Don,amp,#39,Quit,Your,Job..... DIY Don't Quit Your Job.....Yet!

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in When starting a new work at home business it is very easy to become consumed by it. We spend so much time trying to get the business up and running that we may end up becoming burned out and lose our motivation. There is so much to learn and

Now that the economy has picked up, many people are considering making a job change. Before you take that leap its important to consider why you are leaving, what you are trying to accomplish, and ensuring that you've exhausted all avenues at your current place of employment. Don't get me wrong, I am all for moving up and moving out. If the job you have is not meeting your needs there is nothing wrong with searching for greener pastures. But looking for a new job is not an easy task. It requires a lot of time and energy. There is a lot of work involved with the job search process. Unfortunately for many people look for a new job as a knee-jerk response to dissatisfaction at their current job. The good news is that a new job doesn't necessarily mean a new company. Let's examine several options you may want to consider before submitting that resignation letter. 1. Know why you are leaving. Is it the money? Lack of growth potential? Personality conflicts with co-workers? Company policies? Invest time to understand why you want to leave your current employer and what you hope to find at your new employer. If these reasons are not clear to you, you may find yourself in the exact same situation within months of starting at your new job. 2. Run TO something, not FROM something. If you have a dream job, and the opportunity appears for you to get that job, then go for it! All of us should be so lucky to know exactly what we want to do and have a chance to do it. But if you're leaving because something at your current company is not right, your desire go somewhere, anywhere, may affect your ability objectively weigh a job offer. 3. Don't let money rule. You can always leave your current job, go somewhere else, and make more money. Its no secret that companies generally pay more to woo new comers. But think about the other financial compensation you may have at your current company. Things like vesting in the retirement plan, stock options, employer's 401K match, and better benefits. Dollar for dollar, these things be worth a lot more than a higher salary. 4. Look for other career opportunities within your current company. If you've built a decent reputation at your current company investigate other career opportunities there before looking elsewhere. Most companies have an internal job posting system that will allow you to apply for positions in other parts of the company. Switching to another department within you current company gives the much needed change that comes from starting a new job, but you won't lose any of the benefits (vesting, vacation, etc.) that you've built up over time. 5. Look to change your current work situation. Maybe there are personality conflicts in your current team. Maybe you're working a great deal of overtime or have a ghastly long commute. Examine every facet of what you don't like about your current job and see if there is a solution that will change your situation for the better. Can you arrange to work from home one day a week? Have you developed friendships with the people in your department? Have you found a mentor who can help guide you through career decisions? All of these little changes can make a huge impact on how you feel about your job. 6. Look to other areas of your life. Your problem may not be your job after all. If your spending habits are out of control, getting a job that pays more is not going to solve your problem. While you're examining things that are wrong with your job also invest time to see what in your life is not as you would like it to be. Problems in your personal life can affect your perception of your professional life (and vice versa). 7. Get more involved. Having a sense of ownership in what's going on at your company may change your perception. These days many employers are looking to their employees for feedback about how to make things better. Join a task team, help plan the annual picnic, or write articles for the company newsletter. This type of activity will get you increased visibility and may lead to future opportunities. 8. Become a mentor. Unless you are at the very bottom of the totem pole, there is always someone younger and newer within the company who can benefit from what you've learned. Your experience and knowledge will help another individual avoid some of the mistakes you've made. Sharing your experience with others is a great way to show yourself how valuable your experience with the company has been. Plus, showing a strong aptitude for mentoring could also pave the way for a team lead or manager position. 9. Get to know people higher on the food chain. Managers, executives, and VPs all have a different perspective of the organization than the average employee. Talking with them may help you see the bigger picture and understand better how your role fits in. In addition, you can learn about their rise in the organization to help you set your own career path. 10. Check out your company's subsidiaries and affiliates. Sometimes you can leave the company without really leaving the company. Acquisitions and mergers have created unique opportunities that enable you to go to other companies that your current employer may have a vested interest in. Working for a "friend of the family" may allow you to retain your seniority, benefits and salary while at the same time working in a new environment. *********************************************************** NOTE: The following information must be included if you reprint this article: © Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved. Myrtis Smith is a personal coach. Her mission is to help people create their preferred future and have fun doing it. 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