The fact is that you are not going to work in the same company from start-to-finish. I remember beginning my professional career at Shell Oil Company in 1990, and I thought that I would retire with the oil and gas company. It was a genuine but naïve belief.
In many cases, you find a better opportunity and you take the leap. In some situations, you are asked to leave because of performance issues, lack of fit, or just because you don’t see eye-to-eye with your manager.
The separation process is usually better when the employee makes the decision to leave the organization. Most employers understand that people make these decisions in hopes of bettering their situation. However, when someone is fired, the separation is difficult both on the employer and employee. Firing people is no fun, and getting fired is even less fun.
Here are three reasons you should leave your company:
#1: No more room for advancement.
Most people want bigger challenges andhope this upward mobility is possible within the organization. I have an acquaintance who is still working in a data processing-type job even though she is near completing her MBA. Her employer increased her pay by $6,000 during the recent performance appraisal review, but she stayed in the same position. She is stuck in a dead-end job. Her employer is being a bit selfish by increasing her pay in hopes that she stays longer, but she has her resume out in the market knowing that it’s time to make the move.
#2: Lack of interest in employee development.
Some organizations do very little to improve the skills of their employees. Providing a training program requires an investment in both time and money, and some corporate leaders are unwilling to do either. As a corporate trainer, I see the enthusiasm of employees when they attend training sessions. They are eager for new knowledge, and will take advantage of training sessions focused on leadership skills, technology, project management, critical thinking, and managing conflict. By improving these skills, the employees are far more productive in their work responsibilities.
#3: Dislike for current work.
I spoke to a colleague a couple of weeks ago, and she said: “You know … I really don’t like what I do here. It keeps me busy, but I hate Mondays! In fact, I hate nearly every day that I have to come to this job!” It was obvious that she was not happy, but she had not even updated her resume. While she didn’t like her job, it was now a routine, and somewhat of a comfort zone. In other words, it was easier for her to stay in a job that she didn’t like than to start over somewhere else. It’s weird, but this is a common occurrence for many employees. Before long, years and decades pass, and the employee is still unhappy.
Making a change can be difficult. However, you must focus on what is going to make you happy long-term. The change itself will test you, but the benefits of working somewhere that you like outweigh the bit of discomfort that you will experience during the transition.