Red Responds: Work Woes

Cherry in Edmonton writes:

Hi Red,

Hope you can give me some insight as to what I should do with my career. I’ve been working at my current job for four years now. I am unhappy here, but the job is stable and flexible and the monetary rewards are also fantastic. Sounds like a dream job, right? However, within the last year or so many things have changed in our company, and I don’t know if I should leave all the perks and move on (I would have to take a huge pay cut if I leave), or if I should venture out to seek new opportunities. I don’t want to leave and then regret it, because the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. Or should I just suck it up and hope that everything will get better down the road? Please let me know if there are other opportunities out there for me, and if moving on is the right thing, even if it means I will make a lot less money. I understand that money is not everything, but it helps paying the bills. Thank you for your help.
Red Responds:

Dear Cherry,

There have been many changes in your company over the past year, and more changes will be coming. While the transitions and attitudes may not always be joyful, things will get better. While it is highly unlikely that you will retire from your current job, I don’t see you changing companies or fields any time soon.

It stinks to be unhappy at work, but you do sincerely appreciate what you have. While I am going to encourage you to look at other opportunities, the reality of your current situation is that there really isn’t anything better, or more personally fulfilling, popping up around you at this time. However, you will discover a viable opportunity in late November that you will give serious consideration. Changing companies would offer you a bit of freshness and excitement, but you would soon find that structure, politics, and advancement opportunities aren’t any better under a different logo. In short, you can achieve what would essentially be a lateral move. The excitement of change and re-establishing yourself may sound appealing in the short term, but further down the road, you would find yourself feeling pretty much as you are feeling right now. Because of this, it really wouldn’t be a regretful move for you to make, but it also isn’t going to bring you the personal fulfillment you are hoping to find. This is something that will occur to you when the opportunity presents, and seems to be why you will choose to stay with what is familiar.

Since it appears as if you are going to continue to ride things out in your current job, know that the structural and personnel changes that will be occurring over the next eighteen months will ultimately create opportunities for you to advance, personally and monetarily. While you aren’t going to be loving your job any time soon, enough will improve that you will find a bit more passion for your work and your company.

Brightest Blessings,

Red