What job crafting is and how to change jobs without literally changing it
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Only 15% of people worldwide are passionate about their work. For various reasons, the rest are unsatisfied with their work and go there without much enthusiasm.
If you don’t like your job, take the Menteora job quiz now. It will tell you what professions you are predisposed to.
You may need to change your profession or company radically if you do not like the job. But this is not the only and not always the right way.
Career development consultants are increasingly talking about job crafting — an approach that allows you to “recreate” work, more precisely, change it for yourself to bring joy (read How to change attitudes to make your career faster).
What is job crafting, and why should you try it?
The main idea of job crafting is to “change” the job without changing it. That is, try to rearrange your schedule, responsibilities, or attitude to it so that you enjoy your tasks, even if you didn’t like them at first.
According to this concept, one should treat work activity and schedule not as something rigidly fixed and predetermined but as something that can be revised entirely, even if it is a little, or at least try it do. This tactic is advised by psychologists, HR professionals, and management experts, especially when a person does not have the opportunity or resources to change jobs or areas of activity. Studies show that its behavior pattern is quite effective.
How to “recreate” a job
1. Change tasks
Analyze what you like about your duties and what you would like to refuse. Think about what you could do within your position and company that would interest you.
You enjoy interacting with people but mostly work independently. If you are a copywriter or journalist, try growing up as an editor. If a programmer, become a team leader.
Such options are impossible in every area, and you will most likely not be able to give up your primary tasks. But even small changes can help you feel better.
2. Take on additional responsibilities
At first glance, it doesn’t sound logical: where else if you don’t like the job anyway? But the point is to choose tasks that inspire you and perform them at least as a bonus to the primary duties. You will get something like a hobby (5 obstacles to turn a hobby into a job), which will add meaning and satisfaction, and at the same time upgrade new skills (upgrade these 11 skills to make your career skyrocket).
Let’s say you like organizing events and want to be creative at work, but the main tasks have nothing to do with events or creativity. Offer to organize a corporate event, conference, excursion, team building, or holiday for colleagues. Write a script, find a suitable venue, presenter, and decorator, and devise a menu and design.
Or, for example, you love to share knowledge and teach others. Become a facilitator or mentor for new hires, and organize and lead a book club or a training seminar on a topic you know well (read Who a mentor is).
3. Change career direction
Some companies practice a non-linear approach to the development of employees. That is, you can grow not only upwards but also, conditionally, “to the side.”
You were an account manager but wanted to manage the staff, and you moved to the HR department. Or you started as a salesperson and then moved into marketing.
If your organization allows this, talk to your manager about your plans. Be prepared that you will have to study additionally and develop the competencies and skills necessary for a new position, most likely at your own expense.
If you enjoyed this article, check out the five things you need to do to love your job.
Take the Menteora career guidance test; artificial intelligence will name your most suitable professions. The accuracy of the test is 70-80% because we use a mathematical-statistical algorithm (read about Menteora's unique career guidance methodology).