Your current job - "a time to kill, and a time to heal"

Wanted to share with you this time my thoughts about changing your job. It may be as simple as leaving your company and as complex as moving to another department inside your big company (which from your boss' perspective may unfortunately be a similar thing - she looses you). I had numberless conversations with my friends and colleagues being asked to advise on such a question and though in each situation the case was special the overall background and principles were quite the same. Here I want to sum up different driving forces shaping a decision to leave or to stay and share my outlook on it.

1. My boss is a freak - I'm leaving!
   Not as seldom situation as each would like it to be. Sad and demotivating. But I'm far from an idea that the solution is only to part with the boss (as Stalin said "no person - no problem"). Let me rephrase: I think to leave the company is not always the right decision (though to leave the boss might be). My advice is to weight all pros and cons and it may very likely be  that though that boss is a heavy "con" there are many other "pros" yet to stay. Don't let your emotions to rule the decision. Try to find positive elements in the position (or the company as a whole) to stay. Sometimes  boss' position is less "lasting" that it may appear.
2. I know the company and it knows me - I'm staying!
   An opposite emotional driver. People tend to like the current and usually are afraid to change anything. They may have a boring job, bad team, crazy boss, miserable wage, and no prospects but find this last argument to stay. They're afraid of changes and ready to struggle for the sake of insubstantial "comfort". Estimate the overall picture and be honest with yourself. If the job is bad then confess to yourself and seek for another one. You'll build new comfort on the new place.
3. They have free lunch and a gym - I'm leaving!
   Money is important - no question. But it's impractical and even not pragmatic to found the decision solely on the financial aspect. Unless you get a double-salary offer don't count only on money. At the same time if you've been taking this position for a long time, the conditions are bad, and you've got no promotions look at the problem through a wider prism: why don't you get improvements of the conditions? Is it the company situation or your own issue? Maybe you don't get a salary increase but others got fired? Maybe your salary is not fairly high comparing to others in your team and the market? I simply want to warn against a situation when money is the only factor leading to the decision.
4. Here I'm a CTO but there "just" a team leader - I'm staying!
   Be the first among the worst or the last among the best is a hard dilemma. It's akin to the fear of leaving an accustomed team from the above but a bit different. People don't want to loose a title or a salary they "accidentally" got. Either by a pick of demand on the market in the past or by a personal promotion or anyhow else - the idea is they know they don't cost so much on the market today. I'm saying that sometimes having too good conditions is more harm than good: you may be stagnating on your job and temporary financial advantages will bring disenchantment in the future.

The above examples don't cover all possible clauses in a leave-stay verdict but they're representative enough to emphasize the point - don't let one aspect build a decision. Make a complex analysis and look at the entire picture and most importantly - know what you want,  have a long-term strategy and a dream position.  Here are a few criteria to weight pros and cons.

• Do you like and believe in what you're doing (professionally, personally)?
• Does it advance you on your way (what have you achieved in last 3, 6 months, a year)?
• Do you learn from your workmates?
• Do you learn from your boss (would you like to work for him on another position)?
• Is your position challenging (have you failed at all)?
• Does the company appreciate your work?
• Do you respect your colleagues (not if they respect you)?
• Is the company's situation stable (or stable enough to fulfill your family obligations)?

I'd say if you gave a negative answer more than twice start thinking about "killing" your job and if it's two or less you may hopefully still "heal" it.

Technorati tags: career, job, salary

Comments

[Lisa Haneberg]

Roman:

I think your advice is important. Life is too short to be spending in a job that is not the right fit. On the other hand, we can change how we feel about our current circumstances and get the most out of our work experience even if we work for a crummy boss. I often tell managers that their job is to determine where and how they can have positive impact and do those things. Don't fret so much about the situations you cannot affect. Don't let your boss define your work experience.

If you are great at what you do, it is a seller's market out there so you should be able to find a situation that is right for you.

I agree with you Roman, that being comfortable is often a poor reason to stay in a job that does not light you up.

Do what you love - and love what you do. Settle for nothing less and demand it from yourself.

Great post!

[vinnie mirchandani]

Roman, good list but I would say leave for something much better rather than just because of negative things at work...grab opportunities as they come...companies are pretty brutal about hiring and firing, you have to watch out for yourself...not saying jump every few months, but keep your eye out. I run my own business but ever few months I listen to job offers. I put my employee hat on, not my owner hat.