Learn to recognize the signs it’s time to move on
by Karen Adamedes
The ability to know when it’s time to move on to a new job is a skill all of its own.
Often we are so focused on doing our job, doing the right thing by our colleagues or customers or just caught up in the day to day that we miss the signs that things are changing and it’s time to move on. It’s a good thing to be focused and doing the right thing by others.
However, to have a sustainable career where you can keep contributing – you also need to look after yourself.
And that can mean knowing when a change of job is going to be forced upon you (redundancy, anyone?), that opportunities are going to be open to you (do they still have executive bathrooms?) or that you have simply spent enough time doing what you are doing and it’s time to go.
Whatever the compelling event for change may be – make sure your radar is on – so that you notice when things are changing and opportunities are coming your way. Look out for the clues that can lead to change:
1. The water cooler gossip gains momentum – you don’t want to be a gossip but significant rumors flying around often have a source of truth. Use your knowledge and experience to work out the stuff that people are making up from what could be true.
2. Money drys up – suddenly having your budget requests turned down is often a good indication that something is going on.
3. Restructures – changes to organizational hierarchies can mean anything from redundancy to promotion. Either way it’s better to know that it might be coming so you can put up your hand for opportunities or at least prepare yourself.
4. Management changes – changes to your manager or your manager’s manager can often signal that change is coming down the line and is going to impact you. At the very least you’re going to have to learn to work with someone new.
5. Major new customer contracts – often lead to new or project roles. Think about what a significant customer win (or loss!) could mean for your job.
6. Someone makes you an offer – just because it’s unexpected don’t say no (you’re unlikely to be asked twice!).
7. Behaviors change – when people are under pressure behaviors can change (and usually not for the better). Learn to tell the difference between normal business pressures and when managers look like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Or when deadlines or workloads suddenly become unreasonable. These can all be indicators that a business is under an inordinate amount of pressure. This may be a change that is not good for you, or a signal that further change is to come.
Poor cultural norms, such as inadequate time frames, inappropriately raised voices or personal attacks becoming commonplace are all also indicators that all is not well.
You don’t want to spend your life second-guessing what everyone else says or does. But epot the trends and read the signs of change you can be proactive and move on in a way that works for you.
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Karen Adamedes is an experienced executive, author and career-tipster. In her most recent book ‘Professional in Pajamas: 101 Tips for Working from Home’ Karen shares many of the insights she has gained during a decade of working from home, where she has negotiated multi-million dollar deals, led national teams and delivered major projects. She does admit to sometimes working in her pajamas.
very well written content. yeah that is right we should make move once we get better opportunity. Thanks
This is an informative and well written article… When i got my first job, i was excited and the job was great but suddenly i became to feel bored with job and i saw that there was no opportunity for growth, i knew that it was time for me to leave and try something else. When you become unsatisfied with the job you do, i guess it’s time to leave. Thanks for the article