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changing jobs

Good Reasons for Changing Jobs: Stalled Career

You like your job, your boss, and your company. But, for one reason or another, you have progressed as far as you can with this particular job, boss, and company; you have a stalled career.

According to research by iSolved, “interest in the role” is one of the biggest motivators for looking for and accepting a new job. Once you lose interest in your job, your career is likely to stall—and vice versa. That is a good reason for changing jobs.

Before you start your job, make sure that you are clear about your reasons for leaving a job that used to excite  you. Ask yourself:

  • What is your primary reason for starting a job search? If you found a similar job in another company, how would it have to differ from your current job to end your discontent?
  • Are you sure that your current company has no suitable career path for you? Have you explored every option for gaining knowledge, responsibility, skills, or advancement?
  • Do you have what it takes for the position you want? Are there certifications, hard or soft skills, or additional experience that you need before another company would consider you?
  • Are you sure you can reach your goals in your current industry or career? Would you benefit from transitioning to an entirely new or related industry or career?

Once you are confident of your reasons for the change, the type of change, your abilities, and your goals, you need a resume that focuses on the job you want. That is, everything in the resume should convince other companies that you are ready for new challenges.

Among other words hiring managers and recruiters will be looking for in your resume are: developed, examined, built, re-organized, innovated, managed, improved, implemented, and researched. These words show a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that you can change—you can acquire new abilities and skills and you can learn from experience, even mistakes. Your current job may have caused your career to stall, but you are ready for new challenges.

If you want a resume that showcases your growth mindset and the benefits you bring to a new company, contact Robin’s Resumes®. We will rise to the challenge and help you reinvigorate a stalled career.

Good Reasons for Changing Jobs: Respect

In a recent survey by MIT Sloan Management Review, employees listed “feeling respected at work” as being most important to them, followed by “supportive leaders.” A lack of respect and support is one of the primary reasons for changing jobs. It can leave an employee feeling weighed down, stressed, and trapped.

Experts have written many articles on how to get respect at work, and the to-do lists are always headed by:

  • Focus on solutions rather than problems. That is, if you have a problem with your boss or the company, brainstorm possible solutions before raising the issue so that you are seen as a resource, not a complainer.
  • Understand your boss’s style. For example, maybe your boss hates emails and prefers in-person meetings—or vice versa. If you adapt to the boss’s style, you are more likely to be heard.
  • Keep your boss informed. Maybe you present a weekly update; maybe you clearly ask outright for priorities when you feel overwhelmed. Keep track of your successes for review time because even a well-intentioned boss might forget.
  • Show respect for others and be trustworthy. People who extend respect—to bosses, teams, vendors, customers, colleagues—generally get respect.
  • Keep an open mind and tamp down emotional responses. If you treat every suggestion as an insult, for example, you will constantly exude resentment. Show that you are willing to learn and that you can handle normal give-and-take or minor stresses without a meltdown.

If you have tried these and other methods for earning respect, you may still find yourself struggling with a boss who does not understand boundaries, is too emotionally explosive, or ignores basic courtesies in dealing with people–and with a company that encourages disrespectful behavior. If that is the case, you have a good reason for changing jobs.

Before accepting a new job, check how former employees talk about the company and the respect they received. You do not want to move from bad situation to worse.

Robin’s Resumes® is ready to help you to change jobs to a truly respectful and supportive company. Contact us today.

Good Reasons for Changing Jobs: Harassment

Are you being harassed on the job? You may feel that you should be able to handle harassment, that you have no options, or no one will believe you. However, harassment is not only a good reason for changing jobs but a very common reason.

Research by All Voices reveals that 34 percent of people leave a job because of “unresolved harassment issues.” The likelihood is higher if there is no anonymous channel to report harassment or if they feel their company does not want harassment reported.

Harassment may come in many forms. Legally, it is based on discriminatory behavior, related to age, sex, ability, or race, for example. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, this harassment becomes illegal when accepting it “becomes a condition of continued employment” or it creates “a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.”

However, even if harassment fails to rise to the level of illegality, it is still devastating. Among the types of harassment are personal (for example, you are always the butt of jokes or always isolated at lunch), physical threatening, power plays (you are asked to do more and more work with fewer resources), psychological (you are always contradicted or belittled), and cyberbullying.

Harassment is an excellent reason for changing jobs. When you are ready to look for your next job:

  • Keep your search confidential at work. You do not want your harassers to have a chance to harass you about your job search or undermine it.
  • Develop referrals outside the company. Most organizations where you apply will accept that you do not want them talking to your present company, especially if you have recommendations from previous employers, customers, or vendors who did not harass you.
  • Do not indicate harassment as your reason for leaving. You can use expressions like “not a good fit” or “seeking more opportunities.” Unfortunately, accusations of harassment do not endear you to potential employers.
  • Consider speaking to someone neutral about your experience. You may choose a professional counselor, a close friend, or a lawyer. Harassment is very stressful and talking about it to someone you trust will help you build your confidence again and deal with the lingering stress. You may also develop a plan that allows you to stay at your current job and stop the harassment.
  • Take advice from a professional coach and resume writer. You want to make sure that your resume, LinkedIn profile, and interview skills all shout “professional” rather than “recovering from harassment.”

If you have taken whatever measures you can to rectify harassment at your current job, and it has not stopped, It is time to seek a new job. When you are ready, please contact Robin’s Resumes® for the support you deserve.

Good Reasons for Changing Jobs: Work-Life Balance

A recent Forbes claimed that work-life balance is an out-of-date concept—yet, according to Eagle Hill Consulting, work-life balance is the second most compelling reason for changing jobs, right after workload. Another survey found that 67% of men and 57% of women change jobs with the goal of improving work-life balance.

Currently, the tight job market is adding to the difficulty of finding a work-life balance because so many businesses are understaffed. One survey, by Fingerprint for Success, found that 65% of employees working from home are now working longer hours—certainly not the expected outcome.

A good work-life balance benefits the company: less turnover, increased productivity, and lower healthcare costs. Those benefits reflect the improvements that employees report when a company has a good work-life balance: a commitment to their job, lower stress, less likelihood of burnout, and greater happiness.

Slowly, the notion is taking hold that work-life balance is something both employers and employees can negotiate. When you consider changing jobs to achieve a greater work-life balance, these tactics will help:

  • Research companies specifically for their reputation for work-life balance. Glassdoor and other online sites rank companies for their work-life balance. Comments on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media also provide insight. Asking a current employee may also unearth good information.
  • Ask relevant questions during the interview, such as the company’s definition of overtime, remote, and travel (which might be quite different from your own), and their policy for vacation, personal time, and sick time.
  • Observe the culture. During the interview, pay attention to the atmosphere: does everyone seem rushed and irritated or do people seem to like and help each other? Will you be the only person at work with your gender, race, ethnicity, ability, or background?
  • Make it clear on your resume if you are looking for remote work. You can state your preference for, say, 20% remote or full remote only. You should also highlight your experience with remote work, if that is what you are looking for. Pandemic experience certainly counts.
  • Focus your resume on numbers or accomplishments that show your productivity and ability to meet or exceed goals. After all, increased productivity is the chief incentive for employers to improve work-life balance.

When you are ready to pursue a better work-life balance by changing your job or career, please contact Robin Resumes® for job and career transition coaching, a professional resume, and the benefits of more than 20 years of experience.

The Fear of Changing Jobs: Part 3

Q. Everyone tells me I should look for a new job now that the pandemic has eased up and companies in my field are hiring. They are right about that. I have been stuck in the same position without any chance of advancement for 5 years; I do not like the boss they recently promoted over me, and I am earning less than I should for someone with my experience. But I cannot seem to move. I am clinging to my job when I should let go. How do your other resume clients motivate themselves to go job seeking?

A. Many people cling to a job that no longer works for them. Some of them refuse to move on because they are comfortable; they know the people, routine, and expectations at their current company. Some doubt their abilities. Worries about finances also play a part—will they command more money, and will the new commute eat up the difference in salary? Some individuals feel a stigma about “giving up,” even if their current situation is causing them stress and unhappiness.

But the biggest reason people fear changing jobs is that they do not know where to begin a job search. A job search may require skills that they lack or have not used in a long time, including online searches, video and in-person interviews, deciding where to apply and what compensation they want, and writing a resume.

These four techniques will help motivate you to begin your job search:

  • Set an achievable goal and direction. Here is where research shows its value. What is the next logical step in your career, and what routes can you take there? For example, you might move to a larger or smaller company, transfer your skills and accomplishments to a new industry, or move from an established company to a startup. If you are unsure about the direction you want your career to take, now is an excellent time to consult a career coach.
  • Set up a process. You must keep track of where and when you sent each resume; any responses you receive; the dates and times of interviews; and the names and contact information of people you speak or write to. Whether you keep the information online or on paper, you must be able to find it quickly when companies call or email you.
  • Fill in the blanks. Does your resume feel lackluster? It may be time to partner with a professional resume writer. Are you frightened of interviews? You may benefit from working with a career coach. Are job listings or advertisements asking for certifications or other credentials you lack? You may want to investigate training opportunities within or outside your current company.
  • Allow yourself time to breathe. For someone who is already employed, a job search cannot be a 365/24/7 effort; live your life and devote just a little time each day to your search. You want to go to an interview feeling relaxed and confident, with the support of your family and friends—not desperate and beaten down. One day away from your job search is not the same as abandoning it, but a chance to rejuvenate and reconnect.

When you are ready for that first step, Robin’s Resumes® is prepared to join your team. We take pride in helping job seekers with professional coaching, resume writing, and advice.