Ricardo Barriga

Work can be an empowering force in our lives, a place where we grow, achieve goals, and feel valued. But what happens when it stops being that? When your focus shifts to the hours you’re clocking rather than the work you’re doing, or when the allure of more money seems like the only silver lining, it will be time to ask yourself a difficult question: Are you in the wrong job?

The Stress of Being in the Wrong Job

Being in the wrong job can take a serious toll on your mental and emotional well-being. You will find yourself feeling stressed, unappreciated, or stuck in a cycle of constant dissatisfaction. Work becomes a series of tasks you’re merely completing for the paycheck, rather than a fulfilling experience that contributes to your personal and professional growth.

This misalignment between what you do and what you need can create a nagging sense of dissatisfaction, a sense that something is missing. You start to fixate on the hours you’re putting in rather than the work itself. It becomes more about enduring the day than about finding joy or purpose in what you’re doing.

Purpose vs. Just Being There

A key sign you’re in the wrong job is the lack of purpose. Author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek once said, “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.” If you find yourself grinding away without any sense of fulfillment, it’s likely that your job is not aligned with your deeper goals or values. Purpose-driven work means working toward something bigger than yourself, something that pushes you to grow and inspires you.

The true test comes when your boss offers you more money to take on more work or push harder. If your immediate reaction is excitement purely at the prospect of a bigger paycheck, rather than enthusiasm about the challenge itself, it’s a clear sign that something is off. When you’re in the right job, your motivation comes from the passion for the work, not just financial incentives.

The Balance of Work and Reward

A healthy work environment rewards your effort and encourages you to do your best, not as a response to being asked to work harder. You should already be giving 100% because the work excites and challenges you. In an ideal situation, rewards like salary increases or promotions are a recognition of the effort you already put in, not an try to push you beyond your limits.

If you constantly feel like you’re being pushed to work harder without feeling valued, or if money becomes the only reason you’re staying, it’s a sign you’re not in a job that truly aligns with who you are or what you want to achieve.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Reaching Self-Actualisation at Work

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides a useful framework to assess your fulfillment at work. At the base level, we all need the basics: a paycheck to cover food, shelter, and safety. But, at the top of this hierarchy is self-actualisation—the realisation of one’s full potential. When you’re in the right job, you’re not just working to survive; you’re thriving, learning, and growing. You’re challenged in meaningful ways, and your work aligns with your personal aspirations.

Being stuck in a job that does not fulfill these higher-level needs leads to stagnation. You’re operating on autopilot, doing what’s necessary to get by, but not tapping into your full potential. In contrast, a job that fits you helps you reach that self-actualisation stage, where you are performing at your best and feeling satisfied with your achievements.

As Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” When you’re in a role that helps you grow and contributes to your self-actualisation, work stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like a calling.

The Takeaway: Find Work That Aligns With Your Values

The pursuit of a job that offers more than just a paycheck is not a luxury—it’s essential for long-term happiness and success. If you feel unappreciated, stressed, and fixated on how many hours you’re working rather than what you’re accomplishing, it’s time to think about whether your job is really serving your needs.

The goal is to find a role where you’re motivated by purpose, where your passion drives you to give 100% without being asked. It’s about finding a job that lets you work toward your personal goals, giving you the freedom to create, innovate, and reach your full potential. As you evaluate your career, remember this: if more money is the only reason to stay, you already know you’re in the wrong job.

Ultimately, fulfillment at work comes when you’re in a position that challenges and inspires you, one where you are recognised not just for working harder, but for the value and passion you bring every day. In this type of role, you’ll be on the path to self-actualisation, achieving not only career success but personal satisfaction too.