|
Career Counsellor Psychologist Career Coach POSITIVE STEPS FOR A POSITIVE FUTURE
|
|
Is it Time to Leave Your Job? |
Is it Time to Leave Your Job?
By Alison Tait (for http://yourlifeworks.ninemsn.com.au)
When it's cold, dark and wet, every day is a bad day to go to work. But sometimes seasonal blues can mask deeper problems with your job. Here's how to tell if it's time to leave.
In the winter months, every day seems like a bad day to go to work. It's dark, cold, possibly raining and bed seems like a much better place to be. Most of the time, though, we recognise that our dislike for our job is probably seasonal and, once we're up and about, just get on with it.
Most of the Time" Don't underestimate a repeated feeling of dread about going to work in the morning," says Alexandra Cox, director of service operations with recruitment specialists Kelly Services Australia. "You need to explore it and get to why you're feeling that way."
A temporary issue — such as the winter blues, a particular project you're not enjoying or even just a "bad week"— is usually something you can ride out.
However, "big issues are not that easy to solve," says Alexandra, "but if you understand them, you can make a smarter choice when it's time to move".
She cites a "values mismatch" with your company as a big issue. "If you're cynical and mistrusting of the leadership of the company, it's time to move on." Signs of financial trouble are another good reason to leave, as is a sense that your responsibilities are lessening and your boss is perhaps not supporting you.
"If you're going through the motions, it might be time to move into something bigger," she says. "If you can't do that within the company, look outside." Small but significant.
Is it Time to Move On? Don't underestimate troubled feelings about your job. Look deeper to find the cause.
If you're bored, try to fix the problem before searching elsewhere.
Personality clashes are a major cause of workplace stress. Most resolve themselves over time, but if the stress is affecting your health, you may wish to move on.
Retrenchments and being sidelined are two things that most people will recognise as a problem without too much help. But what about those smaller, niggly problems?
"Signs that it's time to leave can depend on the stage in your career," says Jacqui Rochester, a Brisbane-based registered psychologist specialising in career counselling and coaching. "If you're early in your career, you may simply want to move on for career progression."
While many experts recommend that young people stay two to three years in a position, Jacqui suggests that if you're in your second year and feeling a bit "Groundhog Day", it might be time to ask some questions. "If you're not learning anything, it's all a bit easy and you feel like you're on autopilot, be wary," she says. "Move if there's no clear path for you to go up."
Boredom Needs to be Busted Boredom is a big problem. While it's easy to dismiss as insignificant, the fact is, it's a very big stressor in jobs. "It has a huge negative psychological impact," says Jacqui. "If it's been going on for awhile, you'll feel less and less like going to work."
She recommends being proactive about trying to change your current situation if boredom is the problem. "Volunteer for different departments, different challenges," she says.
Alexandra agrees, but adds this warning: "Don't stay past the point where you should have moved on. It's insidious and stress can build up. What happens is that you start to lower the expectations you have of yourself and long-term this can erode your self-esteem."
People Problems "It's well documented that a lot of workplace stress cases boil down to personality clashes within the workplace," says Jacqui. "Often it's just that the two people in question have very different work styles."
Do you move on? "It's a big deal to do so over a personality clash," she says. "But if it impinges on your career development or your physical and psychological wellbeing and the only answer you can see is to leave, then you have to give it some serious thought."
Alexandra agrees. "l think you need to put your health first."
Jacqui has just one piece of advice. "Do it before it starts to affect your confidence and self-esteem. Try to do it as a career progression, rather than just bailing out."
Personality clashes will often resolve themselves over time, but taking a new job as a knee-jerk reaction may just prolong your agony.
How to Leave "Your first step if you see signs that suggest you should leave is to identify exactly what's at the bottom of them," says Alexandra. "It takes some soul searching. What would you change about where you are now to make it better?"
Those are the things you need to look for in your new job. Being practical will help you find them.
"Take stock of where you are financially — put a plan in place to save some cash so that you have a back-up when you're job searching," says Alexandra. "Perhaps organise a casual job for while you're looking."
Get your references, work experience and résumé in order. Start to network. Look for training courses you can do with your current employer that might make the transition to a new job easier.
"Whether you stay until you find something else depends on how unhappy you are and your personal situation," says Alexandra. "Just make sure you're prepared and don't burn your bridges."
By Alison Tait (for http://yourlifeworks.ninemsn.com.au)
When it's cold, dark and wet, every day is a bad day to go to work. But sometimes seasonal blues can mask deeper problems with your job. Here's how to tell if it's time to leave.
In the winter months, every day seems like a bad day to go to work. It's dark, cold, possibly raining and bed seems like a much better place to be. Most of the time, though, we recognise that our dislike for our job is probably seasonal and, once we're up and about, just get on with it.
Most of the Time" Don't underestimate a repeated feeling of dread about going to work in the morning," says Alexandra Cox, director of service operations with recruitment specialists Kelly Services Australia. "You need to explore it and get to why you're feeling that way."
A temporary issue — such as the winter blues, a particular project you're not enjoying or even just a "bad week"— is usually something you can ride out.
However, "big issues are not that easy to solve," says Alexandra, "but if you understand them, you can make a smarter choice when it's time to move".
She cites a "values mismatch" with your company as a big issue. "If you're cynical and mistrusting of the leadership of the company, it's time to move on." Signs of financial trouble are another good reason to leave, as is a sense that your responsibilities are lessening and your boss is perhaps not supporting you.
"If you're going through the motions, it might be time to move into something bigger," she says. "If you can't do that within the company, look outside." Small but significant.
Is it Time to Move On? Don't underestimate troubled feelings about your job. Look deeper to find the cause.
If you're bored, try to fix the problem before searching elsewhere.
Personality clashes are a major cause of workplace stress. Most resolve themselves over time, but if the stress is affecting your health, you may wish to move on.
Retrenchments and being sidelined are two things that most people will recognise as a problem without too much help. But what about those smaller, niggly problems?
"Signs that it's time to leave can depend on the stage in your career," says Jacqui Rochester, a Brisbane-based registered psychologist specialising in career counselling and coaching. "If you're early in your career, you may simply want to move on for career progression."
While many experts recommend that young people stay two to three years in a position, Jacqui suggests that if you're in your second year and feeling a bit "Groundhog Day", it might be time to ask some questions. "If you're not learning anything, it's all a bit easy and you feel like you're on autopilot, be wary," she says. "Move if there's no clear path for you to go up."
Boredom Needs to be Busted Boredom is a big problem. While it's easy to dismiss as insignificant, the fact is, it's a very big stressor in jobs. "It has a huge negative psychological impact," says Jacqui. "If it's been going on for awhile, you'll feel less and less like going to work."
She recommends being proactive about trying to change your current situation if boredom is the problem. "Volunteer for different departments, different challenges," she says.
Alexandra agrees, but adds this warning: "Don't stay past the point where you should have moved on. It's insidious and stress can build up. What happens is that you start to lower the expectations you have of yourself and long-term this can erode your self-esteem."
People Problems "It's well documented that a lot of workplace stress cases boil down to personality clashes within the workplace," says Jacqui. "Often it's just that the two people in question have very different work styles."
Do you move on? "It's a big deal to do so over a personality clash," she says. "But if it impinges on your career development or your physical and psychological wellbeing and the only answer you can see is to leave, then you have to give it some serious thought."
Alexandra agrees. "l think you need to put your health first."
Jacqui has just one piece of advice. "Do it before it starts to affect your confidence and self-esteem. Try to do it as a career progression, rather than just bailing out."
Personality clashes will often resolve themselves over time, but taking a new job as a knee-jerk reaction may just prolong your agony.
How to Leave "Your first step if you see signs that suggest you should leave is to identify exactly what's at the bottom of them," says Alexandra. "It takes some soul searching. What would you change about where you are now to make it better?"
Those are the things you need to look for in your new job. Being practical will help you find them.
"Take stock of where you are financially — put a plan in place to save some cash so that you have a back-up when you're job searching," says Alexandra. "Perhaps organise a casual job for while you're looking."
Get your references, work experience and résumé in order. Start to network. Look for training courses you can do with your current employer that might make the transition to a new job easier.
"Whether you stay until you find something else depends on how unhappy you are and your personal situation," says Alexandra. "Just make sure you're prepared and don't burn your bridges."
|
|