Job Change - Do you need it ? Industry : IT

An Elaborate article , read when you are most receptive and looking to arrive at a conclusion.

When it comes to pivoting your career towards your own vision of success you look for an assurance in the decisions you take. Not that we are any less smart, but a second opinion sometimes does wonders. At some point in our career, we tend to go through a dry patch when we feel we need a change and we start job hunting . A decision such as this needs to be weighed with a practical mind rather than an an emotional one. This article will help you revisit your triggers , urges that made you consider a job change in first place. At the end of this, rest assured you will see things clear as day. 

The IT Industry

The IT Industry is one glossy world on the outside. It mostly is shiny on the inside too. Mostly. This industry is known to be constantly evolving on the inside, technologies keep replacing each other and consumers of technology look to be ahead of each other every step of the race. This puts the people, who train and try to master a skill in jeopardy as the parameters of measuring a good performance seems to be spreading out at an exponential rate. Previously, if was good work ethics and good skill set. These days, one has to be good swimmer even with just one leg in the pool. All the currency that comes out in the ATMs are the result of constant revisiting of our survival strategy, attitude remapping and people adjustment skills . This is as much euphemistic as I can put it. Read on, as I clear the intellectual pond which is muddled with reason and emotion. 

Following are the reasons which triggers a person in contemplating a change of job. 

1.  Person X_Y_Z is paid more - Why not me ?

Yes , it is true that some people get rewarded well in front of you , some don't , but to cut to the chase - It is Not our biggest concern. The Finance & Management representatives do not give away money like reality shows,you know like , "here you go 10 lakhs to you , 8 lakhs to you" . Much thought and carefully evaluated discussions go into deciding what we are paid before a final call is taken on this. Different people with different capacities and varying impact on the organization's progress need to be appropriately valued. Basically, you are rewarded for the consistent good quality of your work along with other intangible skills such as, how well your existence positively affects those around you and how much extra voluntary effort you put beyond expectations.

2. I am here just for the Work - No grooming of my talents

Imagine, if you throw a party in your house and someone begins to sing a religious song and they expect to be applauded - it doesn't match the context right ? We need someone who can Jazz it up and gets everyone groovy in their best spirits. Similarly , if your reason to change your job is because you feel your "special talents" outside primary work skills is not recognized , think twice. Don't change your Job just because you feel they don't appreciate your personal gifts . We were recruited and paid in our capacity to put out work that benefits the firm. End of story. Nurturing our personal talents is not the responsibility of the company or the people there. Finding the time and energy to do that is by itself a skill and we just can't simply pin it on "Employee Satisfaction" and look for a job elsewhere because our secondary talents are not coming out in the light.

3. Money Money Money

Money is one factor that sometimes pulls the life support out of our 'reasoning out' system .Sometimes, we get saturated with the thought of earning more  and we don't bother to pause and assess the other facets that also matter. If earning more is the only goal, do your due diligence, as to why someone is offering a high package, whether they will continue to give good hikes , whether there is good growth in terms of learning and people culture . Validate it to understand that it is not just an attempt to attract vulnerable people who fall for a attractive entry ticket. In the long run, don't regret it in Hindsight.

4. Feeling Under utilized ?

If your reason to change is that you are not challenged enough or you are tired of monotony , if you genuinely feel your full potential is not being harnessed properly , don't quit without letting them know about this. Communicate to your stakeholders and understand if there are/were chances to utilize yourself in better ways . The onus is also on us , for , if we don't express ourselves to the stakeholders, how do we expect them to understand you and satiate your hunger ? Have these conversations and if still at the end of the day you feel it is not your place, Move on.

5. Big Company = Big Life - Say What ?

If your reason is that you want to improve your profile, by "jumping" to an organization that has a very good reputation and is financially sound , three words for you - ARE YOU SURE ?. The question is , do you really need it? Are you seriously thinking that being part of a Big brand is going to make you look grand ? The answer is partly yes and partly no. It ultimately comes down to what you make of it. Please don't fall for the "Brand name" simply like kids behind ice cream vehicles. Be conscious enough to understand what the brand can do for you,what you can do with your association with the brand . If you have a clear vision & plan for making this jump to a Bigger Brand. make sure you land on your feet !

6. Let's see what happens anyway !

If your reason is simply that you need to change because others do , because it is the "expected move" , or because you want to give a jerk to your current Employer to realize you were also there - Go back to work pal. Just don't follow the crowd simply because this so called "strategy" is popular - don't Give-In psychologically. Please revisit your commitments, your interests, your gains & losses, experience wise, monetary wise, people wise , loyalty wise. It is a big decision and don't fool yourself into thinking you are doing something right by repeatedly saying to yourself - "you just need to do it". With no empirical research and purely for the feel of it if you are doing this - stop this line of thought and don't gamble away your career.

Still Call it quits ? - Remember this !

1. Overall Development 

It is not always about the number that you see in your cellphones at the end of every month. Your salary doesn't just define how successful you are . Real success, is when you see yourself growing as a professional and maturing as a person , in terms of your Emotional and Intelligence quotient , real Success is when people look at you with gratitude and pride in something that you have done to them or involving them , or perhaps representing them. Embark on a journey where you are willing to make mistakes , get hurt , learn , teach , avoid getting hurt and help others to not make mistakes - reaching a full circle , where money is just a score to see if " you are still in the game" .

2. The Art of communication

All this being said, if you feel quitting is the way to go , just remember to be a professional when you communicate this decision . Don't burn bridges along the way just because you are moving on. Every person who you meet along the way counts as this Industry has many revolving doors and chances are , that you bump into the same people unexpectedly .Don't act all pompous because something Good happened to you. Be a Pro , explain yourself out, if they are being Good and they Understand your decision, fair enough. Good job , you have communicated well. If they are sending "Signals" . Then at least from your end , please conduct yourself well.

 "What we are is shown by the words we do and do not speak."  

I am wishing you Good Luck and I hope you have gained some insight after reading this .

 Be wise . 

Job change - Are you now sure ?