Stuck in a job that has you reaching for the snooze button every morning? Maybe it's time to rethink things.

MY CO-WORKERS DON'T LIKE ME

You is always left out of the "cool" crew's office lunches and gossip sessions and they talk about you, not with you.

Getting along naturally with everyone would be great but in reality, you're not going to hit it off with all your workmates. Building relationships can be tricky but will make the work week much more bearable and fun. Make an effort and suggest going out for a cup of coffee or a drink after work. A quick catch-up is a great way to break the ice and learn more about other people. When was the last time you got to know your colleagues on a personal level? The odds are they're more relaxed outside of the work environment and you'll probably find you have something in common. If there's a specific issue you need to address, do so in a non-threatening way. Say something like, "I really admire your work ethic and I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot but I'd really like for us to have a better working relationship. What can I do on my part?"

MY TALENT'S BEING WASTED

Mail runs and making coffee leave no room for your university-acquired skills to shine through.

It can be very frustrating to feel that your ability is so much greater than your current job description but hang in there and the rewards will surely come. Continue to do a great job of all your assigned tasks, including the most basic chores, and you're likely to be the first person your boss considers when a suitable promotion opportunity arises. Most companies conduct employee performance reviews and these are a great time to voice your ambitions. Make a list of both your short- and long-term goals and discuss these with your employer. Also, keep records of anything extra that you've been doing outside of your job description; there may be ways to incorporate some more senior duties into your current role or perhaps even get a title change.

I'VE BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR A PROMOTION YET AGAIN

You've been ready to step up for years - the problem is, your boss doesn't agree,

It's not going to sit well at first but you can try to turn this disheartening situation around simply by arranging a meeting with your boss. "First things first, get to the bottom of why you didn't get the job. Ask yourself, what do I need to be doing to be considered for roles like this in the future? And discuss things such as areas that need improvement and whether you can benefit from further training. Take as much as you can from this feedback and focus on building skills in your current role. Volunteering yourself for extra responsibilities will earn you brownie points, not to mention an impressive CV. In the meantime, learn from the successful candidate. You can do that by observing their approach to tasks. If you're not willing to hang around and wait for a promotion that may never even arise, start to look elsewhere. The best ways to do this is by networking - make contact with people and companies that you'd consider working for.

I'M NOT BEING PAID ENOUGH

You've more than put in your share of hard work but are still getting paid peanuts.

Before you create a scene and storm into your boss' office demanding a pay rise, do some research and find out what people in similar positions at different organisations are being paid. Bear in mind that different-sized companies are going to pay their staff differently, even when it comes to similar jobs. Some recruitment companies actually release salary surveys annually, which can help your cause as they'll give you a rough idea of your market value. Bear in mind your remuneration will reflect your education, industry experience and skills, but if you're adamant you're being underpaid, you should arrange a meeting with your manager and look at different ways to convince your employer you deserve more money.

Research or various forms of documentation - such as a diary containing all your working hours and all the extra duties you've taken on over the weeks - will look more credible and also help you with your case. If the boss says no, be prepared to negotiate. Offer to take on extra responsibilities or ask to be reimbursed for work-related travel or mobile phone calls.

COLLEAGUES ALWAYS TAKE CREDIT FOR MY WORK

You've spent weeks working on a report, only to have your desk buddy claim the praise.

Having someone rip off your ideas and claim them as their own is hardly fair but the question is, do you tell the boss the truth or confront the colleague? First of all, I'd try to sort out the problem with the colleague directly. Keep some form of documentation it might be emails from external clients or earlier versions of the report and ask to have a quiet word with them. Tell them that you don't appreciate their dishonesty and that you'd like it to stop immediately. If it continues to happen, you need to fill your boss in on the situation. This is where the documentation will help - let the proof speak for itself.

IT'S SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE MY BOSS

You seem to nail every task but just can't get that "thank you" or "welt done" from them,

Don't take it personally. Different managers have different styles and yours may just be on a power trip! You should find ways to make work more enjoyable. Look at ways to establish trust - be proactive and talk to him about projects. Communicate how you think assignments should proceed and invite him to comment and come to a mutual agreement. This way, you're taking an active role in requesting input, making it difficult for later criticism.

I CAN'T STRIKE a WORK/LIFE BALANCE

You come in early, leave late and work through lunch. What happened to a life outside work? Trying to impress your boss by working extra hard may sound innocent enough, but spending too much time at work - whether out of choice or not - may actually prompt a dislike of it. "Whether it's an excessive workload or a desire to save up for something, such as a car, home or holiday, it's important to keep things in perspective so you don't burn out. Overworking will affect much more than your career; it'll also have an impact on your personal life. Be aware of the signs of stress, including insomnia, irritability and loss of interests outside work. If these start to occur, maybe it's time to re-evaluate just why you've been chaining yourself to your desk. You may need to enrol in a time-management course or it might be worth discussing your heavy workload with your manager. The key to doing well at work is having a life outside of it as well.

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO INTEREST IN THE COMPANY

You took the role for the cash but don't believe you have a future at this workplace.

Some people can find themselves on career paths or in organisations that have little or no relation to their own values. Put simply, you're lacking passion for this role. Before you apply for something new, you owe it to yourself to know what it is you really want in your next phase. What motivates you is very personal and can range from money and rewards to job titles and career prospects. Maybe there's just a mismatch between your personal definition of a good working environment and what your company provides. Think about the preferred skill you'd like to be using - is it the job content you wish you could change, or would your current skills in a spanking new environment change how you feel about the job and reinvigorate your interest in work? If you'd much rather take your skills elsewhere, set up a plan to get there. This may include networking or job hunting. Good preparation will ensure that you'll be able to go to your current job on Mondays smiling smugly, knowing there's a plan in action!

AFTER THREE PROMOTIONS, I'M STILL TREATED LIKE THE

OFFICE JUNIOR

Your job title may have gotten fancier but when something goes wrong, you're the "go to".

While being the menial task manager can be annoying, the fact that you've been there for so long and rewarded with promotions is a positive thing. Rather than taking offence every time you're asked to do something, be flattered that your colleagues trust your abilities. If you're desperately unhappy, firmly tell your workmates that you're no longer responsible for such tasks. But always be sure to use positive language - say something like, "I enjoyed doing it at the time but it's not part of my duties anymore." Complaining about the current predicament won't get you anywhere. Also, reiterate your enthusiasm when asked to do tasks you enjoy and always feel free to volunteer and put forward suggestions and ideas.

Running a business is hard work, but rewarding, being in business is the best personal development course - everything you don't know about business comes and hits you in the face. But it also means no one can tell you how much you're going to earn.

Here are her six steps to success.

BE PASSIONATE Love what you do and believe in it - you shouldn't be doing it otherwise.

HAVE A POINT OF DIFFERENCE Ask yourself if there's a market for your product or service, then come up with ways to make it stand out.

FIND a MENTOR Find an entrepreneur you admire and learn as much as you can from him.

CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN It needs to list "what I'm doing", "when I'm going to do it", "who I'll need on my team" and "what skills I need". Review it regularly to check you're on track.

MAKE GOALS Shoot high but be realistic by concentrating on short-term goals first, ranging from financial targets to marketing or personal goals.

GET EDUCATED Keep abreast of all things business that'll help you do what you want faster or better.