How did you know it was time to move on to another job?

AubreyMac

I'm about to start a new job next week. I realise it is the first time ever that I've left one job for another. Previously I've quit jobs without having something lined up and dedicated the time to job hunt (I normally prefer this as I can be interviewed and start at any time). Luckily I've never been out of a job for more than about a month though.


I've been in my current job for 5 years and it was an extremely difficult decision as I really enjoyed the work and the people I work with. The reason I'm leaving is because after 5 years in current job, I felt very comfortable. Being comfortable and secure is absolutely blissful. I have heard it being said many times that when you are comfy that's when it's time to go. So that is why I took the risk to apply for another job and the big selling point for me is that the new job is only 15mins walk from my home! The salary is exactly the same though after I negotiated it.


I'm still questioning whether I'm doing the right thing, what if the people and work are horrid etc I know I can't go back as my replacement has already been recruited plus my employers took the opportunity to review the contract and unfortunately the new person will be lumbered with the stuff nobody else wants to do plus work set hours whereas I was flexible.


So how did you know when it was time to move on to pastures new? did it turn out for the better? or worse?

[Deleted User]

Often worse. That's me! Most of my threads on here explain why.

This time around I knew I had to go because the job was finishing in new year (as much as people on here disbelieve that) and neither was our bank on the company organisational chart.

This time the salary is what keeps me and trying to remember last Christmas would actually have been so much worse. The new job is easier albeit isolating as I'm the only UK agent, stuck working office hours and got to remember I've started on my own - I just need it to reach summer 2018 despite the urgh line which says this fixed term contract can be terminated if business levels drop. I just want to get my heating fixed, my credit card paid off and get past the 6 years DRO stood in one place - all things you can't really tell colleagues why your leaving!

I can do an SOS to the employer I've just left but the supervisor doing parts of my job that I couldn't wasn't fun (the analysing) the only half busy weeks where they could have probably got away with a zero hour contract down to eventually job ending and not just me to home to another position/dept. It's probably worse as both places are in the same town having to pass one to get to other and this is a really bad week memory wise.

I now get over the years it turned out I held a few companies I worked at in the wrong highest regard if I compare a temporary employer to some who've been 'permanent'. I'm now getting into trouble for not leaving my seat having enough drinks (the irony of 2016) and acting as if I'm in the army! They think it was the last employer but it's more deep rooted then that.

Being comfortable and secure is not to be under estimated. I got talking to a homeless person (I think, could have been something else) a few weeks ago who said he felt I was one of life's wanderers. It finally made sense.

Good luck - you might enjoy the challenge.

Spendless

I'm the opposite, I don't leave a job if I feel comfortable, which is why I have a dilemma with my current role. I know long term I will need to leave (it's agency work and will remain so) but at the minute I'm waiting for a change in family circumstances before reevaluating the situation.

More money/less/hours/shorter commute would always get my interest though.

TELLIT01

The redundancy notice gave me the hint that it was time to move on :-)

LuSiVe

I think crying at the bus stop at the prospect of coming in to work this morning is giving me a clue.

(I've never actually left a job voluntarily - I was made redundant from my last job after 13 years, and walked into this one after ~2 weeks. In this industry everyone seems to eventually work for the same companies so you generally know someone everywhere.)

Jsnb88

Why would you move from a job that your comfortable with for the same salary? I could understand if you where getting more money, or hated your job or the new one has better prospects, but seems silly to risk moving for no gain.

Madbags

My last day with my current employer is today I start a new job on Monday.


How did I know it was time to move on? The full and final written warning may have had something to do with it lol.

clairec79

Why would you leave if you are comfortable?

Surely the time to leave is when you are not happy and comfortable?

ReadingTim

clairec79 wrote: »

Why would you leave if you are comfortable?

Surely the time to leave is when you are not happy and comfortable?

Because if you're happy and comfortable, you're probably stagnating, doing the same thing day in, day out, year in, year out. As a result, you're unlikely to get any large pay rises, or promotions, as the company will be quite happy to keep you at the same level, doing the same thing for the same money for as long as possible. Don't believe the "people are our most important asset" hype.

I've always left for reasons of career progression - to a more senior role with better pay. The timing of a couple of those moves was brought forward/forced by redundancy somewhat, but I've always known it was getting to be time to move on: when it was clear that there was nowhere to go within the current company, or after I'd been there long enough (2+ years) to have picked up new skills and experiences and ticked some boxes on the CV to allow me to progress to the next level, whatever that is.

BorisThomson

When I reported my boss for groping me in the archives store and got the response "Keith's at it again!". Major bank, years ago but he's probably still picking on young girls now.

BorisThomson

Because if you're happy and comfortable, you're probably stagnating, doing the same thing day in, day out, year in, year out.

Not everyone is destined for big pay rises and promotion. There's a lot to be said for being happy, if that's where you want to be. One of my favourite jobs was doing data input, mindless but I like routine, it paid the bills and I went home with absolutely no worries. The job has been automated now but I'd go back to it if I could.