Reviving your Love for your Position
Anthony Lai
Many working professionals get to a point where they question their job status and consider pursuing other opportunities. As the Student Affairs Program Manager for The International School of Hospitality, I am often asked by our students about the appropriate time to move on to a different position or career. Reasons for wanting a change can range from the usual stress related issues to simple boredom, even in good jobs. If you’re thinking about making a career change, but aren’t sure about your rationale, it may be worthwhile to consider rejuvenating your position—or even the way you think about it–rather than moving on. Consider the following:
- Are you bored with your job?
Your day-to-day routines can be repetitive and even tiresome. Instead of waiting for your boss to give you an exciting project, or deciding that it’s time to seek life elsewhere, take the opportunity to make changes within the scope of your duties. Next time you arrive to work, vary your routine; work on projects and duties in different order, if possible, and focus on those things you enjoy. It will motivate you and get you out of that state of boredom. - Am I envious of my colleague’s achievements?
When friends move up the corporate ladder, they often provide an occasion for us to evaluate our own career progress. Sometimes this leads to a bit of jealousy, and even resentment, which can cause the best of us to start thinking about a change. However, it’s important to realize that remaining in the same position can also have significant benefits. There is the saying that “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Job seekers may not realize that with every new job comes with a set of new challenges and a different group of personalities to engage with … the comfort of growing in a familiar position within the same organization can be rewarding in and of itself. - I’m stuck at where I’m at and there is no growth.
Have you exhausted all options and realized that you reach your maximum potential within your organization? Explore the possibilities within your current job and be open minded to changes that may occur. A narrow view of the work that you do now will stop you from your developing and possibly prevent future opportunities for advancement. - I fear that I may lose my job due to budget cuts.
Prove that your job is valuable and is crucial to the success of your organization. If you truly feel that’s not the case, then demonstrate to the entire team that your skills and expertise can be applied in other positions with less tenuous value. - I love my job, just not the people that work here.
There will always be people you don’t like regardless of where you work. Not everyone has to get along, but don’t quit without trying to remedy the situation. Moving on to another company will also have its version of workplace drama.
In closing, while quitting and moving on may seem easy, and perhaps exciting, remember that it is always hard to establish any work connection, or to develop an appreciation for a position, if you are hopping from job to job. In the end, you should always evaluate what you have first, and the potential consequences of moving on, before you make the decision to purse those greener pastures.
