spent my fair share of days with my head in my hands in the morning.
That changed when a new GM and F&B came on property. I still worked a lot, but that was of my choosing. However, when I needed days off or needed to get out early, it was NEVER a problem. Compare that to my previous boss that regularly called me when I was off and would even blow up my phone during vacations. I was simply never able to get away from that work mentality to unplug and recharge.
I would imagine this is quite common with managers just starting out in the industry as well as managers being promoted up the food chain, especially in operations departments. As I worked my way up the chain, I realized the mistakes I made and worked as hard as I could, or at least I would like to think I did, about being able to provide a quality of life for my managers.
I was single, so I worked family-oriented holidays so they could be with their wife or husband and children. In turn, they were more than happy to cover for me on days like Super Bowl Sunday, which was like my New Year’s.
Point being, you have to find a way to actually have a life outside of your job. The moment your life becomes ONLY about your job, it will not be long before everything else falls apart. If you work in an environment when vacations are declined more often than approved and there is not even an effort to give you at least one regular day off and a somewhat normal schedule, you are working for the wrong people.
Sign #5 – More for Less and No Promotions
The whole point of busting your butt through the ranks is to get more money and advance up the corporate ladder. When your boss is constantly adding to your workload without additional pay, to put it simply, you are being taken advantage of. And I am not talking about picking up some slack when someone else is off or out, but of tasks that fall way out of the normal job description being handed to you simply because they can.
When this happens, there are several possibilities as to why, and none of them are good.
The company may be downsizing, in essence being forced to ask for more from its staff without offering any additional compensation. For instance, as a banquet manager, you find yourself suddenly covering restaurant shifts on a regular basis as well as having to cover your own department. Downsizing is also often a sign of financial problems, so you have to wonder how long it will be before your name shows up on that cut list.
Another scenario would be you simply have a boss that is taking advantage of you. We all know where that leads.
Now, there are times when additional tasks are assigned as a learning process in anticipation of a promotion, which is fine. But, if that promotion is always promised and never delivered, then it is clearly time to move on.
Saying goodbye to a job is a risky proposition, which is why it is always best to work with hotel recruiters like Joseph David International. Confidentiality is key during these times and working with a reputable company like JDI ensures confidentiality is never a problem. So, if this list sounds all too familiar to you, give one of our representatives a call so we can help you find your dream job and get you out of your nightmare. For more information about our candidate placement services or to see current opportunities available, please click here.
Photo By stokkete