Ah, New Year’s; a time when a lot of people reflect on what they have in their lives, and what changes they want to make in the year to come. People make resolutions every year. Some could be related to health (i.e. “I want to lose weight”), others could be linked to their finances (i.e. “I want to be debt free by the end of the year”) and others evaluate their job or career outlook.
In a recent survey posted on right.com, 84 percent of employees polled said they would look for a new position in 2012, reflecting discontent in today’s workforce. When re-evaluating your career goals, there are several factors you should consider.
Are you looking to simply change jobs, or are you looking to advance your career? Why are you looking to make a change? If money is your driving decision-factor, you may just want to ask your current employer for a raise.
In fact, most people don’t make job changes for money. The top five reasons people leave their jobs are:
- 1. Growth/ Challenge
- 2. Management/Leadership
- 3. Recognition/Respect
- 4. Training, and the technology resources available
- 5. Commute/ Benefits/ Lifestyle
Do any of these apply to you? Are you really unhappy in your current role, or are you just wondering if there is something better out there? Make sure before making any decisions about your career you take stock in what you are doing now. It may sound basic but a good old-fashion list of the pros and cons of your current role is a good way to start.
And don’t just evaluate your current role; take inventory in all that is around you, your company, your boss, and your co-workers too. If there were five things you could modify about each one of them, what would it be, and why? This is a good first step in pondering switching jobs or maybe adjusting your career and your goals all together.
The important thing is to make sure you are running towards something, not away from something.
Change is good, but it is also difficult and takes work, which is why a lot of people fail in their resolutions. Remember, goals take time and patience is a virtue. So if a change is what you decide you want, remember it may not happen overnight. If you stick with your goals, make a commitment, and put the right steps in place, 2012 could your best year yet!
Author Name – Judy Goldman
Title – Senior Account Manager
Location – Baltimore, MD
Twitter – @judybbgoldman
Byline – Judy has been a recruiter for over eight years placing individuals in both contract and direct hire roles. She has a passion and love for what she does and is always trying to learn new things about the industry.
