Since all of life’s events can best be summarized by The Clash (Riding the metro? ‘Train in Vain.’ Grocery shopping? ‘Lost in the Supermarket’ Filling up your gas tank? ‘Rock the Casbah’), I bring you the critical question all happily or unhappily employed professionals ask themselves on occasion – ‘Should I Stay, or Should I Go?‘
Neither is without risk. Hence the line ‘If I stay there will be trouble, and if I go it will be double.’ To stay or to go? If that’s the first question, add these to your list:
1. How’s your health?
A bad job can make you sick – literally. Researchers say workplace health is the real deal, and stress can kill. It turns out a bad boss actually can give you a heart attack. So, while you might not hate your work, if it’s so time consuming and stressful that you find yourself unable to shake a cold, battling constant headaches, or worse, it’s time to move on.
2. Is there any upward advancement?
Sometimes individuals find themselves in a career crossroads, where there’s literally no linear or lateral advancement available within their company. If you’re fine accepting the standard three percent pay raise each year and not getting a major promotion, you might be able to stay with your current company. But if you’re a mid-career professional with another 15-20 years of work left to do, sticking with a company that has no future potential is certainly shortchanging your opportunities. This is a great question to ask during your annual review. If your boss flat out tells you that this job is it for you with that company, start looking for new opportunities – yesterday.
3. Do you support the corporate vision?
Companies don’t just do work these days – they have visions. Your company might not be looking to save the world, but they likely have core values they expect their workers to adhere to. If you just can’t drink the company Kool-aid, or even worse, you can’t stand the product they’re producing, it’s time to look for your next job.
4. Are you in the cool club?
Remember when people told you that after high-school there would never again be cliques or popularity contests? Yeah, those people clearly never had to sit in an open-concept office or be a part of a Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Office politics exist. If you can’t stand yours, it can make for a miserable work day. The office may be too structured (Schedule Nazi checking to see what time you’re at your desk?), or too relaxed (Wait, was that guy just wearing flip flops to a client meeting?). It’s a fact – personality and preference have as much to do with your success on the job as the actual work you’re doing does. If you don’t click with the workplace cliques, start looking for a place you can fit in.
5. Is there something you enjoy about your current job?
No job is paradise. It’s called work for a reason. There are going to be bad days, bad months, and in some industries, months-long seasons of ‘ugh!’ But even in the midst of a bad day you should be able to come up with something you enjoy. Not something you tolerate, but something about your work that literally brings a smile to your face, whether it’s an encouraging co-worker, a particular client or project, or task you take value in.
6. Does your boss hate or resent you?
If the answer to this question is yes, you need to quit your job as quickly as possible. In some rare instances you may be able to get a reassignment and keep working within the same company, but even this can be a dangerous move. Office politics can be brutal (see question 4). I’ve never come across a situation where an individual was disliked by their boss, and somehow changed their boss’ mind. (Important note: I have met people who thought their boss hated them who were dead wrong. Make sure you can quantify the loathing before you leave for this reason alone). You can work your way out of a screw-up or a bad reputation. (Being frequently late for work can make you seem lazy; come on-time consistently for a month and your reputation will likely recover). But if you rub your boss the wrong way – maybe you remind them of an ex, or their nemesis from the PTA – there is likely no way to end up back on the good list.
I once quit a job just a week after a new boss came in and replaced my old supervisor. Why? She informed me that she didn’t know why I was in my current position and thought I was under-qualified. I regret a lot of mistakes I made earlier in my career, but not that one. The only thing I wished I’d done was give just two weeks notice rather than a full month. Some people are worth proving wrong, but most of the time, you’re better off moving on.
So, darling, if indecision is getting the best of you, there’s no better time than now to start building your online network on The Cleared Network.® The best way to set your career free? Always have new job options available.
