職場課堂：從壞工作中我們能學會什麼？
A bad job can be the result of a range of issues. Perhaps it's a lack of growth opportunities for a sales coordinator who's held the same role for four years. Or maybe it's a work/life imbalance for an executive assistant who spends late nights at the office and still has to catch up on projects at home.
一份壞工作可能有許多原因。對於一名在同一個職位上幹了四年的銷售協調員來說可能是缺乏升職的機會。對於一名加班到深夜，還要把工作帶回家的執行助理來說可能是工作和生活無法平衡。
We've all had a bad job at some point along the way. If your list of cons is longer than your list of pros, don't fret. There are tactics you can employ to tip the scales back in your favor.
在人生的某個階段我們都會遇到一份壞工作。如果這份工作的壞處超過了它的好處，別鬱悶。這裏有些辦法可以讓你重新喜歡上這份工作。
Here are five ways to find the upside no matter how bad a job may seem.
下面這五種辦法可以讓你發現這份工作的優勢，無論它看上去有多麼糟糕。
1. Connect with new people
1. 擴大交友圈
The biggest asset at your disposal may be the people you work with. Expanding your circle to cross-departmental colleagues can bring about unexpected benefits.
這份壞工作裏最大的財富也許就是和你一起工作的人們。把你的交際圈擴大到部門之外的同事，這會給你帶來意外的收穫。
For one, they might become sources of support and friendship, helping to improve your job satisfaction. Further, they may be able to expose you to new projects or areas of the company that could hold appeal.
一方面，他們也許會成爲你的支持者和朋友，有助於提升你對工作的滿足感。不僅如此，他們可能還會向你介紹公司裏那些有吸引力的新的項目和領域。
So be a part of the office dynamic. This makes it easier to reach out to an extended group of people. Take part in hallway chats, attend birthday events and bring a casserole to the monthly potluck or the summer picnic. When new people join the company, welcome them and express your interest in learning from each other.
所以努力成爲辦公室動力的一部分。這會讓你更容易接觸到更多的人。參與在走道里的聊天，出席生日活動，帶着菜去參加每個月的聚會或者夏季野餐。當有新人加入公司時，向他們表示歡迎，並且讓他們知道你有興趣相互瞭解。
Remember not to mention your discontent. You're not looking for others to gripe with. Simply focus on areas of interest. Any shared experiences or knowledge can open up a useful conversation. Follow up later via email and build a continued dialogue over time.
記住，不要提到你對工作的不滿。你不是在找人來發牢騷。只用專注於你們感興趣的領域。任何相互分享的經歷或知識都可以開始一段有用的對話。之後可以通過電子郵件進一步交流，讓對話持續下去。
Bonus tip: In addition to peers, consider connecting with managers and even executives. You can still look upward when networking internally.
額外建議：除了同事，還可以考慮和經理甚至和主管聯繫。哪怕是內部的人際關係，你也可以向上看。
2. Tap your potential
2. 開發你的潛能
Ask for projects that allow you to stretch your abilities and develop new skills. You may find that you enjoy whatever it is you begin working on and that your dissatisfaction is not so much with the company but with your current duties. An added benefit: You also can include action verbs, such as "managed," "mentored" or "developed," on your résumé.
尋找那些允許你充分發揮自己的能力，而且可以培養新技能的項目。你也許會發現不管是做什麼，剛開始的時候你都很享受，而你的不滿其實和公司關係不大，而是關於你目前的職責。另一個好處是，你可以在簡歷上加上諸如“完成”“指導”或“開發”這樣的動詞。
Bonus tip: Ask your supervisors how you're doing with a new assignment. If you get words of appreciation, thank them and keep any glowing emails or reviews for your records. You can use these as a résumé addendum or for your cover letter.
額外建議：問問你的上司，你在這個新任務中表現如何。如果你得到了讚許，向他們表示感謝，並且把那些有溢美之詞的郵件或評價留做記錄。你可以用它們作爲簡歷附錄或者用在求職信中。
3. Investigate your industry
3. 調查你所在的行業
One thing a bad job can still help you do: explore your industry in greater depth. Many companies pay for memberships to industry associations and conferences, making it easier -- and more affordable -- to interact with your peers. By doing so, you can bring added value to your job, expand your professional network and potentially learn about future career paths.
一份壞工作對你還有一個幫助：更深層次地探索你的行業。許多公司付費加入行業協會或者參加行業會議，這讓你和同行接觸變得更容易也更可行。這樣，你可以爲自己的工作帶來額外的價值，擴展自己的專業網絡，還能潛在地瞭解未來的職業道路。
You may even realize you're not as passionate about your profession as you once were. Instead of pinning your discontent on your current job, it may be the business that's not working for you. Sometimes it's hard to tell.
你甚至可能會發現你對自己的專業已經不像從前那樣熱情了。別在把不滿歸結於你目前的工作，也許這份工作根本就不適合你。有時候這很難說。
Bonus tip: Consider not just attending but speaking at an industry event. It's easier to get accepted as a speaker while employed, and being a featured presenter can boost your credentials in the eyes of future employers.
額外建議：不僅要參加行業活動，而且考慮在會上發言。找工作時作爲一名發言人更容易被接受，而且在未來僱主的眼裏會提升你的含金量。4. Propose process improvement
4. 提議改進工作流程
Your job dissatisfaction may be the result of barriers to efficiency in your office, such as a complicated approval process that drains your excitement for a project as it drags on. Rather than complain, suggest systems or processes that will alleviate pain points. Chances are you're not the only one who is frustrated.
你對工作的不滿也許來自於你辦公室裏一些影響效率的障礙，比如一個複雜的審批流程會讓你對一個項目的激動之情在拖拉中消耗殆盡。與其抱怨，還不如建議整個體系或流程讓人減輕痛苦。感到困擾的人可能不止你一個。
You'll earn the goodwill of colleagues, and these individuals could serve as future references. Also keep in mind that spearheading these types of improvements is résumé gold.
你會發現同事們對你的做法表現出的善意，而且這些人將來可以作爲你的推薦人。還要記住，在簡歷中突出你做的這些改進十分有價值。
Bonus tip: Create a proposal for your boss that clearly outlines the benefits of any changes you suggest. For example, "If we remove this review step, we can save a week in producing the financial report. Here's why that step is redundant.
"額外建議：向你的老闆遞交一份提案，清楚地列出你所建議的改變能帶來的好處。比如“如果我們去掉這個評審的步驟，在製作財政報告時就可以節省一週的時間。這就是爲什麼這個步驟是多餘的。”
5. Examine your career path
5. 審視你的職業道路
It's important to assess what you want -- and what you don't want -- from your future job to avoid landing in another unsatisfying position. And it's easier to reflect on your career path while employed; for one thing, you won't have the added financial stress.
爲了避免再次陷入不滿的境地，對未來的工作進行評估，瞭解你想要什麼不想要什麼就非常重要。當你還在工作的時候來審視自己的職業道路更加容易，至少你不會有額外的經濟壓力。
Focus on targeting employers and roles that can offer you what you're looking for. This research phase can take time, so dig in now.
把目標專注於那些可以提供給你所尋求的東西的僱主或崗位。這個搜尋的過程需要花費時間，所以現在就開始。
Bonus tip: Sign up with a staffing firm. A specialized recruiter can do much of the heavy lifting in a job search. These professionals are able to identify opportunities that might interest you and approach companies, confidentially, on your behalf. You don't have to make a move until you're ready.
額外建議：在人力資源公司註冊登記。一名專業的招聘人員在尋求職位的過程中可以發揮很大作用。這些專業人員能夠發現你可能感興趣的機會，而且代表你私下與那些公司接觸。在你準備好之前沒有必要進行人事變動。
Use the above tips to remain positive and productive when you're stuck in a bad job. Even if you can't leave at the moment, there are ways to stay motivated and find the right fit eventually.
當你被一份壞工作困住時，利用一下上面這些建議，保持積極高效。即使你眼下不能離職，這些辦法都可以讓你保持工作的動力，並且最終找到合適的工作。
