If you are like most people, your company has been through some changes in the past year. Perhaps there has been a reorganization, downsizing, new owner, tougher expectations, merger or a new boss... Any time one of these changes occurs there is bound to be an impact on your job. The unspoken contract you had with the organization shifts and you need to decide if you want to continue renting your performance to your employer.
Even if your company hasn't had much change, and your job has been chugging along the same path, year after year, take a few moments right now to re-examine your job and do a career audit. This will give you an opportunity to sort through the changes, prevent you from becoming too complacent and keep you in the driver's seat of your career.
Each year, ask yourself:
What four things did I really enjoy in my job last year?
What percentage of the total job do they represent? __________%
Are they the kind of things that really motivate me? yes/ no
Will I have a chance to do more things like this in the future? yes/no/some
Is it worth staying in this job for these kinds of experiences? yes/no
What parts of my job do I really dislike?
What do I dislike about them?
Why do I dislike these activities? Who or what did they negatively affect? Why?
Did they violate my beliefs, values or principles? yes/no
What percentage of the total job do they represent? ____________%
Did I have fun and enjoy going to work? Or did I hear myself saying things such as, "Well at least it's a paycheck..." yes/no
Did I come home with stories that often begin with, "You wouldn't believe what happened at that horrible place today..." yes/no How often? __________________(per week)
Have other people suggested that I leave? yes/no Who suggested it?
How many new things did I learn this year?
Will the things I learned make me more marketable? yes/no
Will what I learned last year build my credibility and make me more skilled in my technical specialty? yes/no
How often did I disagree with the decisions my manager made? Less than 50% of the time? More than 50% of the time?
Have I looked around the room during a meeting, or in my work area, and said, "I don't want to be a part of this group." yes/no
Do I feel a huge sense of relief when Friday comes? yes/no
If your answers tell you that you aren't satisfied with the direction your company or your job is heading, maybe it's time to exit this job and get back on track to more satisfaction and enjoyment in your work.
