Lesson 37 Timing issues

Lesson 37 Timing

When to do a job search or a new career search can be a timing problem.

Scenario:  You have been passed over for promotion; there are some other issues at your work.  But you are working on a big project that is to be finished in three months.  Is this a good time to do a job search or not?

Analysis:  You hate to leave in the middle of a project – this project is important to the company and could look good on your resume.  You do have friends at this company and you would not want to make them take on more work on the project.  But, in your heart, you know that you are no longer in the right position.  The question becomes “Is there ever a good time to leave a company?”

Scenario:  You have an abusive, alcoholic spouse.  It has gone on for a long time, and after every beating, he apologizes and promises never to do it again.  But … he does do it again.  You have children – you love your children and want to stay in the marriage for them.  But, last night when he hit you and drew blood (again) pushes you closer to leaving.  Is this a good time to leave him?

Analysis:  You hate to leave because of the children.  You don’t have the funds to live on your own.  When he is good, you do really like him.  But, when he is bad, you suffer physically and emotionally.  The first three or five or eight times when he apologized and brought flowers and took you out to eat and promised to change you believed him.  But at what point do you leave the marriage?

Scenario:  You have been promoted at your job, you like what you do, but you hear about another position at a start-up company that would challenge you and be exciting. Is this a good time to look at that other job?

Analysis:  Keeping excitement and challenges in your job is important – as well as being a productive player with your company.  You get to choose – stay and be productive – or move and be challenged.

There is an old saying “The straw that broke the camel’s back”.  The meaning is will just one more straw make the load so heavy that it does damage.  Just one more little thing will put you over the edge.  In some cases and some people that “tipping point” is reached earlier.  With some cases and some people, they wait too long and their careers or life is ruined.

What are your motivation?  Money, recognition, being with and on a great team, doing good for the community? 

My son-in-law worked for a start-up technology company.  The company struggled and with through some financial difficulties until it became successful and was bought out by a large technology company (and he profited for sticking with the start-up and having shares in the company).  After several years with the large technology company, being paid well and liking his job, the opportunity came to work with another start-up company.  The challenge, adventure and excitement (and long hours) appeal to him. 

A friend worked for a great technology company in the Seattle area.  He liked his work and was recognized for it.  One of his friends from years before met him at a conference and recruited him to move back to his hometown with another technology company.  With his young family he took the move to his hometown, letting his children grow up close to grandparents and taking on new responsibilities with the new company.

Another friend was doing well in her technology job, but an opportunity came to leave technology and go into another company that was more customer service oriented – a new career focus.  She took it and found a new direction in life.

A friend was working for a large technology consulting company.  He was making a lot of money and was traveling frequently.  He might have three months in one city, then an assignment for four months in another city.  He was racking up both money and frequently flyer miles.  He left the position and moved to a job that payed significantly less but had the stability of buying a house and marrying his girlfriend and settling down.

Some people have ambition and want to more up financially and do recognize that you might have to take on new positions and challenges and even switch careers and companies to move ahead.

Assignment:

Take your current situation – and do a hypothetical analysis of what it would take to get you to switch jobs or careers.  For you in this analysis – move for more money, for a challenge, for a higher position, work-life balance, family considerations, to be in a position where you can golf more, go surfing, ski, be closer to college friends? 

Create ten scenarios and describe what timing issues and what career and life motivations might cause you to change positions.