A friend of mine called and was telling me about how her department is closing down and she was stressed about finding a new job. For her this was not just a job change, but in a way, it was a life change. She had been with the same company for over 20 years, and she’s only 41, so this was kind of a BIG deal.
I know how bad it sucks to have to go through something like this. And because I love her, I wanted to help ease her stress a little bit.
After talking to her and being there for her, I said I wanted to create something to help her through this transition. See, for me, I think when something like this happens that it’s the Universe’s way of forcing us to change for the better. Sometimes we get so use to being somewhere that we will stay even if it is no longer serving us (we quit enjoying the job or work, we have out grown the position or have hit a ceiling, or some other “thing” that we just ignore). And even though it sucks in the moment, I try to see it as an opportunity (yes, I’ll forever be an optimist!). But seriously, I believe these are the times that we are being asked to slow down and reflect on where we are and where we want to go.
Whether you’re considering a company change, career change, or work-life change, here are somethings that you may want to reflect on before jumping into the next thing…
When reflecting back on your past job(s) here are some things to consider:
- The Company- what kind of core values, the culture
- The Position You Held- were there perks that came with the position or negative aspects about being in that position
- Your Job Duties- what you actually did on a daily, weekly, monthly basis
- The People You Worked With- co-workers, bosses, and/or upper management, customers
- The Environment- in an office cubicle, an open work space, outside, standing or sitting, loud or quiet, independently or on a team
- Your Drive Time
- Your Work Hours/ Schedule and Flexibility
- Benefits- health care, retirement accounts, paid time off, holiday pay, school tuition reimbursement, continuing education programs
What were your favorite aspects of past jobs and then what were the challenging or negative aspects?
When looking for a new job, think about the company values- do they align with your personal values?
Before accepting a new job, determine what your intention is- do you just want to be financially secure or make a certain amount of money? Or is it important that you are able to grow within the company? Or is it the scheduling flexibility? Know what your true intention is so you can determine if that company will be able to fulfill that for you.
How does what you’re looking for align with want you want for the next 3 to 5 or 10 years?
And, A Wild consideration– is it maybe time to do something totally different? What would that look like & feel like?
Whether you lost your job or are looking for a new job, it’s a time of change, and that can be very scary. I wish you luck and blessings through your transition.
-Alisha AE
