Welcome back to my podcast Scaling Out.
After listening to the last few episodes from this season about choosing where & who to work for, you decide that changing jobs is in fact your next step. I would then advocate for career consultants or mobility specialists. Sometimes emotions can get in the way of decisions and a neutral third party can offer a sounding board for why you are looking to move, what you want to accomplish next, and help devise a course of action to achieve your goals. This is a stressful major decision, so changing jobs should be carefully considered. Given the Great Resignation of 2022, there are a significant number of business articles to find & read, just search on “when should I change jobs”. Many are about the acceptable length of time in a position to avoid job-hopping, but most cover the emotional side of the change. Essentially - What is making you not like your job anymore?
1. Is it something that can be discussed with your current manager? Are you looking for new technical or leadership opportunities? Give your manager a chance to help you further your career.
2. Are you burned out? I know that for me personally, when I start a brand new job I am actually more stressed because I want to step it up & prove myself to the new employer, I feel like I have to work extra to get up to speed quickly & gain my new boss’ trust. If I leave my current job because I am burned out, this will definitely not get solved in the new job. BUT I could speak with my current manager about shifting off non-essential work tasks, or getting assistance to avoid being overworked. Sometimes, its just a matter of getting a good break from work – a true vacation with no emails.
3. Is it just the money? A customer was quoted as saying ‘the grass might be greener on the other side, but that’s because its over a septic field’. Sure money can reduce stress at home but it could come at the expense of increasing work stresses. If you have data that your being grossly underpaid for the work that you do now, I advocate that you talk with your manager and your human resources representative to discuss. Give them a chance to make it right.
Hopefully you hear the common thread, if you like your team & your manager but you still don’t like the job, chat with your boss about how to get back to liking the job you have. Do the research, plan your communication, make suggestions to your manager on what you need, and discuss it! If you are valuable to your manager and your company, they will do what they can do to retain you.
Thanks for listening today! Until next time, Stay Safe everyone!
