Article for The Straits Times Recruit, 26 February 2015

The Straits Times, Recruit
February 26 2015

QUIT FOR THE ‘RIGHT’ REASONS

It is that time of the year to review your career status and options.  The typical questions you would want to ask yourself might be:

“Should I stay on in my current job?”

“Should I be looking for a new challenge within my current company, or outside?”

Much has been written about the idiosyncrasies surrounding the typical behaviours of Gen “Y”s.  Much as I comprehend and accept that most Gen “Y”s think and behave differently (versus the Baby Boomers and Gen “X”s) when it comes to career-related issues, I am of the opinion that the following rule of thumbs remain valid, regardless which generation of workers you belong to.

Ideal job

In the dictionary of career coaches, there is such a thing as an ‘ideal’ job.  You will be having such a job if you have an almost equal proportion of job activities in the following three areas – learning, ‘stretching’ i.e. you know how to do these activities, and would be an expert when you continue doing them, and lastly, those activities that you know how to do them very well i.e. no more learning opportunities. 

When you start on your current job, there is a high likelihood that you will be having an ideal job. As time progresses and your job scope does not change, you will realize that your job activities will be ‘bottom-heavy’ i.e. you will not be learning much.  This is the time you will need to evaluate your options.

You will come to realize that most interviewers can understand and accept your motivations for looking out for a new job if you tell them that the key reason is you have limited learning opportunities.

Working environment

We all know that having a good and challenging job is not sufficient to keep us motivated in our jobs.  Most, if not all of us, will require a ‘positive’ working environment.  This is typically made up of the following key factors.

• Safe and conducive work environment – this is an implicit obligation by employers.  They have to provide a work environment that is safe, hygienic, comfortable, and one equipped with the right equipment and tools to do a proper job
• “Good” boss – “good” is of course a subjective word. Here are some qualities that a good boss typically will have. 
  • provide adequate coaching and mentoring
  • be inspiring and supportive
  • be willing to share
  • strike a balance between work-needs, and being people-oriented i.e be empathetic towards the occasional personal/family challenges of employees, especially to those with young children and the elderly at home
• team-spirited colleagues – most of us will have to work as a team member.  As one, it would be nice, if not appropriate to simply be aware that all of us work for a couple of common reasons. Do meaningful work with our time, and be paid for it. Everyone needs to earn a livelihood – so let’s all try to make each other’s work lives as pleasant as possible. There will be course be the colleagues who are ‘challenging’ – in their attitudes, beliefs and work/personal behaviours.  Let’s try to accept everyone for what, and who they are, warts and all – as the saying goes. Learn to appreciate the strengths of others – what they can do well, and the unique value they bring to the team, and not harp on just the development gaps, and not-so-common idiosyncrasies.  The working place, and the world at large, will be a much better place for all of us then.

If one of the above situations is lacking, we should first begin by asking ourselves the following questions, before jumping the gun and taking actions that we might eventually have a tinge of regret over:-

“Have I been playing my part?”.  “Have I reached out to my boss to ask for support?”, “Have I behaved in a co-operative manner towards the rest of my team members”, etc

If you honestly believe you have done your part, the following questions might then follow:-

“What can I do differently?” “What can I do more/less?”, “What can I stop doing?”

“What options do I have? Which ones are within my control to change/make a difference?”

When you have done this self-reflection and objectively (versus emotionally) believe that you cannot do much more to change things, then you are justifiably ready to make a change to your job situation. 

A final piece of advice – unless under duress or especially challenging situations e.g. your boss is trying to court you, it is always wiser to look for a job when you have a job.

Paul Heng