The most important thing you need to do before you even start looking for a job, is to first find out what sorts of things interest you. Sit down and make a list of what activities, interests, hobbies and anything else that you can think of, that gives you joy and fulfillment - or even things that you haven't tried out yet, and you think would suit who you are.
And finding out who you are, or better yet - what kind of person you are is another key element in helping you find that job that won't make you miserable. Are you artistic? Are you analytical? Do you love numbers? Do you have that special knack when it comes to: animals, children, research, organization, teaching/training, teamwork, technology etc?
Write down what your dream job would be. Write down a list of personality traits. Are you outgoing, introverted, bossy, active and so on. Dig a little deeper and really take a good look at yourself, and listen to what your heart says.
The main reason why people are miserable in their jobs is because what they are doing for work is at odds with what kind of person they are, and what kind of activities and interests make them happy.
In order to start your search for the job that suits you as a person, you need to be absolutely clear on what it is that excites you, and what it is that you have a passion for. Do you enjoy the sciences? Do you love the written word? Are you comfortable and intrigued with computers and what you can do with them?
It doesn't matter if your list is long or short. What matters is that you focus on the things that you would really like to do. "Find out what you love, and then figure out a way to get paid to do it." I'm not saying that this is an easy thing to do. It might end up being one of the hardest things you've ever done.
Turning your hobby into a dream job. That takes guts, gumption and a whole lot of determination. What might keep you going is remembering all those awful jobs you've had in the past (or present!) that just made you so miserable. You might still have to stick with that miserable job while you work on and lay the foundations for getting that dream job.
Once you've got your lists written out, the next steps are to do a little research into what kinds of work might be available in your areas of interest. Think out of the box. If you have a love of dance, you might consider working in kinesthetics or teach dance, yoga or aerobics. What kind of schooling or training might you need in order to get qualified to be a candidate for this new (to you) vocation choice?
Maybe you've already got the qualifications due to what you studied in college or have gotten via life experience and other things that you may have forgotten about, or put on the back burner, or left on the wayside. Now is the time to bring those things into the light and see the value inherent in them. You do have a lot to offer.
Another thing that you can do, now that you've gotten a focus for the area in which you'd like to work, is do what are called informational interviews. I've done a few of these myself, and they are very good ways to gain insights into the types of jobs and careers that you have an interest in pursuing. Especially if you are considering doing something that you've never done before.
What you do is call up a place where you'd like to work, or a place that has the types of jobs you are interested in. An example might be if you're interested in art, you might call up your local art museum or gallery. You ask if you could set up an appointment with a person who is working the type of job you'd like to do.
"Hello, I'm interested in working in the technology field, and I'd like to set an appointment to do an informational interview with one of your IT professionals." That's an example of how you can make the right approach. Some companies might not be familiar with that sort of thing, or won't allow you to speak to their employees and so on. Just move on to the next one and keep trying.
Once you've gotten an appointment set up, you can then sit down and write down some questions that you'd like to ask the person. You may want to ask them how they got into that particular line of work. You could ask them what kind of education or training you might need. You may want to know what sort of work hours are to be expected and/or what duties are entailed.
The idea is to get as much information as you can in order to be able to help you make a decision if that is truly the kind of job that would make you happy. Sometimes the idea of what a certain job might be like is completely different from what actually goes on day to day. Try to format your questions in such a way as to get what details you need to get a good understanding of what its like to work in that particular field. You can also interview many different people from many different work places to get a more rounded view of that type of work.
There are also other ways in which you can find more information. You can do Internet research, you could find out if your local law enforcement or paramedics allow Ride Alongs - if that's the area you are interested in. You can also find out if you can be an observer, say in a classroom or get a tour of the kind of facility you'd like to work in.
In conclusion, the best way to find that job that doesn't make you miserable is to get to know yourself. Dream a little bit, make lists and then take action. Find what you have a passion for, and what gets you excited and take the steps needed to make that your job or career.