We’ve all experienced the feeling we were no longer suited for the job we were in and need a career change. People choose to explore new opportunities for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes they aren’t feeling challenged or the company they work for is moving in a direction that they can no longer support. Other times people “quit a boss” or a negative culture and eagerly search for something new.
Recently, a candidate called our recruiting firm and said he was ready for a new opportunity. When pressed about what he was looking for, he began to tell us that his current boss was abusive, made promises she wouldn’t keep, had favorites in the office. He said he had gone above and beyond his duties but was offered no extra recognition. The candidate had been at his current company for over 10 years, he had had enough and was ready to move on.
What we resist persists
When you think back about a time when your job wasn’t a good fit anymore, typically with hindsight you recognize that at some level you may have unconsciously contributed to the unhappy situation. Maybe you didn’t stand up for yourself and blamed others. Perhaps you had a habit of taking on more work, only to resent the fact that you did more than everyone else. Maybe you didn’t get along with a co-worker and attributed your unhappiness to their performance, when in reality you were just really burned out in your job.
Negative habits will continue to haunt you, no matter how many times you change jobs. At some point, in order to break a bad cycle, you have to acknowledge what you “own”, and work to change your behaviors. Self actualization and accountability are prized attributes in any employee.
Focus on going to something new, not just leaving somewhere. Looking for a new job can be a long and arduous journey, especially when making a career transition from one industry to another. However, taking the time to thoughtfully chart a thorough and purposeful career transition strategy will pay dividends well into the future.
A thoughtful career exploration includes identifying your strengths and the work that brings you the most satisfaction and joy. Next, it is matching those identified strengths and work with the industries that have those types of roles and will value them. Value can be defined or demonstrated by an employer through their culture, compensation, benefits or other perks. Focusing solely on getting “out of here,” better money, or the next hot industry over an intentional job search will inevitably result in a bad fit.
Go back to go forward
On a recent episode of one of the many reality based weight-loss shows, the health coach made the troubled contestant go back and face the person in their past who they identified as the reason for their weight gaining troubles. Though the contestant had spent time learning new eating and exercising behavior, the coach knew that the only true way for the contestant to achieve their future goals was to resolve the past.
The same is true in our work lives. If you have unresolved issues with an old boss, or experienced a traumatic termination or lay-off, it will serve you to resolve the issue, before you move to another job. If you are wondering if a past termination is inadvertently weighing too heavily on your psyche, ask yourself how many times you replay in your mind how the negative event occurred. Anything more than 10 times in a month means you should focus on bringing your issue to resolution.
Ask any recruiter or hiring manager: Applicants who carry the weight of an unresolved career issue or negative story often sabotage themselves throughout the hiring process. Sometimes you can’t go back to a bad boss and talk it out, especially if the person who you felt wronged refuses to meet, or the employer who laid you off doesn’t care. But you can find old co-workers, associates or a coach who can help you re-frame the situation giving you back the power you likely felt you did not have.
Anyone happy in their job knows that a good job equals a good life. Taking the time to reflect on your career journey and resolve negative job experiences will go a long way to ensure that your next position will be your best yet.
Stephanie Klein, president and CEO of the Experience Factor, is a regular columnist for the Denver Business Journal. Her most recent column is reposted here.