India's booming economy has resulted in a dramatic increase in the kind and number of opportunities available to young professionals today.
As a result, people are changing jobs more often. However, the most popular reasons for changing a job still are a better salary or better perks. But changing jobs for a marginal increase in salary does not always pay off; in most cases, salaries tend to plateau over a period of time.
Here are a few tips that should help you decide whether you really need to change your job.
Unsatisfactory job
If your work is monotonous and boring, you can become frustrated and feel your potential is being wasted. As you become indifferent towards your work, your contribution to the company could decline.
Faced with such a situation, you may decide to change your job. Yet, many of us who find ourselves in such a situation prefer to stay back for the sake of job security.
Challenging assignments
Often, people develop/ blossom on the job; as they realise their true potential, they also understand their core competencies. But your current company may be restricted from offerimg you quicker growth opportunities because of company policy, the presence of more senior people, etc. You may decide to leave the organisation for greener pastures.
Many individuals find jobs in smaller organisations more challenging as the profile is broad-based and offers an opportunity to perform a variety of tasks. In contrast, in larger organisations, jobs are often overspecialised and have rigid limits. People often leave for more challenging assignments and better quality of work.
More learning opportunities
There are companies that have a deep-rooted commitment to human resources. And there are companies that don't. You may be attracted to a company where HRD is a priority because you feel it will give you a better opportunity to grow.
Good work culture, mentoring, foreign visits, meetings with parent companies, regular training updates, etc, means you are offered better exposure. You benefit professionally from working in such an organisation and are able to contribute more to your job. As a result, you feel a greater degree of satisfaction.
Lack of support
Some people change jobs because of a poor working environment and lack of infrastructural support. This could be due to poor support from the boss, restrictive company policies, internal politics, etc.
In such a scenario, it would be better to seek another organisation to work in. Though you can never choose your seniors, you may be lucky and find a good boss at your new job. But it is a gamble; you could be unlucky and find your new boss is worse than your old one. Similarly, if the company's performance is on the decline and deteriorating continuously, it makes sense to quit at the earliest possible opportunity.
Personal reasons
We often come across people who say they change jobs for personal reasons. These include location preferences, the need to be in a big city so children get a better education, spouse's transfer, ill health of a near and dear one, availability of good part-time study options in the some cities, etc. Do remember, however, that being rigid about personal reasons could impede your professional growth.
While it is true that you can benefit from regular job-hopping, it is equally true that many people have succeeded and done well by staying on.
So, choose your company with care, do your best and change your job only if needed.
Professor R S S Mani is an eminent management educator and HRD consultant.
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