Do you sometimes feel that you just want to move on from the job you're in right now, and surely ANYTHING would be better than the drudgery you're already in? That may sound a bit extreme, but does the thought resonate with you?
I often find that some people get caught in a job/career they don't find fulfilling, because they've tried the ‘jumping to the next thing - and it was the same old same old'.
I'm starting to think that changing jobs/careers is similar to what smart investors say about investing your money - it's only risky, if you don't do your research.
I have a few clients right now who really hate their jobs. They go in every day and just count the ways they could get out. Given them any reason to jump, and they'll be leading the troops. But in order for that jump (or escape) to be a satisfying one, make sure you find out as much about it and it's not only because the grass is greener on that other side - it hardly ever stays that way.
Your research can have a few aspects to it. Let's call these internal and external. For your internal research, sit down and think through what you have to offer (skills, strengths and experiences) and what you want (what motivates you, what's your ideal environment like). For your external research, explore what you are attracted by and why (a good coach can help with this process). Some people like to just figure out what the very next step is and that's all they want to know - others want a longer-term vision and plan to get there. Whichever you go for, you'll need a next step, and it's at that point when impatience sets in and it's so easy to jump for the wrong reasons.
If you have an opportunity to leave a job that you hate, before escaping, ground the opportunity you are about to escape into. Evaluate the pros and cons of staying put, and then evaluate the pros and cons of leaving, and then evaluate the pros and cons of taking on the opportunity that is available to them. Do this based on facts, not assumptions. If it feels like ‘it's the right thing for me' - is that because the brochure says so, you want to believe that to be true or you have actually talked to people there who can tell you about the reality of the situation.
Just last week a client and I were talking about should she jump ship now or not. We did the pros and cons of staying and leaving with nothing to go to. She figured out that it was best to stay for now (she'd go crazy without the structure that having a job gives her) but to keep focused on exploring the next step so that she can leave for the right thing, and that it'll be a positive experience that will help her on her journey, not just another job to get disillusioned about.
So how could you ground your escape? Have you done your internal and external research? The former you can do in a very short time - and I suggest you enroll a few friends/colleagues in helping you ascertain your strengths - some of us are far better at figuring out what we're not good at!
Follow us on