Do you need a career change or a career tweak?
Photo by weston m on Unsplash
Speak to any recruitment consultant (or member of the press), and all talk is about the Great Resignation. The number of people leaving roles seems to increase daily, salaries are rocketing, and organisations are struggling to fill critical posts.
If you’re feeling underwhelmed in your career, joining the 3.2% of all workers who switch their jobs each quarter may be tempting. But is it necessary?
We can feel stuck at work for many reasons, causing a variety of emotions. These can range from feeling burnt out or numb from excessive stress and pressure to a sense of languishing in a job that feels comfortable and cosy but no longer excites or develops us.
Stopping to reflect on what is at the root of our negative (or benign) emotions at work can hold the clue to how to respond. Noticing when we feel frustrated, angry, or bored helps us understand what we want just as much as noticing when we feel excited, motivated, or happy.
Take a moment now to reflect on your last week at work:
What bits stood out as positive? What positive emotions was I feeling - what was I doing at the time? Why did that have such an impact on me? If it was the task, what elements of it pleased me? If it was the people, was it because I felt I was part of a team all pulling in the same direction?
What bits stood out as negative? Ask yourself the same questions as above, and reflect on what would have made the situation a more positive one.
Understanding what’s wrong and right in your current role will help you move forward to the job you want to have.
But you may not have to leave your organisation. Take a look at what you want out of your career and your next role. It won’t work in every situation, but staying in your organisation has benefits in terms of progression, stability, accruing benefits, and understanding the culture and business.
Before you jump ship, reflect on the following:
If you’re feeling frustrated that you’re not as well-respected as you could be or that you’re not very effective, could staying in your role, but focusing on leadership development or coaching be an option?
If you’re feeling demotivated by tasks that once were exciting but are now dull, could you change your job spec to take on some different projects to get your spark back?
If you’re feeling a bit “meh” on the topics you discuss day in and day out, would a move to another team or function inject some interest and discovery in your work?
If you’re feeling worried about the pressure of a role, could you get support for enlarging your team or for mentoring and coaching to boost your inner and outer resources? (though if pressure is at the level where it is having a significant impact on your mental health, then seek professional help)
Of course, there will be moments when finding a job outside your current organisation is the right thing to do, whether that’s a toxic culture making work unpleasant or you want to do something completely different. But don’t assume you’ve run out of options - think laterally, speak to others and look for possibilities.