Episode 27
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Were The Clash experts in the recruiting space? Not exactly. But Stephanie Maas addresses the question with some tips on how to evaluate if it's time to exit your current role, and how to make a principle-based decision when doing so.
Transcript
Hi, this is Stephanie Maas.
Speaker:I was recently driving into the office.
Speaker:Honestly, I was rocking it out to the song.
Speaker:Should I stay or should I go?
Speaker:I think it's by the clash, but it got me thinking about some recent conversations I've had with candidates in the marketplace.
Speaker:And they were basically asking me, Hey, I'm not really happy in my current situation.
Speaker:What do I do?
Speaker:Should I stay or should I go?
Speaker:Think about the song from Kenny Rogers.
Speaker:You gotta know when to hold him, know when to fold him, know when to walk away.
Speaker:Imagine that playing in the background right now.
Speaker:And here's what I mean.
Speaker:Now every person has to make that decision for themselves, but here are some general counsel and some really good news.
Speaker:A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to a candidate and there were two things that stood out in that conversation.
Speaker:One was he was commenting about how many calls, emails, LinkedIn messages, et cetera, he was getting from recruiters, competitors, everybody under the sun trying to get him to make a move.
Speaker:And as we were dialoguing, the other thing that I was really impressed by in his thought process is he said, Hey, I know where I'm at isn't perfect.
Speaker:I need to take a few weeks and really decide what would be better than what I have now.
Speaker:Before I even get out and interview, I need to know what's important to me, and the foundation of his thought process was that of principle based decisions.
Speaker:The truth of the matter is, if he just went out and started interviewing, Interviewing is actually quite emotional.
Speaker:You get the red carpet pulled out for you.
Speaker:Everybody's telling you how great they are.
Speaker:You get more money.
Speaker:And oftentimes, if you're not principle based in your decision making, you can get caught up in all of that and end up making a bad decision.
Speaker:So let me encourage you.
Speaker:If you are thinking, especially with the barrage of calls and emails and LinkedIn messages, that maybe you should look around, or maybe your current situation isn't as great as you hoped, before you return anyone's calls, before you engage in any kind of an interview scenario, stop and think.
Speaker:Try to be as objective as possible about your current situation.
Speaker:Situation, and what really could be a better situation for you professionally and ultimately for your family as well.
Speaker:Things like money, while they absolutely can better your situation, let's face it, more money is usually better.
Speaker:It's not always the end all be all.
Speaker:There's oftentimes with more money, a price you're paying and you have to decide, is that worth it?
Speaker:Same thing with simple things like your ability to be successful.
Speaker:Sometimes when you've been somewhere for a long period of time, you know exactly what you need to do and how you need to do it to be successful year in and year out.
Speaker:Changing that could impact your ability to be successful or if that internal structure starts to change.
Speaker:Suddenly, you That could impact your ability to be successful.
Speaker:Whatever it is for you, make sure you know what it is and then decide, Hey, this is really the three, four things I'm looking for.
Speaker:That if I could find it, that would be better.
Speaker:That's how you make a principle based decision, and when you make a decision like that, it'll always be a good decision.
Speaker:I have found that there are basically two main factors that determine when it's time to make a change.
Speaker:The first one is you've got to take a look at your personal situation and weigh those factors.
Speaker:Factors that might affect you on the personal side are things like your commute.
Speaker:Not just, hey, I have a crappy commute, I hate it, but is it affecting your work life balance?
Speaker:Are you getting ready to have a major change where suddenly you have to consider somebody else or consider an addition to the family?
Speaker:Those things can really make a difference in your life.
Speaker:in your home life.
Speaker:I think you also have to look at the values that you believe in and the organization that you represent.
Speaker:If you're finding that you're having a really hard time representing the values of your organization, That's going to create a lot of incongruencies with you personally, and it's probably time to go.
Speaker:The second thing to consider of when it's time to go is what's going on with you professionally.
Speaker:Here's what I mean.
Speaker:Number one, are you in a situation where your professional development or advancement has been limited or stunted?
Speaker:Again, I'm not talking about, Hey, I've been here 18 months and they haven't made me head of the department yet.
Speaker:Come on, that's unrealistic.
Speaker:But hey, have you been passed over a couple times for promotions?
Speaker:Have there been opportunities for special projects that have come up and you've raised your hand and they've said, no, thanks.
Speaker:Are you still doing the same thing and the same place at the same rate that you were three, five, eight years ago?
Speaker:If so, you're probably stunted.
Speaker:And unless you're okay with that.
Speaker:And by the way, if you're okay with it, that is okay.
Speaker:But if you're not.
Speaker:It's probably time to look at that.
Speaker:The other thing is if you're in a situation where you can no longer be successful doing your job in that current organization, if you know you are in a situation regardless of where you are in your goals for the year, regardless of your bonus situation next year, if you're with an organization that you know you are not going to stay with long term, Absolutely.
Speaker:Don't wait.
Speaker:It just isn't going to work and it's definitely not going to set you up for success with the next organization.
Speaker:Don't fall into the camp of saying, well, gosh, I'll just sit tight until I get my bonus.
Speaker:Then I'll make a move.
Speaker:If you know you're not happy, keep your ear to the ground.
Speaker:Look out for that right opportunity.
Speaker:Look at your job, your career.
Speaker:Look at it.
Speaker:See how it's affecting your personal life.
Speaker:Look out how it's affecting your professional development.
Speaker:And then you'll know.
