Getting the Most From Your Job

Jan. 26, 2005 -- -- As the majority of your waking hours are spent on the job -- an average of 42 hours a week according to a recent Gallup poll -- ideally, work should be satisfying. Given the weakened state of the job market over the past few years, however, most people have been happy to simply have a job and have not paid particular attention to their satisfaction meters. Specifically, the U.S. economy lost 2.4 million jobs between 2001 and 2003. Last year, though, signaled a change for the better with the creation of 2.23 million jobs. That said, in a recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management and CareerJournal.com, approximately 47 percent of respondents who were currently employed said they plan to begin or ramp up a job search this year due to the improving job market.

If you have tried to make the best of your job situation and it is still making you miserable, it may be time to say goodbye. However, you should not make any rash decisions when it comes to quitting and you should definitely avoid leaving a job when you are angry (often a cooler head can prevail). Ideally, you should have another job lined up before you resign from your current job, and it is especially important that this new job not mirror the same environment you are trying to escape.

It is essential to carefully plan for your departure because time off, as well as searching for a new job, can be expensive endeavors. As such, you should build up as much of a savings cushion as possible -- at minimum, three to six months of living expenses. Additionally, consider taking out a home equity line of credit before you leave your current position, as this can be a financial lifeline that is very difficult to obtain without employment.

Regarding your benefits, do a complete review of everything you currently have, are entitled to and will leave behind when you leave your firm. Specifically, you should inquire about: