Change Pusher # 3- Where’s the Job Satisfaction

Are you satisfied with your present job? Does the job utilise the skills you have acquired? Does the job allow you to nurture your creativity? Most of us would like to answer these questions in an affirmative; but few of us actually can. So what’s missing? It’s job satisfaction.

Job satisfaction describes how content an individual is with his job. However, it is hard to spot job satisfaction in employees. Take a survey yourself. Just question a few people in your network. Are they satisfied with their job? Chances are most of them aren’t.

What makes job satisfaction so elusive?

First, job satisfaction is a purely subjective concept. Can you measure the amount of satisfaction you are drawing from your present job? By assigning values or points to different facets of the job, one can make an attempt at computing the amount of job satisfaction. But the results will not be that satisfactory.

Second, job satisfaction is how one perceives his/her job. An individual may not be sure whether he is satisfied with the job. On a particular day when the individual met his long time friend making big money in his job, he starts feeling sick for his job. Another day when the individual gets praised by his boss, he feels good for his job. As such, the individual has no good definition of job satisfaction.

To analyse your satisfaction from job, just take the following questionnaire.

1. How will you rate your job?
2. Are you self motivated towards your work? Look out for career resources to know how to improve self motivation.
3. What is the amount of supervision on your work?
4. Are you getting paid in proportion to your experience and qualification?
5. What is the level of security in your job?
6. Does the job satisfy your career and personal goals?
7. Are your skills being utilised in the present job?
8. Are you satisfied with the organisational climate?
9. Are you satisfied with the organisation structure vis-à-vis your position in this structure?

Quickly and honestly answer these and make the decision fast. If you are actually deriving satisfaction from your job, you would surely score highly and positively answer on most questions. The lack of satisfaction is only your perception and a passing fad. If not, it’s time to seek for jobs that augur well your interests and satisfaction.