In presenting an overview of job burnout, the author discusses the pioneering research and current theories of the burnout construct, along with the history of the main burnout assessment—the Maslach Burnout Inventory (C. Maslach & S. E. Jackson, 1981). The author examines the exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy dimensions of burnout and the job—person fit framework of C. Maslach, W. B. Schaufeli, and M. P. Leiter (2001). The current literature pertaining to the 6 dimensions of burnout is examined. The author concludes that an understanding of the interaction between employee and his or her environment is critical for grasping the origin of burnout.