Thinking of changing jobs? 40 things to think about

Are you unhappy with your job? Thinking of chucking it all in, sabotaging your colleagues work or throwing something at your boss? Or are you contemplating quietly walking out, leaving the country and going to live a simpler life on an island? Thinking of changing jobs is normal for everyone – you have no monopoly on any of these thoughts – but doing it, whatever that is, right is important.

Career progression means changing jobs by definition – but why and how you do it can improve your life or totally screw it up. Changing jobs at the right time for the right reasons and in the right way may seem obvious – but emotions and feelings and irrational thought get in the way and can seriously mess up your career.

I have changed jobs and made a few career changes in my life and some were cleverer than others!

So before you start booking plane tickets, selling the house, moving to or from the big city, emigrating or physically throwing stuff at the boss, why not balance out the loud emotional voices of your feelings with some sober, boring logical stuff. I know I am being dull, dull, dull…. but try answering these questions. This is not a perfect or exhaustive list or even beautifully structured or logical – but if you are reading this that probably doesn’t matter that much to you anyway!

This exercise is even better if you write out the answers in full. Then sleep on them.

The Problem. 

Is it you or is it them? Is it the job or the employer?

1. Why do you want to change jobs? Make a list of five reasons in no particular order. Write them down – seriously, it helps.
2. Do you want to change professions or just change your employer?
3. Would it be different if you were doing the same thing for someone else? Are you sure? Explain why? Write it down!
4. Are you in the right job – or just at the wrong place or with the wrong people?
5. Why did you chose your current career? What attracted you to your career in the first place?
6. What has changed since? If anything?
7. Why do you think that is?
8. Why did you choose your current employer? What attracted you to your current employer in the first place?
9. What has changed since? If anything?
10. Why do you think that is?
11. Is it really your job you are unhappy with or is it possible you are are just unhappy in your personal life and this is overflowing into your work life?
12. Is it something that you can fix?
13. If so, have you done anything about it?
14. Are you over-tired, over-stressed, over-amped and exhausted? Do you have the bandwidth to handle this?
15. Are you getting enough exercise and fresh air?
16. Are you making sure that you switch off at weekends and in the evenings or do you have your laptop or iPad open all day every day? Do you have phone free days or evenings or even hours?
17. What has changed since you started that job? I know this looks like question 9 – but has your answer changed?
18. Is it a need for training or a personal issue or your commute or a salary thing or the career prospects?
19. Is it because of your employers, your colleagues, the location of the job and the commute or your actual job
20. Is your employer or line manager aware of the situation and have you spoken to them about it? If not – why not?

The Decision

1. If you are thinking of changing your profession – what would you like to do? Why? How will it be different?
2. Have you spoken to head hunters or specialist agencies in your field or in the proposed new field?
3. Have you spoken to your family? Have they seen you become unhappy at work?
4. Have you spoken to your friends? Have you changed recently?
5. Have you cash in the bank and what are your commitments?
6. How long could you exist before you start visiting friends at meal times?
7. Have you assessed the job opportunities in your current profession? Availability of jobs, salaries compared to yours, qualifications and experience of the people in those jobs?
8. How are you doing compared to others? If you are ahead – what’s the real problem – if you are behind what do you think is the reason? (Be honest here – it’s just between you and the piece of paper.)
9. What do you need to make the change in terms of training, investment? A lawyer I knew chucked his promised career in with a Magic Circle law firm and bought a pub. Same hours – much more fun. It was a big decision with a big investment and he “threw away” a pristine career CV. But he seems happy.
10. Could you take a sabbatical and test drive the new career? How could you test whether it works for you?

The Deed

1. How would this affect your family and any dependents and have you spoken to them?
2. How would your departure leave your company and the jobs and security of your colleagues?
3. How are you going to tell them?
4. Do you need a reference?
5. What notice are you going to give them? What day will it be – the day after payday? How and when is the best way to tell them? Blurting it out may get it off your chest but if you are that wound up you will probably screw it up.
6. Are you going to offer a handover –  what should be in the handover?
7. How likely are you to see your current team and boss in your new role?
8. How important will they be to your future?
9. What do you want them saying about you? Do you care?
10. Will you do this in a way that will make you proud in retrospect and that shows some class?