It’s not uncommon to hear from candidates who are unhappy with their employer or even hate their job. They tell me want a change, they need a change. Often times it has less to do with the job or employer than outside factors which are effecting their attitude.
Personal Finances are probably the #1 cause of stress for most people. Many candidates feel that if they could just make more money, all would be well. Instead of addressing the root of their financial crisis, they want to look for a new job. One that pays more. If you’re already having trouble managing your money, earning more will generally cause you to spend more. In a short time, you’ll be looking for a new, better paying job to cure your growing financial woes.
Family (need I say more?). Family should be our number one priority. But that doesn’t mean you always have to put their needs first. Obviously there are some situations that merit interrupting you at work. Barring a severed limb or house fire, most of the disruptions are trivial. In many instances the person calling you is simply bored and has nothing better to do. Children, Parents, Spouses, Siblings, etc. who make unreasonable demands on your time and constantly interrupt you at work, are a huge stressor. If you allow these interruptions to take precedence over your work responsibilities, you run the risk of jeopardizing job. You need to set boundaries.
Resistance to change. Believe it or not, many Professionals I speak with are resistant to change. I’m not talking about sweeping organizational changes, re-orgs, etc. Sometimes small changes in their role (procedurally, increased responsibilities, etc.) can cause candidates to seek a new job. The world is ever changing. Advances in technology alone can necessitate changes in the way your job is performed. Very few jobs remain the same year after year. Seeking out a new job in order to avoid change is not the answer. What are you going to do when something changes in your new role?
We spend the majority of our adult lives at work and we have a right to at least be satisfied with our jobs. However, it’s the things outside the office that seem to have the greatest impact on our day.