Changing jobs can come with pros and cons. For people who have been with the same company for a long time, changing jobs may feel challenging.
We may find ourselves welcoming our new opportunity, yet struggling to fully let go of our previous workplace.
Recently, one of my work colleagues left after roughly 3 years with the company. She’s moving on to a more senior position. Her new management role will involve more responsibility, greater challenges, and a higher salary. Though excited, she’s a little nervous about making the move.
Despite the excitement that comes with embracing change, we can sometimes feel apprehensive about taking the plunge.
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Here are some things to consider when changing jobs.
Friends and managers
Often it is the people we work with that we miss the most. Some people become close friends outside of work as well as our work colleagues.
Saying goodbye to these friends can feel emotional.
Often the friends that we see socially outside of the office will continue to be part of our lives.
Be prepared, however, that some of your work relationships may change. Unfortunately, some friendships won’t survive outside of the work environment. Relationships can change when you are not seeing people every day. Not to mention, work gives us something in common; when that is taken away, you might find that you don’t have much in common.
Do your best to maintain the friendships that are important to you.
Of course, as much as we enjoy the company of our close friends at work, we can’t base our career decisions around them. People take promotions, change jobs, get made redundant, choose different careers completely, and so on.
Your friends at work may move on, in some form or another, so you need to do what is right for you.
Work is not just about the relationships with our friends. One of the most important relationships we can have at work is with our direct manager. A great manager can make you want to stay in a not-so-great job. Working with an excellent manager can make all the difference.
It’s common for people to leave their jobs because of their manager. When you work for a bad manager, it can make your job feel unbearable. Many people choose to move on instead of working for a terrible manager.
Your relationship with your manager is something to take into consideration.
More work-related content –
Coming to terms with the unknown
The hardest thing about changing jobs is walking into the unknown. As mentioned earlier, our relationship with our direct manager is incredibly important. With a new job, that is an unknown quantity.
Walking into the unknown makes us understandably nervous. There’s always the fear that our new job won’t quite stack up to our expectations.
You also need to understand that your new role may actually surpass your expectations and open you up to fantastic opportunities for learning and personal development.
It’s important to do your homework before taking the position. Learn as much about the company and role as possible.
Once you have made your decision and taken the leap, stay positive.
Books that can help you with a career change –
- Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One by Jenny Blake
- The Squiggly Career: Ditch The Ladder, Discover Opportunity, Design Your Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
- Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
Accept there will be a time of transition
Accept you will be the new girl (or boy).
Generally, you will need to start from scratch. Learning about your new role and getting to know your new work colleagues takes time.
Accept that you will be out of your comfort zone and consequently may be feeling quite, well…uncomfortable. At least for a short time.
Many companies throw their employees into the deep end as soon as they start. Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do if this happens to you. Take a deep breath and do your best. Try to take in and learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible.
If you do find yourself thrown in the deep end, try to factor in as much relaxation in your personal time to counteract the onslaught of work.
Related post – How to Deal with Periods of Transition
Your health
Regardless of your age, your health may be something you need to consider when changing jobs.
If you are struggling with a chronic illness or ongoing health condition, you may need to consider if you are physically capable of dealing with a different role. If your job has a physical aspect to it, like standing for long hours or moving a lot, that needs to be taken into consideration. If your current job is low stress and you are thinking about moving to a high-stress situation, your health may need to factor into this decision.
You may need to consider factors such as whether you can work from home at your new company and how many hours you can work.
This isn’t to say that having an illness should stop you from changing jobs; it’s just something that you may need to consider.
Give yourself a break
Where possible, try to have some downtime between leaving your old job and starting your new one.
Where possible, take some time to decompress.
Step back from your former company and relax. Don’t worry about what is happening back at the office. Whether we like it or not, life at the office will continue as usual.
Cut mental ties with your old role and focus on the exciting new opportunities coming your way.
Related post – How to Cope When Your Contract is Not Renewed
Changing jobs
When it comes to changing jobs, remember the big picture and what you want to achieve in your career.
Enjoy the excitement of changing jobs and starting a new role. Focus on the positive benefits of your new position. Hit the ground running and show them what you’ve got.
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