Let’s be honest—most of you don’t like your jobs. That’s why in the last YES! Your Human Resources Solution blog post, we offered a silver lining with four things you learn from hating your job. But we also know that if you could do something about it, you would choose not to hate your job. And that’s what this post is about: five reasons you might hate your job, and how you can turn things around.

Say you don’t like your . . .

1. Recognition. Lack of appreciation and recognition is the most common reason for employee unhappiness. And understandably so—if you go out of your way to rock a project, even a “thank you” goes a long way toward feeling like a valued team member.

THE FIX: Try a frank discussion with your boss. Lay out X-Y-Z times you exceeded expectations or achieved something great, and confide that you would really like to be acknowledged for future efforts. (If you have aspirations to promote, you can share that, too.) But it’s also important to know that while some supervisors and companies pass out praise like every employee is the next coming of Steve Jobs, some just don’t. And changing the company culture—or a boss’s personality—may take longer than you’re willing to wait.

2. Compensation. Happiness at work often comes down to feeling valued, and nothing says “value” like a dollar amount. You know the market rates, and you know you are working for below- average pay, and are going on three years without a raise. That’s great incentive to stay late or work weekends.

THE FIX: Again, a frank discussion can work wonders, so share your salary concerns with your boss. Research the value of your position in your industry and geographic area, and give examples of why your performance justifies an increase. A good boss will hear you out, even if the budget can’t accommodate an increase. And if more dollars aren’t in the equation, you might be able to negotiate your non-monetary compensation, such as benefits or flex time.

3. Challenges. Facing the same old, same old, day in and day out? Even small challenges outside your typical skillset or responsibilities can push you to new heights, while a lack of challenges can push you to boredom and resentment.

THE FIX: You know what we’re going to say, right? Talk with your boss and explain that you’d like to take on new challenges. See what new projects you can tackle, what collaborations you can join, what teams you can ride along with, and what skills you can develop via a mentor or professional development courses. Many bosses will be happy to foster your ambitions.

4. Passion. We’re not all lucky to do what we love, but work shouldn’t feel like Sisyphus rolling his stone. Are there things about your job that make you happy or excited? If your sole motivation is that ka-ching every other Friday, then you need to rekindle your passion, or else that stone will just keep rolling downhill.

THE FIX: What attracted you to this job in the first place? Is there a way to get excited again? Try to look at your job from a new angle, or find new projects or approaches that can rekindle your fire. And if what brought you here was always the paycheck, it might be time to sit down, think about your passions, and see how you can translate them into a new career.

5. Rank. Some people are content to stay at a certain level and never work their way up. But you have higher aspirations and no way to get there—that is, no opportunities for advancement or professional growth. You’re staring at a dead end.

THE FIX: If moving up isn’t an opinion, what about sideways? If your department is a dead end, work on your skills to lateral to a department with more upward mobility. And when you lateral, you bring the knowledge of the people and procedures from your previous position: invaluable to developing fresh ideas and perspectives across a company.

The next time you find a reason to hate your job, think if there’s something you can do to fix it. You may only need a well-planned discussion or a fresh perspective to change a job you hate into a job you can tolerate, and perhaps even enjoy!