Why are so many engineers unsatisfied with their jobs? Is it the long hours? The stress? The constant threat of deadlines? All of the above? Let's examine the main culprits that lead to job dissatisfaction in the workplace and what can be done about them.
Unrest at home
Job satisfaction in the workplace begins at home. If an engineer has an unhappy personal life then nothing is going to satisfy him (or her) at work. But the causes of an unhappy personal life probably began from the long hours put in at work so it's a kind of "Catch-22" situation. What is needed then is improved time management and healthy goals that lead to professional and personal growth.
Stress
Stress can be devastating in the workplace and needs to be recognized early to minimize its effects, which is easier said than done. The causes aren't always obvious but are often related to too much work, long working hours, and job insecurity (layoffs, downsizing, mergers, etc). A good way for the engineer to attack stress is to create a harmonious home life, participate in a regular exercise program, open yourself up to other people as much as possible, maintain a positive attitude, and learn how to manage your time better.
Lack of opportunity for promotion
This is a common Silicon Valley engineer's complaint. It's all about competition and how the engineer can stand tall above his co-workers. Promotions aren't about pleasing management (they shouldn't be)-they're really about being consistent at your job and possessing that "edge" over other candidates. Often, an engineer can gain an edge by becoming an expert at a problem at work. This could be fixing a software glitch, fixing malfunctioning electronic hardware, maintaining best practices, scheduling; any number of things. You could become the "go to" guy for certain types of issues in the workplace.
Lack of job autonomy and support from management
Many engineers suffer from the restraints put on them by management. Most successful companies empower their employees to make their own decisions and take the lead on projects. Alas, many companies do not. To be successful in this environment an engineer needs to find a way by bringing a louder voice into the workplace and becoming an expert in his (or her) niche.
Lack of a dream
Most all engineers have goals and they are outlined periodically in performance reviews and included in planners and "things to do' lists. But what every engineer really needs is a dream. Your dream might be learning to fly an airplane, traveling the world as a consultant, or becoming an artist and painting native girls on a tropical island. It can be anything! Your dream should be with you every day and give you a peace of mind that will help you over the bumpy road caused by stress and the other culprits mentioned above.
Turning job dissatisfaction into job satisfaction is not as difficult as it sounds if the engineer will learn to manage time better and have the peace of mind to corral stress and take advantage of the opportunities at work to promote his (or her) professional and personal growth.
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