Changing Your Job?
By: Lincoln Giesel, LCSW
Long gone are the days when an employee would practically stay married to a company for their entire career. While this is due to a variety of reasons that could not be adequately addressed in one simple blog post, the fact is that workers are cycling through jobs more and more frequently.
In a major U.S. city like Chicago, with ample job opportunities, job transitions are certainly becoming a more common topic for therapy. This post aims to begin a conversation around how to effectively manage a smooth move into your next position.
- Be supportive of your current coworkers and employers in the process. Whether you are transitioning to a role within your current organization or at an entirely new one, make sure you have a thoughtful exit strategy that takes as much care as possible of existing clients, projects, and colleagues. Your work was important, and leaving your position will most likely leave a bit of a productivity gap along with it.
- Be intentional in your choice to move positions. Unless you have been fortunate enough to find a mentor at your organization who is willing to advocate for your advancement, you may need to be realistic about the fact that promotions or title changes will not just fall into your lap, regardless of how well you do your job. This can be due to a range of reasons that are sometimes not even in your manager’s hands. Regardless, you have to be your own primary advocate, which is different from acting with arrogance or entitlement. Make sure your transition makes as much logical sense as possible for your longer-term career goals as well as your quality of life.
- Take inventory of your accomplishments and areas for improvement. A job transition can be an excellent opportunity to reflect on where you have been and where you are going. Additionally, since we all have our limitations to fully provide ourselves with accurate feedback, take inventory of observations from clients and coworkers over the years as well.
- Take time off if you can. This one is pretty straightforward. However, in such a work-obsessed culture as ours, it is important to give ourselves permission to rest. Time off from work can be a crucial mental health intervention in preventing workplace burnout, and there is no award at the end of your career for being the stingiest with your vacation time. Even if money is tight, or you do not have any paid time off saved up, try to build in a week buffer between roles to catch up on housework and relaxation.
- Start off on the right foot. At your new job, build rapport with new coworkers early and be sure to respect everybody. While you may have had a strong round of interviews, most of the employees in the office will still be getting acquainted with you. I’m not implying pressure to be friends with all your coworkers, but rather to maintain humility around the fact that you’re loosely acquainted with anyone you pass in the hallway. Maintaining a level of respect and decorum goes a long way and can help everyone’s mood and morale during your job transition.
- Zoom out and build perspective. While it is an unfortunate reality that Americans must so often rely on employment status to secure resources like basic healthcare, you owe it to yourself to imagine your identities and values beyond exclusively your career.
Summary
Careers can certainly bring meaning and purpose to our lives, and there is real pride in working hard to contribute to your household and society. However, building and maintaining a rich and full life outside of your profession could create necessary cushioning for those periods of time when your career is in flux or you are achieving less than desired.
