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Dear Dr. Karen,
When should you leave a job?
Needing to grow, USA
Think
of your job as a pain vs. gain equation. If the pain is bad
enough you have to ease it or make it go away.
The
most common cause is your boss. The number one reason
people, worldwide, leave a job is the boss. So what can you do?
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Learn
to live with this boss by learning how they like to think
and communicate. Is he or she buttoned down, wanting
everything just right? And you’re a go- with- the- flow and
loose kind of person? Make those lists, check them twice,
and respond in an ordered way at every meeting and give him
or her a written agenda. Whatever you try, after a few
tries ask for feedback. Believe it or not, this is a great
opportunity to learn. Sometimes the feedback is the puzzled
look you get. Sometimes it’s a subtle change in behavior.
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Whether
you think that anything has changed for the better, or not,
thank him or her for his or her guidance.
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Let the
Human Resources know that this may not be the job for you
but that you’d like to do something else in the company
which you like and admire. Stay neutral about the situation
and don’t complain. It’s just not working out to our
“mutual satisfaction.”
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Let
your network know that you are looking for a new challenge
without badmouthing your current boss. You really don’t
want to burn any bridges. You just want to leave. The
higher the level of the job the longer it takes to find a
new one. For entry-level it can a few weeks. For
senior-level it can take six months or more.
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It’s
easier to get a job if you have a job. If you feel you
can’t stay where you are then find part-time work or create
consulting work until you get the next job. It’s vital to
be doing something constructive when you go for that job
interview.
What did you think of this
article? Dr. Karen would love to here your
feedback!
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