The Aftermath Of A Bad Job: What You Need To Know

You spent months, perhaps even years, working in a job that you despised. Maybe you hated the work itself, or perhaps the workplace rules – or a bad boss – made what seemed like a great opportunity turn into a nightmare. However, whatever the cause for your discontent, it’s over now: you’ve moved on, you’re working in a new job, and your career seems to be right back on track.
… Right?
Perhaps not. In some cases, a bad job can be bad enough to cause a lingering after-effect; something powerful enough to taint everything you do going forward. Think of it as being similar to how a bright flash of light can make dots linger in your vision; the source of the issue vanishes, but there’s still a lingering impression making its presence known.
Moving on doesn’t mean you’ve moved on
If you find yourself struggling to move on from a negative working experience, it may be reassuring to know that you’re not alone. Some jobs are so detrimental that they can take years to recover from, especially if you were experiencing severe issues such as bullying or harassment. While you’ve done the best thing – removed yourself from the environment – there’s still an aftermath to process.
You may find that you are now incredibly suspicious when it comes to working. You may struggle with trust, or find yourself hanging back from being fully invested in the role you are working in, or the company itself. This is entirely natural; when you have given your all and experienced nothing but negativity as a result, it can be difficult to ever imagine fully committing to a job again.
The consequences of leaving a bad job
Unfortunately, the impact of your former bad job can have negative consequences on your performance in the present. Your lack of commitment, born of a sense of self-protection, may be misunderstood as apathy by your new employer. It’s also worth noting that your general sense of fear and malaise impacts you directly, and you may struggle to find enjoyment and satisfaction in your new role.
So what can you do?
There are no easy answers, and sometimes the best solution is simply time. The further you get away from your old job, the more you may find you relax and can embrace the opportunities offered in the new one.
However, in some situations, you may need to take action to remedy the matter. There are various ways you can do this. The first is a direct route that seeks recompense, if possible, for the problems you suffered in your previous job; the likes of www.DolmanLaw.com/legal-services/employment-law-attorneys/ can help with this, and allow you to achieve a beneficial sense of closure.
In addition, it’s also worth engaging with therapy in order to gain the mental clearance you require. Therapy can help you to move on from the previous bad experience, helping to improve your mental health so you can embrace the best possible start in the future. The likes of https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists can help you to find a suitable therapist if you feel this may be beneficial.
In conclusion
Being in a new job does not necessarily mean you can push the problems your last job caused into the background. Give yourself time to recover and embrace the future, exploring the options above to help with this. What’s most important to remember is that the feeling will pass in time, and soon, your lousy job will be nothing but a distant memory.