Time for a new beginning?

As the year draws to a close it is natural to get into assessment and achievement mode vis a vis your job and career growth. For a large number of workers the beginning of a new year means redrawing their career goals and gear up to take some risks. But, in case there are opportunities knocking at your door and you are developing cold feet at the last minute at the thought of leaving the comfort zone then here are a few points that you should consider before handing in your resignation and moving on to the greener pastures in 2018: 

Lack of challenge

Each job has the potential to become uninteresting and anyone can lose motivation to push through targets and deadline. But all said and done if you find that you are losing interest in the work that you are doing and moreover if your company is not offering any challenges to you to perform and excel, then it is time to consider quitting and moving on to something that gives you a purpose to get out of bed each morning and get to work.  Staying in a job that doesn’t test your abilities constantly is nothing less than committing professional harakiri and the longer one continues in such a situation the lesser are the chances of escaping work related depression. So, if for the past couple of years you have been stuck in the routine rut and find it difficult to fill up the annual achievements column in your self appraisal form, then it is the right time to start looking for options outside and hand in your resignation as soon as suitable offer comes along.  

Blocked growth channels

Having a secure job  when lay offs and pink slips are the order of the day can be a big relief. But herein lies the catch as your secure job may be strangulating your career gorwth. If your company is not offering promotion to you in accordance with your performance and preference is being given to “outsiders” for important roles, then it is not a wise decision to stick around. This is nothing but a dead-end job and a sure shot recipe for career disaster. Have a word with your manager about being sidelined for promotions and try to find out the reason. If you fail to get a convincing answer or an assurance then it is time to ditch loyalties and send resume to other companies. Remember, if you don’t value your worth then no one else will. 

Moolah factor

Though several studies through 2017 have shown that pay check is not always the biggest motivator when it comes to job satisfaction, the fact remains that it is difficult to ignore an offer with a generous pay raise. in case your company has tightened its purse strings and for the past couple of years the annual appraisals have been in the 3 to 5 per cent bracket then it is time to look somewhere else. However, it would be wise to study your industry as well as job role vis a vis the pay packages and the raise being offered. If it becomes evident that you are being underpaid then go all out to explore other options. Network and send feelers to other companies and negotiate a good package. But remember that anything less than 15 per cent raise however, doesn’t make sense to leave and move on to a new job.  

Bitten by entrepreneurial bug

There’s a certain adrenaline rush in being one’s own boss and having the power to call the shots. A start-up boom as well as fertile pitch for freelancing in sa number of professions is sufficient attraction to quit the biometric machine- bound existence. Job scene statistics show that freelancers constitute over 35 per cent of the total workforce in USA and India is not much behind in this. So, if you have a “bright” idea and the power to convince some investors, then take the plunge in starting on your own and embrace   independence and savour the benefits.  — GV

Quit etiquette

If quitting is the choice you make whatever be the reason, don’t forget to follow the protocol completely. Do give sufficient notice to your employer and desist from making your disappointments public or berating your organisation or boss at the new workplace. Remember, when it comes to career decisions it is not a wise thing to burn the bridges.