Would you leave a job you hated in this job market? Maybe, maybe not. You definitely should not leave a job without having another one lined up. That makes sense. But what do you do if you really hate your job and don’t have another one lined up?
First, dust off your career goals (remember those– the ones everyone said you should have. Did you do them??) Remember why you took the job in the first place. Was it to lead to your dream job? Or was it a place to collect a paycheck for a while? If you took the job as a stepping stone, take a look at the skills and experience you will need for that next job. Make sure you are still on track to develop those skills and acquire the experience in your current job.
If you never established solid, specific career goals, do so now. Ask yourself what you would do if you could do anything. Forget the economy for now… it’s time to dream. Write down the skills and experience you will need for that job. Try to line that up with your current job. Is there any way you can develop those skills in your current job? Are there any projects you can volunteer for? Are there on site training programs you can attend? Perhaps you can volunteer in your spare time to develop those skills.
You want to be ready for that dream job when the job market changes. Remember: whatever you choose to do, you will need a proven track record of work experience as well as the required skills. Try to think long term and you just might find that the job you hate now has more value than you thought.