Why You May Be Too Smart for Your Job
By Sandy Schroeder
Do you sometimes suspect you have more to offer than your job demands? Assessing where you are with your job can be tricky. You may enjoy the daily routine and like your boss and co-workers, but you may have more skills to offer. In that case, you may want to talk to your boss or look around in your company for more challenging spots.
Business Insider looked at this issue and gave us some signs to look for, and what to do.
You don’t have to stretch very much - Others may be scurrying to meet work demands, while you are able to outperform everyone around you. If this happens a lot you may be overqualified for your current position. If you really like your job and your company, this may be a great time to expand your position. I had that happen with a company that I really liked. I went in as an editorial writer and wound up directing major conferences and retreats. The leaders were always watching for good skills, and were happy to keep people by promoting from within.
Days become boring - At first it may be great to rip through your tasks and still have time to cruise a little, but over time jobs that don’t challenge us can be a drag. What to do? You might start looking around for new spots in your company, or in related fields that interest you. Or, you might talk with your co-workers and boss to see how you can take on more responsibilities.
You are not learning anything new - The right job keeps asking you to learn more. Every day can be a challenge, and sometimes you may miss familiar grooves, but continuing to learn more on the job will give you an edge for the future. If you are not learning anything new, do some research about your company to make more effective and then see where you can apply it.
You are puzzled about your company’s vision - When you are bored, or the tasks are really easy, you might step back and look at the overall operation. If doors are open and leaders are communicative, you may get a better picture of what your company is and what it does. Start asking questions, and fill up your free time with any discussions that you can generate with interesting co-workers or leaders.
When all is said and done, you may be too smart for your job, but that may simply be the time to open some new doors.
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