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Should I stay or should I go now?

By Gayle Oliver | Thursday, December 21, 2006, 08:35 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Knowing how long to stay in your current position or when the time is right to move on can feel like a daunting decision. Here are 3 key things to consider when determining whether that next job is right for you.

1) Does the compensation you are being offered really justify going through the stress of a job change? If you are unpaid and overworked the answer is easy. If you are fairly compensated now, keep in mind more money always comes with a price. Often it means more travel, more stress, and less job security.

2) Will you have sufficient contact with people? Experts say that a misaligned work environment is a primary reason for job dissatisfaction. If you enjoy heavy people interaction to feel enthusiastic and energized, don’t get trapped in a job that alienates you from others. Conversely, if you need frequent solo time, don’t choose a job that demands constant people interface. Be clear about your ‘people quotient’ since it will dramatically impact your ‘job satisfaction quotient.’

3) Do you want a prestigious job? Prestige matters tremendously to some and almost none to others. If having sufficient levels of authority and a job title that will impress your friends is important, be honest about it. Make sure you apply for jobs that match your desires. Don’t let a recruiter or any one else (even spouses) convince you that a step backward in job title or responsibility will be tolerable for you. It probably won’t. Not only will you likely be unhappy from the outset of your new job but you may have a hard time ‘climbing back up’ the corporate ladder from a lower level position.

4) As a recruiter, I frequently see people flounder in their career decisions because they don’t narrow down what’s most important to them. Like life, job opportunities usually offer people a series of trade offs. In order to get one thing you really want, you may have to give up something else. To get more money, you may have to give up life balance. To have frequent people contact, you may have to work in an office instead of out of your house. To have an executive job title, you may have to give up job security since executives are high risk, high liability roles.

Compensation, work environment, and prestige/responsibility are three aspects of your career decision-making that require self-awareness and total honesty. Once you define what’s most important to you, you’ll know whether it’s time to stay or go.

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