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Changing Jobs
Gus Downing, CEO Downing & Downing, Inc.
Loss Prevention Magazine, Sept. - Oct. 2004
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T he first day at a new job is similar to the first day at a new school. Walking into a new building, palms a little sweaty, heart racing, insecurity’s all present and accounted for, no friends, empty brief case, and no desk to call home. The spouse kissed you goodbye and watched you drive away waving with love and support. The last words you heard were “Good luck. You’ll do great!” And at that moment in time you felt like they were your only friend in the world. For one split second you didn’t want to leave. All that’s missing is your name badge and bus number.
While driving to work your mind races first to finding the quickest path to the new office and then to reinforcing your self-confidence, which is slightly shaken this morning. You check out your reflection in the rearview mirror and review what clothes you’ve chosen for the millionth time. You debate stopping to use the restroom so as not to have to ask where they are when you first arrive and meet any new people.
Pulling into the parking lot, you hesitate getting out of your car. Looking around you see an opening that allows you a path to the front door almost alone so you don’t have to commit to small talk with someone who may find out you’re the new kid in school. Avoidance is your first instinct.
Walking in the door, your first smile goes to the receptionist and with all your effort you annunciate your name, the fact that you’re a new employee, and who you’ve been told to ask for. But still you’re relegated to waiting for acceptance into your new arena. Those minutes are filled with questions, rehearsals, pep talks, and the desire to call home as soon as you can. One last look at where you parked to make sure you remember. And for another split second you want to go home. Quickly, you think about using the restroom one last time before it begins. But all of a sudden, it all starts.
A New Beginning
A number of people avoid new jobs like the plague. Their fear of change, of risk, of having to reprove themselves is fueled by insecurity, camouflaged by corporate loyalty, and reinforced with promises that oftentimes are lost in the shuffle of corporate survival. And once we do reach the point when we’ll gladly face them, we’re either searching for our survival…at which point we’ll do anything…or our salaries are so high that the opportunities become few and far between.
Yes, changing jobs can be a traumatic experience, but it is, and always will be, an opportunity for a new beginning. And when viewed and approached correctly, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career, because it will force you to grow, to learn, and to expand your horizons. With everything new, your mind will be forced to expand and absorb all that you come in contact with. One merely needs to be open to it and embrace it so that it takes hold and helps you grow and change.
The Buddhist believe that we are at this moment in time what all of our yesterdays made us, but that we can be whomever we want to be tomorrow as long as we start being it today. And it is this new beginning that allows you the opportunity to reinvent yourself to be whomever you wish to be going forward. All you need to do is wipe the slate clean and start over, remembering all that you’ve learned, all of your mistakes, everything your mentors have told you, and finally remembering and not minimizing what your weaknesses are.
This is an opportunity to put behind you all of the mistakes you made that represent your biggest lessons and most embarrassing moments. It gives you the opportunity of escaping from those misconceptions…whether right or wrong…that people have of you. It gives you a new social group to define your role. And with the proper ingredients of hindsight, patience, commitment, desire, and the willingness to take a risk, this can be the biggest opportunity of your career and of your life. One merely needs to reflect and be open to change.
A Strategic Decision
Changing jobs can be a defining moment in your life and should be done with caution, great thought, and infrequently. There is no formula or magic equation that says how often one should change jobs, because it’s impacted by so many variables that tend to vary from individual to individual.
A failing or struggling retailer, no promotional opportunities, frozen salaries, tired of traveling, relocation desires, personality conflicts, or maybe its just a fantastic job with a fantastic retailer—these are reasons for changing jobs. Even so, one should be very cautious.
As a recruiter you can understand why I’d profess that changing jobs can be a worthwhile experience. You could argue this could be self-serving. But at the end of the day, these thoughts can be applied to any job change and not merely when changing companies.
But on the other hand, to relegate ones career to a single corporate entity is to give up your family responsibility to maximize your lifetime earnings and be the best that you can be. Therefore, a few strategic moves, which bring promotions, salary increases above the typical annual 3 to 5 percent, and growth opportunities, is a wise decision.
Joseph Campbell, a famous twentieth century philosopher, once said that it is the darkest path in the woods where you’ll find the most treasure because the well traveled path will most likely be bare from all of those who traveled it before you. Your career is a journey. Make the most of it!
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