Hey Recruiter Are You Suffering From Mid-Year Career Blues?

The year is flying by, but for those of you who aren’t enjoying your jobs right now, time might be dragging during the working week (yet weekends are probably passing at light-speed!) At this mid-way point of the year, it’s worthwhile assessing whether you’re just suffering from a mild case of the mid-year career blues after summer holidays, or whether the problem goes a bit deeper than that.

Is it time to change jobs?

When you’re unhappy at work and starting to consider your options, it’s always worth analysing the big picture and asking yourself a few important questions:

Is this role getting you closer to your goals? Remember those aspirations you had when you accepted this job, or when you first started out as a recruiter? Are you any closer to reaching them, or have you stagnated? If your role right now is not moving you towards where you want to go, you have to ask yourself if it’s worth continuing with it or if it is time to strike out in pursuit of your core goals again.

Are you regularly dreading work? Or are you just finding it a bit dull? If you’re dreading work on a regular basis (and not just on Sunday evenings), then this is a good sign it’s time to move on.

Will a change of company really help? Realistically assess whether a change of company alone will deliver the change you’re looking for. Perhaps a new sector is an option, or a different role? If the company simply isn’t using your skills effectively, or you’re unhappy with management or a personal conflict, then a simple change of scenery can definitely get your career mojo back.

However, if you’re actually unhappy with the role itself, then the same old problems will crop up before long at your new job too.  We’ve written about changing sectors before– maybe it’s time to mix things up a bit?

Are you learning any new skills? If you are to be happy at work, it’s important to develop new skills- not only to build your resume, but also to remain engaged and challenged. If your role has sunk into the hum-drum, same-old category, it’s worth discussing possible new challenges with your manager. If nothing is forthcoming, it’s time to leave: things almost certainly won’t improve.

Has a promotion/development been promised but not delivered?

Nothing can drain enthusiasm and loyalty away faster than a broken promise, or the understanding that a promotion or some training would arise…yet it never does. If this is you, then you need to sit down with your manager and discuss your future, rather than sitting around waiting for something to happen. It can be scary to find out that what you expected isn’t on the cards after all- but surely it’s better to find out now so you can go and chase your dreams?

Did you feel this way a month ago/6 months ago/a year ago?

If this is a fairly new feeling, there’s every chance it’s just temporary and may be linked to a fleeting issue- perhaps a poor billing run, a couple of difficult clients, or a strict new boss. If you’ve been historically happy in the role and things just seem to have taken a rapid turn from the worse, there’s every chance the pendulum will swing back again and you’ll find your contentment again.

However, if you’ve been feeling glum about work for a long time now, it’s time to take action! Can you imagine still feeling this unfulfilled in a year’s time? Life is short.

What kind of potential is this job offering?  Is it enough to encourage you to stay if you can focus on the long-term pay-off? Be realistic as to whether you can suffer it out long-term, or whether you can achieve your potential faster with another company.

A few things to do before you decide…

1. Remember to focus on the positives as well as the negatives. A ‘pros and cons’ list is brilliant here, as it forces you to logically assess all the good and bad things about your current role. Sometimes seeing it all down on paper brings your current discontents into perspective, while at other times this list will clarify your decision that it’s definitely time to move on! If you make a balanced decision, you’re unlikely to regret it, whereas rash and highly emotional decisions often have a way of leading to regret.

2. Sit down with your manager and let them know that you’re not completely satisfied. Often managers (particularly the ones low on emotional intelligence) are completely unaware when their team members are unhappy (and you probably do a good professional job of putting on a brave face, so perhaps that’s not entirely their fault).

You might be pleasantly surprised at what they’ll offer in order to keep you, and your career could go in leaps and bounds from this one conversation. If you don’t get the result you wished for…you have your answer.

3. Research what’s out there. Look at industry salary benchmarks, start putting out feelers for new jobs and attend interviews to gauge what’s out there (you’re a recruiter, you know how this part works!)

Once you’ve made your decision, don’t agonise any more over it. It’s time to take control and reshape your career.

Until next time,

Cheryl