You thought you’d landed your dream job, but things didn’t quite go as planned. Maybe you’re disappointed by the ridiculously long hours or lack of responsibility. Or perhaps you’re frustrated by your company’s conservative dress code and rigid computer policies. Believe me, I’ve been there, and I feel your pain. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with a job that’s just not the right fit.

1. Don’t blame yourself. It happens to the best of us. Even if you asked all the right questions in your interview, it’s impossible to really know what a job will be like until you’re actually doing it. Chalk it up to experience and focus on making the best of it until you can move on.

2. Figure out if it’s the job or the company. If you can’t stand your boss’ annoying habits or spending eight hours a day crunching numbers, then things might be salvageable if you can transfer to another department. If the company culture is the problem, then you’ll need to make a lateral move to another company that suits your work style. Try to determine what that is so you’ll find a better fit for the next job.

3. Keep plugging along. You may need to use your current boss as a reference, so try not to alienate her too much. Find something that will make your day more bearable, whether that’s making friends in another department so you’ll have someone to eat lunch with or volunteering to go to meetings off-site so you can get out of the office.

4. Feed your passion after hours. Maybe you want to launch a website or design handbags, but you’re stuck collating copies and answering email for your boss. Don’t let your job stop you! In my case, I desperately wanted to write, but my coworkers refused to delegate any writing. I started writing a blog at home to give myself a creative outlet and a place to practice my writing. When I started applying for new jobs, I used the blog to set myself apart and it helped me land a copywriting/blogging job!