#76 The Art of Switching Jobs or Career Paths
Think long term when you build your corporate relationships, they go a long way!
The new financial year has begun with lots of ups and downs in the job market and everyone seems to be moving from one place to another. Well, speking of myself I am switching back to my last organization and soon going to re-start working with my last head cum mentor. As I disclosed this news to my friends circle, I started getting some mixed reviews from their side.
How would you manage to work at a same place that you have left?
Won’t it be awkward to be a part of same team and with the same head?
Didn’t you feel silly asking your head to take you back?
How do you keep in touch with your ex-colleagues and teams?
And these thoughts which might have crossed my mind as well, didn’t stop me from taking this step. But the way they were conveyed, each one had a negative or a disgrunted look on their faces. More than the thoughts, what baffled me is their expressions which depicted that I am taking a path which was supposed to be long lost. I planned to deep dive further.
You know there are plenty people who don’t maintain their professional bonds in a right way. Imagine, if you are to leave your job today, what would you do?
You would start finding new opportunities, negotiate your offer and once the offer is in your inbox, either you directly kickstart your resignation process or communicate your manager that you have got a better offer and you are resigning
You would speak and clear the air with your manager and talk about what are the missing links you are feeling at your current position and if there is any way, we can manage that? Talk to him about your plan of taking a switch and keep him informed and in loop about your external processes. Finally, work till your last days and ensure a smooth transsition of work for your projects.
Which of the above options would you choose? There is no right or wrong choice here but this would definitely determine the kind of persona you are and your attitude that might govern your future bonding. Both the above options has it own pros and cons.
This was just one of the many scenarios we face in this corporate jungle which make or break the bonding with your manager and team-mates. Few at the top of my head would be How often do we communicate about our goals and aspirations, drive or seek feedback loop, discuss what’s working and problems that you are facing. I haven’t seen many people (atleast around me) openely putting out their thoughts and often barred by the fear of ‘How would your manager think or what would he think of me or He might judge me.‘
Take a moment and retrospect, what would you do? Are you also one of those who are backed by fear or one of those who are backed by learning mindset?
Well, I think my move of happily switching back to my old organization is more in line with the choice 2. And that’s exactly how I roll. I have switched almost three oranizations in my small stint of corporate world so far but I have the liberty to call any of the directors and past heads whom I have worked with without any fear. Sometimes, I even head to them for advice, suggestions and silly things and they happily help me out. No one told me what to do or how to build relationships when I was a beginner but I think I was lucky to work with the folks who really caare about my growth and never shyed away from discussing new opportunities. And this just became a part of me to involve selected people in the journey that I am on. I make them a part of my decisions as a mentor or a guide. If you are also struggling to circle back with one of your mentors, then this blog will help you.
But my thought process was short sighted until one of my friends showed me the long term impact of these small steps that we take today.
Your network grows with you and become more influential with time
Right now our objective could be just taking a better offer or risking our skills at a nascent/ new firm, but when and if your new thing doesn’t work out, these folks will help and guide to be get back on track (Just the case I had)
Background verification or your personality might not be important today but when you climb up the ladder as a leader or a CXO, this network will be your referrals and white light in that dark
Your confidence and fall back options makes you enthusiastic to keep trying but these folks unlike us as a kid in tha candy shop, also think rationally about the pros and cons and path ahead for us before they give.a green signal to our actions
They instill the key skills that a great manager or a leader needs to have by setting an example in front of us. None of them spoon-feeds or hand-hold us, but each one ensures that we can reach out to them. Their scolding, views, opinions, tantrums, advices and suggestions, everything is worth your time, trust me
You will never feel alone or run out of options, because these folks would always be directing nice opportunities and ideas at your disposal with a hope that you might want to pick any, without any expectations in return
Only one caveat I would leave you guys with is choose these folks very wisely, aligns with your core values, and must be someone who is mutually aligned with your goals, aspirations and most important your growth path.
A couple of you might be thinking now that we understand their importance and all but how do I attain this art of switching careers or jobs? What’s my secret to be so fluid with this art?
Here you go guys! There is no science behnd this art, it’s infact a simple thought process that will help you achieve this art. Honestly, there is no list but the feeling of you being at work and enjoying it rather than performing your tasks in return of just benefits. Below are some steps that might help you put your foot in the right direction:
Make them a part of your journey and decision loop so that they feel valuable and respected
Keep them aware and don’t leave them stranded in the middle of nowhere, whenever you take any big step
Your work should speak for itself. You know my dad has always said that your words are not that powerful as your actions and intentions are. So, communicate through your work, insights and intent.
Go the extra mile, if required at work or a project without expecting a favour in return. remember, this is not a barter system we are building, we need them way more than they need us
The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward."—Amelia Earhart
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." – Mark TwainHope you enjoyed reading today’s blog as much as I enjoyed penning it down right from my heart. Like, share and comment and I would be back next week with another corporate insight.