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Article from The Sunday Times, 11 Mar 2007
Lost interest in you job?
It may be time to move on
I would like to have a second opinion on my current job.
I am in a sales job promotion outdoor wholesale watches and I have been doing this for about seven years. During these few years, I have worked at three different companies. In October 2005, my previous boss offered me a position with better pay at his company. I actually turned him down because I wanted to have a change of working environment in a different field.
But he persuaded me to give it a try again, so that is what I am doing. But I find that I am feeling unhappy and have totally lost interest in my current job.
Initially, my boss gave me a lot of leeway in handling matters. Then something happened – one of my vendors mixed up the retail prices of our watches which would have resulted in out losing money.
I was told to settle this. But a few weeks later, my boss sent a letter to them stating that there had been a miscommunication involving their buyer and me, and that there would not be another mistake.
I realized that he does not trust me as much as previously, maybe because I have not been reaching my target. I have tried my best but somehow sales are not as good as we had expected.
I also know that my colleagues are unhappy that my boss offered me higher pay than them. Although they never showed their displeasure, I know because they have never spoken well of me and the brand that I am selling despite being in the same company.
Anyway, I am prepared to leave in a couple of months. I am keen on the beauty line and plan to take a course soon. Is it too late to start all over again in a new area as I am already in my mid 30s?
Paul’s Response
There are two key issues in your letter. Firstly, you seem to have already made up your mind about leaving your current employer – the remaining issue is, when. Do re-examine all the reasons for wanting to do so - not being able to meet sales targets, perceived lower level of trust by your boss and colleagues who are unhappy over your salary. To me, they are not the ''right" reasons for moving. Are these reasons leading you to feel unhappy, and thus lose interest in your current job? Or is it a case where you have already lost interest in this industry (until you were persuaded to return to the same industry by your former-boss). If the latter is indeed the case, then I suspect that your motivation to leave is the appropriate one, and all the reasons mentioned above are mere catalysts.
Your new interests in the ''beauty/vanity" industry should motivate you to explore this fully as a possible career option. If you have not already done so, do consider speaking to people in that industry, and also doing lots of research and reading to find out more. Only when you are satisfied that your interests are really strong should you invest in related courses. The way I see it, it is not a question of weather it is too late to start all over again, but you really do not have an option since your interest is no longer there. At your age, you potentially have another 20, 30 years to go before you can seriously think about not having something full-time to do. So, do explore this option plus any other possible areas of interest.
Good luck!
Paul Heng
Founder
NeXT Career Consulting Group, Asia
(www.nextcareer.net)
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