How Do I Know If Its Time for Me to Change Jobs
Should you change jobs? Even make a radical career change? Most articles on the subject offer a checklist or pros-and-cons list. Here I offer a different approach an internal debate. Person I'm sick of my job. I'm ready for something new and there's too little opportunity here. Alter ego But I don't have the time or energy to look for another job when I'm working 45 hours a week already. It can take months, sometimes longer to find a good job, especially if I try to change careers. And I doubt anyone wants to hire a newbie at anywhere near my salary. Person But, God, I don't want to stay at Western Widget Works, Inc. forever. Alter ego No, but I worry that after all that job hunting, I won't even like my new job or career any better. Person I need to remember that I don't have to take that new job. I just need to take a little time to see if I can find something better. If not, I'll stay put. I'll just start networking. Alter ego But I hate networking and I'm lousy at it. I just don't make a good first impression, no matter how much I practice. I'm better off spending the time improving my skills tech stuff, public speaking. Person Okay, maybe I should do that, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be looking for a job. If I don't want to network, I'll just answer some on-target ads, one a week. Alter ego But if that's all I do, a year or two from now, I'll probably still be at Western Widget. Ugh. Person So, fine. I'll apply to three jobs a week. Alter ego But every job opening gets so many applications. Person I really have to make mine betterWrite a cover letter that, point by point, explains how I meet the job's requirements. Alter ego But if I'm changing careers, I won't be meeting most of the requirements. Person Okay, then I'll include a white paper, like a term paper, on a topic related to the new job that would interest that employer. That will show current chops and interest, and a concrete work sample. Alter ego But that will take a ton of time. Person No it won't. A few-page white paper is like one of those papers I wrote in college. One day I knew nothing about the topic and two days later, I knew a lot and cranked out a good paper.I need to stop complaining. It's better than staying at Western Widget. Right?, Alter ego Maybe. What if the problem isn't the job but me? If I'm honest with myself, as I look back on all my jobs, I've always struggled. Person Do I have to face that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed?, Alter ego That may be part of it. I know that I can't seem to make myself consistently care enough about work. I do my job but I can't seem to maintain the fire in my belly. I'm not sure I can change that. Person So maybe I need to downscale my job aspirations. Up isn't the only way. I fought my way to be a manager, but maybe I'd be happier and more successful if I did something less demanding. Alter ego Am I the poster boy for the Peter Principle, rising to my level of incompetence?, Person Maybe. I've always tried to compete with my high-achieving friends. Isn't that silly? Maybe by trying to be what I'm not, I'm making myself miserable and ensuring I don't succeed. Alter ego But what should I do?, Person Maybe I should go back to being an individual contributor or a support person. I'm organized and good at details. Maybe I should go back to being a coordinator, a marketing coordinator. Maybe I should talk with my boss or HR about getting that kind of job at Western Widget?, Alter ego Actually, I don't give a crap about marketing widgets. Person I need to remember that as long as the widget is worth marketing, it's worth doing. Alter ego Stop with the pious preaching. Person How sure am I that I'll care more about work if I were doing something else? I say I care about gifted kids being ignored in today's elementary schools but would I really, after a honeymoon period, be that much more motivated to work hard on some job related to that, or will my laziness come along with me wherever I go?, Alter ego I don't want to think I'm doomed to mediocrity. I can't be sure whether I'll be any happier on behalf of gifted kids but maybe I should try. Person That's probably right. I should volunteer a few hours a week at some school with a lot of bright kids or maybe even for a school district's director of programs for the gifted. I should do a little networking, make the case that my skills in marketing and being organized and detail oriented would be valuable there. I should apply to jobs anywhere I might be willing to live that excite me. If I get hired, fine. And if not, I'll feel better for having tried. And who knows? In spending time around those people quite different from those at Western Widget, I may learn about something or about myself that I wouldn't know if I just kept on keeping on with my same-old routine. Alter ego I'll think about it.