4 Things to Consider Before Leaving Your Long-Standing Job

Stability is a good quality when it comes to your career and it’s always good to know you have a job waiting for you on a Monday morning. However, the grass sometimes seems greener at the other company and when you’ve grown stale in your job, you might consider the allure of going elsewhere.

Before leaving your long-standing job consider the following factors:

Colleagues. There are workplaces where the people you work with are one of the best perks of the job. If you work with a close and supportive team you might think twice before starting over in a new workplace.

Opportunity. Do you have opportunities for advancement in your current job or have you reached a plateau? You might want to have a conversation with your supervisor about your career plans and goals before making the decision to leave. Things can change rapidly in business and sometimes opportunities open up that you did not expect or seek.

Restructuring. It can be extremely stressful to go to work if your company has had a series of layoffs or has been restructuring departments. However, moving to a new company doesn’t necessarily reduce the risks of a layoff and you might even feel more at risk if you’re the new person on the job. Consider whether you’re ready to give up the seniority you’ve earned from the time you’ve put in at your current job.

Benefits. There are many other factors to consider when thinking about moving on from your job. Is it likely you’ll end up with a longer commute? Will a move to a new company impact your retirement savings or the amount your new company contributes to your retirement? What is the work environment like? Can you take time off when you need it? Be sure to carefully access everything you’ll give up or change by leaving a long-standing job.

Is it Time to Stay or Go?

The grass is always greener and sometimes the job seems shinier on the other side but are you really ready for a move?

There are legitimate reasons to consider a job change but sometimes we bolt at the wrong time and end up harming our career. How can we know when it’s time to go and when we should stick it out?

Factor in these considerations when you evaluate whether you’re ready for the greener pastures of a new job.

Room to grow. Does your current position or place of employment offer you opportunities to develop and move up, or have you hit the ceiling? If your career advancement has been hindered this could be a good time to look for something else. However, if your company offers plentiful areas to learn and to move up and around, you might want to stay put and take advantage of the opportunities.

Sometimes we’re simply unaware of what is available. If you trust your supervisor have a candid conversation about your career and how you’d like it to develop (or speak with a representative from the Human Resources department). You might just discover opportunities exist that you weren’t previously aware of. 

Support systems. Have you developed a positive and supportive network of colleagues, supervisors, and mentors within your organization? If so, this might be a company to settle in with and develop roots. On the other hand, you might also be able to talk honestly with trusted colleagues about other opportunities you’re interested in pursuing and seek out their advice.

If you find yourself alone and isolated in your job, with little support, it is unlikely you’ll thrive and feel that you’re making a valuable contribution to the company and enhancing your career. This could be a good time to look for a situation that provides a better match for your skills, interests, and needs as an employee.

Anger management. If you’ve been overlooked for a promotion at work it can be easy to feel unappreciated, respond angrily, and seek out another job. Seeking out another employer could be the proper response, particularly if your opportunities are limited.

But perhaps you weren’t ready for the promotion? Take a step back, away from the intense emotions, and evaluate your current situation. Perhaps there are some things you still need to learn or skills you need to develop before you’re ready to move up.

Respond to your interest in a career move by evaluating your current situation, opportunities, and support systems, and avoiding reacting hastily in anger or frustration.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 10 Unmistakable Signs You've Stayed at Your Job Too Long

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 10 Unmistakable Signs You've Stayed at Your Job Too Long: "People in your workplace have put you into a box because they think they know everything about you."

• 3 Ways to Build Trust With Your Body Language: "Make good “web-to-web contact” and hold the other person’s hand firmly but not bone crushingly. Don’t stuff your other hand in a pocket."

• 8 Ways to Build a Life You Love: "We must crave what is new and unexplored, and fearlessly pursue those areas. We must be willing to risk."

• Need a Job? Apple and Disney Are Looking for People Who Want to Work From Home: "It will be interesting to see how the work-from-home trend continues in the coming years. But it appears both Apple and Disney have had a major realization."
• What Hiring Managers Really Mean When They Say "You're Overqualified": "Show a little of your true self, make a genuine connection with a reader, and fixing you with labels like 'overqualified' will become much harder to do."