We all know that feeling of being stuck in a job that you hate. Every day seems to drag on, and everything feels like a gargantuan effort. It’s hard not to feel as though everything is totally pointless when you’re working a job that you don’t enjoy. So what can you do? Well, you could try to stick it out, finding the positive aspects of the job that you’re doing.

However, if you’re really miserable, then it might be time to go and find something else. Of course, you don’t want just to end up working somewhere else feeling the exact same way.

If you’re saying goodbye to a job you hate, you want it to be because you’re moving on to something better. With that in mind, here are some things to consider when trying to find a more fulfilling career.

What makes you happy?

This should be the first thing that you ask yourself. The last thing you want is to leave one job that you hate and then just move straight on to a different job that you hate just as much. Think about the things that you really love. What are you passionate about? What can you see yourself doing every single day without getting sick of it?

Would you be the happiest working creatively, doing something different every day? Or would you prefer to work at a job where you can develop and refine a particular skill over a long period?

These kinds of questions will help you avoid getting stuck in another run and will allow you to more easily figure out what you want to do instead.

What are you good at?

Of course, if you want to find a new job that you really love it will probably need to be something that you’re good at. The most amazing job in the world can still be a miserable experience if you’re constantly struggling to keep up or understand what’s going on.

Think about your own personal set of skills? If you’re good at working with your hands, then you may want to find a job like carpentry that allows you to do just that every day. Or perhaps you’ve always had a way with people? Then something like social work internships might be right up your alley.

That way you can take a personal skill and use it to help people every day.   

What are your personal circumstances?

Of course, it’s important to remember that you may not always be in a position to drop everything and follow your dreams, however much you might want to. Ask yourself if you can afford the potential pay drop that may come with starting a new career.

If you live with a partner, then you should always talk to them before making any big decisions. They will almost certainly be incredibly enthusiastic about you doing something that makes you happy, but it’s important to remember that the choices you make don’t just impact your life, but the lives of people around you as well.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links.