In even the most successful careers, there is always an element of luck. Sometimes lots of luck. But over the years, I’ve also had many people write to ask why they have bad luck in jobs. And I know it often feels that way.
Of course, there are times when luck turns sour and you get a bad boss or horrible coworkers. Or even major layoffs just as you join the firm of your dreams. But there is good news even if you are hit with more than your share of bad luck in jobs. Luckily, there are things you can do to help improve your chances of letting good luck find you!
How to help good luck find you
No one can control luck. At least no one that I know. But there are people who seem to be luckier. And if we look at some of their habits, we may discover some things that can help us.
- Luckier people may actually have bad luck, but they don’t label it that way. And they don’t let it linger in their minds. Or spend lots of time rehashing the “bad.”
- When lucky people fail, they look for the next opportunity rather than getting stuck worrying about what they can’t control.
- The company you keep can make a difference. If you constantly hang out with people who love to wallow in misery, it’s hard to aim yourself toward good things. In fact, it may break the bond they feel with you!
- Don’t give up — resilience is the key to giving yourself a chance for luck to find you.
More things to help change your “luck”
- Go after things you really care about. We all need jobs that pay the rent at times. But you have a better chance of succeeding when you don’t settle. Keep pursuing your dream even if you’re in a “job job.”
- Believe in yourself. If bad luck becomes a label you put on yourself, you forget your real strengths. But the strengths are still there. You just need to give them a chance to climb over those obstacles.
- Look for ways to create opportunities for yourself if they don’t seem to find you. Doors open when you make the effort — and do it with positive energy.
- Find people to network with who you respect and admire — and be open to learning from them.
- Listen. Really listen to what people say. Take time to learn about them. And look for opportunities to help THEM.
- Put yourself in circumstances where you can succeed. Each win helps you remember who you really are.
⇒ EXTRA: Why Do I Always Pick the Wrong Job?
A few more thoughts
Bad luck in jobs is not something that needs to stop us. I’ve had my share of “bad luck”, but the secret is to keep learning and keep going. And to think of the bad luck as an opportunity to grow.
Still, it helps to be more aware when you think about what kind of job you are going to accept. Make sure you’ve done your research and asked good questions. Lots you can learn online and from informational interviews with people in the field.
Most of all, make sure you take time to think about who you really are — strengths and interests. And set yourself goals that you work toward, even if it means teaching yourself new skills. Or finding positive allies to help you get yourself to that good luck you deserve!
⇒ EXTRA: I Can’t Stop Feeling Like a Failure
Some more posts to help:
Real Problem (Maybe) If Your Job Feels Wrong
How Changing Your Attitude Can Change Your Job!
How To Change Your Job Without Quitting
Reasons You’re Thinking of Leaving Your Job
Workplace Culture: Putting a New Perspective To Work
What To Do If Your Job Makes You Miserable
Do You Feel You’re Not Appreciated at Work?
5 Questions To Ask Yourself If You Hate Your Job
Hi Ronnie Ann
Not sure if it is the right place to ask about a workplace issue but hopefully I can get your advice if possible, would really appreciate it.
I feel overqualified for the job that I am doing at the moment but I really like my job. But since I started this I have always been blamed for numerous issues that I didn’t cause myself, and to fight back, in this company, you either have to be a “politician” yourself and I think it is only a means to an end. I don’t want to get my hands dirty just to receive a promotion and move up the ladder.
Basically I’ve carried the team and I do not feel appreciated for the work that I do even though I’ve gone above and beyond every day.
One of my friends told me it is due to the fact that I’m not white in a predominantly white society so it is something that is kind of expected.
For me it is more about jealousy. People get jealous of me because I am good natured and I am capable of doing a very good job and I have no problems doing a better job that the boss which creates issues.
But I can only do what I can do and it drives me nuts to work with a boss that doesn’t even try to do anything and takes credit for the good work that I do.
As of recently I have noticed that some of the staff are leaving as well.
And what really raised red flags for me was that I have noticed that at least one of my colleagues is involved in a serious crime during the job and I do not want to reveal my identity until I leave this job.
The boss is covering her and despite my effort to speak up to the upper management it only backfired on me. They threatened to suspend me if I continued to “gossip” about that, however I have solid evidence and even witness that has stepped forward.
I knew that my suspicions have been correct. From the first week I’ve noticed that something is not right and my partner told me to leave the company as soon as possible. I kind of regret that I didn’t follow my partner’s advice.
Anyways I have reported bullying as well. Again there is no meaningful response from the employer.
I feel that I’ve poured my heart into this job and I really have no problem supervising the team either.
As a team member I’ve always done really well and I’ve been well respected by the team and beyond. This is because of the hard work that I do and it is clear that I’ve been doing a good job.
So if I take the evidence to the police and say that a crime has been committed it will certainly be good evidence that something has happened.
I am really gutted that despite my best efforts I didn’t even get noticed by the management who doesn’t actually understand who is doing the job and who is not.
That being said I know for a fact that I’ve done all that I could do and I couldn’t imagine a better outcome for myself and the company.
I really have helped them to get back on track and you can see clearly from the statistics that financially we are in a much better place than before.
Anyways I have sent my resignation letter. But the notice period is longer than usual.
I am worried that they will continue to treat me unfairly and threaten me with disciplinary actions as they already have, although I have done nothing wrong.
I have already filed a case with the labour department so I can call them in if I need any help.
It is just really disappointing and although I already have plans for what I want to do after this job I don’t know how to cope with the effects of all of this sh*t on my mental health.
I am thinking I might want to go down the legal path if nothing works out.
But I don’t want to make reckless decisions either.
Wonder what you think about the situation. I can’t provide any further details.
Hi Aimee,
My heart goes out to you on so many levels. Sometimes even with our best efforts and stellar work performance we land in a bad situation. I’m glad you finally decided to move on. And I have to say it’s not to shocking that a toxic workplace is treating you as the wrongdoer.
My best advice, as uncomfortable / galling as this might feel, would probably be to hang in, make no waves, smile, and treat people with respect and then get the heck away from there once you can to minimize any additional affects on you now. And then you can decide what to do from a position of more strength. But I am not in a position to offer concrete suggestions based on actual first-hand knowledge of the situation or what is truly best for you.
And remember you also may need references. Hopefully from a supportive current co-worker or former boss / co-worker. Even if your current bosses badmouth you, you can get beyond that!
Your words about how this has affected you as a whole do make me wonder if you are open to some counseling (therapist, religious leader) to help you move on in a way that lets you leave this all behind. You have been dealing with many truly tough issues at once for a long time. This would leave anyone with potentially lasting residue that could use some caring professional help not to let it fester inside. If this feels at all right, I hope you can see that as a strong move and not a weak one. But again, you need to do what feels right for you.
I’m glad you have taken some wise steps to set up support for you during the rest of your time there and afterward, Aimee. I wish you much luck (you deserve it!) in your next job and the strength to do what’s needed … and then to be able to move on.
Again, I am so sorry that you have been dealing with this. I respect how you’ve handled yourself amid what seems truly difficult times. I have had more than a few nasty and / or unsettling work situations in my own life. And I’ve left them in the past, strengthened by what I survived and learned.
Feel free to use this place to vent anonymously if needed. Or just share your progress. Wishing you all good things from now on!
~ Ronnie Ann
ALSO: Two more articles that speak to some of what you said. They may or may not be helpful to you, but maybe someone reading this will find them useful. The first one is about the limits of help we can expect from HR. The second is about the importance of building workplace networking connections which is not so much about office politics (although can help) but rather providing the critical support network that helps in any job and then lasts beyond:
Why Is HR So Useless When You’re Being Bullied?
It Pays To Build Work Relationships Face-to-Face!
Prospective employers do not accept a generalized statement of ‘learned and moved on from there’ they want specifics.
Thank you, Kat. Yes. A good resume includes accomplishment details — especially ones that relate to the new job you want. Where possibly quantify what you helped make happen using numerical measures.
I can understand Michael’s comments [below]. I have had lots of bad luck. Recently, I had a job and I found out later that there were two people in that role before I even entered the job and the manager was terrible. It was a secretarial job.
I was laid off at that job after I went to HR. I even told them that I knew about the past issues and I was given the opportunity to transfer internally. The manager tried to get me out of there at every turn.
I haven’t put the job on my resume, but I think people can see it when a background check is conducted. I keep getting odd looks after I start with a firm. I had a ok career going and now I am struggling again.
I thought I was the only one that this issue happens to, no one else seems to have these issues or maybe people just don’t talk about them.
Hi Eric,
You are definitely NOT alone. Having been in a similar situation myself more than once, I can relate. I know it might not help now, but I can assure you over the years I left those bad memories behind. You have a lot more to offer than some employers will ever get. As time went on, I used the experiences to build on those strengths that I wanted to continue to pursue, and, as an unexpected bonus, eventually created a whole new career for myself — one based on things I enjoyed a lot more.
One thing about resumes … you can leave things off resumes* (I did … see note below), but you have to be honest on a job application since that’s a document an employer can hold you to. And yes, most employers do background checks nowadays. If asked about the missing piece (I had many), you just explain that things didn’t work well there, but you learned from it and used the experience to find a much better fit from then on. Or something like that. 🙂
Best of luck from now on! ~ Ronnie Ann
*NOTE: Sometimes if there have been a few bad jobs in a row or just spotty work history, you can group them together with just a short section on your resume. For instance, I had a few very short jobs (and even temp work) that didn’t make sense for where I wanted to go next, so once I created a “Freelance” category and another time just grouped it under a general heading and listed a few key accomplishments rather than each job. On a resume, you can present yourself creatively (without lying) to highlight things that point to the future for you. But an application has to have your real history.
Bad luck in extremes will take out anyone. Most can overcome bad breaks here and there, but when you stand up for what is right, you often get hammered. It’s happened three times (at least) in my career.
Nice guys finish last.
Hi Michael!
I’m very sorry to read that. Over the years, I’ve known many “nice guys” who are not last. Or even close to last. But, as you say, when a person gets hit by bad luck in extremes, that’s not easy for anyone to overcome. I still believe it’s possible, based on my own life. I wish you MUCH luck — and a future that makes up for the past.
All good things,
Ronnie Ann