Here's an excerpt from the great book (read my review here) What You Don't Know and Your Boss Won't Tell You by Pam Lenehan. This one also comes from Chapter Two of the book which is titled Manage Your Own Career: No One Else Will:
When to Leave
It is always difficult to leave a job, especially if you like your coworkers. However, you may feel that you have been in one place too long or are not getting the opportunities you deserve. How do you decide to leave? There are lots of subtle signs that you are in the wrong place.
- “You need to be happy in your job, respect the people you work with, and be intellectually challenged. When you are missing one or more of these elements, it is time to find something else.”
One issue to consider is whether your current company’s perception of you has changed as you have gained new skills, or whether the organization still sees you in your original role.
Sometimes people just get fed up or are exhausted and want to get out. This may not be the right decision if it is based on a short-term situation. Take a vacation first to see if you just need some time off. Often people try to improve a difficult situation. While this is admirable, it is not always possible. Sometimes you just need to leave.
- “When you join a company, you sign up for their culture. If you do not like it, you need to realize you are not going to change the culture.”
One thing that may be obvious, but is worth repeating, is to leave your current company or department on good terms.
- “Don’t burn any bridges. People move around these days, and you never know when you will end up working with these people again.”
Even if you are happy in your current assignment and are not actively looking, should you consider listening to opportunities when they present themselves? Most people think it is a good idea to know your market value, but you may not want to let people at the company know you talk to headhunters since they might misinterpret your interest.
Takeaways: Do not stay in one job too long or you will get stale. Don’t quit if you’ve had a bad week, but leave if you are in the wrong place. Talk to headhunters periodically and always have a current résumé. Keep your eyes open for internal and external opportunities.
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My thoughts on these suggestions:
1. I'd recommend that you always listen to (and help out if appropriate) headhunters. You never know what they have available and even if you're happy where you are, you may be happier somewhere else. If nothing else, give headhunters some good contacts for jobs they are trying to fill. They'll remember how helpful you were if and when you ever need their help finding a job.
2. I echo the suggestion about not burning bridges. You may really want to give it to someone (and may be justified in doing so) -- but you should resist the temptation. It is a VERY small world out there and there's no reason to burn a bridge with someone you may need to have as (at least) a neutral reference (or some other business interaction). I speak from experience. I've wanted to let someone have it before, but haven't. Then I've needed (and received) their help later. Boy, was I glad I had self-control!
3. Always keep your eyes open for new opportunities. Remember, your career is your most valuable financial asset and managing it correctly can earn you millions of dollars in extra income throughout your lifetime. Part of managing it correctly is actively managing it -- always being on the lookout for advancement and opportunity. You can't do this by "going with the flow" and letting what happens simply happen. It's your career, so take charge of it and be alert for ways to better it (and yourself).
I have another piece of advice on headhunters. Pay attention to which ones you hear from and deal with over and over throughout the years. I can think of a couple of people I've dealt with many times. One of them placed me once years ago. She also helped fill several positions at a former employer of mine. She's still in the business, and she's still working for the same company, even after a change of owners. The other one who comes to mind is a younger colleague of her's. I refer friends to them.
The company they work for handles contract employment as well as permanent placement. The fact that the company has low turnover in their internal staff speaks very well of how they treat their people.
Posted by: Dale G. | May 25, 2006 at 03:01 PM