Most of my career has been spent at one company where I’ve grown and met wonderful colleagues and friends, when do you realize it’s time to move on and how do you make the right steps? — Nat
What We're Sippin': Iced latte. (Yes, we prefer “iced.” But we’re also from the South so…)
Add a flavor. Doesn’t matter which, just make it something different. Something you wouldn’t typically find in a latte. Sometimes it’s good to go back to the basics or start from scratch, and then build up from there. Realize that you can always go back. And you can always build up.
Where We're Sippin': At a very large table. With room for papers and computers and anything that can help you let your mind wander. And consider infinite possibilities. We want room for post-its with scribbles, notes from phone calls, mood board thought-starters. The last thing you should feel in this space is limitation.
Mother Teresa
Oh I have thoughts. And my thoughts are this. It's time to move on in your career when you start to feel stagnant—when you feel you’re not making progress in terms of your job-specific goals. If you feel a lack of this progress and are perfectly at peace with it, that is one thing. But feeling stagnant in a way that is unrelated to aspects of your work you may enjoy, like coworkers, office, commute, perks, etc., is another. In other words, if you feel you’re not moving forward toward your goals, then it is time to move on.
To start, have a conversation with yourself about what those goals actually are. These are important to establish before you even start your job-hunting process. Is it achieving a better work-life balance? Taking on a specific role? Maybe it’s breaking into an entirely new industry or learning a new skillset? The important thing to note here is that you set the parameters here. Find the freedom in that. And enjoy it. This is a good thing.
Ginger Ále
Don't let it be lost on you that you’re asking this question in the first place. They say when you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. While I have my own personal qualms with that (I’m actually gagging at the cliché), I do believe that your asking yourself “what am I still doing here” or “how long is too long,” is an indication that there is a part of you that is still curious, still interested in a different path. Still dissatisfied.
When it comes to looking for new work, knowledge is power. And not the kind you list on a resume. Talk to people at different companies within the industry of your interest. Talk to people close to you, those you think may know you better than you know yourself. It’s important to get a lot of different perspectives (yes, a libra has entered the chat) because they can open your eyes to opportunities you probably wouldn’t have otherwise considered. Especially if you’ve grown accustomed to a certain way or rhythm of work.
Another trick I try to use when narrowing down my search is thinking about my buzzwords. What terms, phrases or concepts get you naturally excited when you come across them? For me, these words are “creative,” “editorial,” and “team happy-hours.” If a word gives you a natural rush, it’s probably for a reason. This can help give you some direction.
Mother Teresa
And finally, don’t be afraid to shock people. And if you've spent a long time at the same place, you probably will. But conversations about next steps that you have both with yourself and with coworkers will give you a renewed sense of peace before you take off.
Ginger Ále
Take off and fly so damn high.
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