3rd job in 4 years? Oh gosh. That doesn’t talk much about your commitment levels.
You just joined 2 years back? What do you even know about your job that you are already out there looking for another one?
In our times, we used to retire, not quit. Quitters don’t win. Winners don’t quit.
How many times have we all been subjected to one or more of these versions of ‘motivational’ speeches from all and sundry? You haven’t? Perhaps you can skip this post. No, don’t. You might want to read it.
Why do we quit a job and move on to another one? Opportunity? Money? Culture? Ownership? Or a combination of all that?
All of them valid reasons.
I would know. I have quit more than once and happily so for interesting opportunities, industry pivots, functional challenges. I even quit once in less than a year because I wanted to leave a toxic environment.
But what about loyalty? is the common retort.
Just think about this. What or who exactly are we being loyal to if we continue with a job because the rules of engagement require us to be there, even if our interests have long before moved elsewhere?
Well. One may argue and validly so that there are ways to build variety in work without moving to another job. So, introspecting on a few questions will help clear the head.
All else being great, is it only money? Is there a way to negotiate in the current job without boiling the ocean for a few extra bucks?
Is it boredom within a function? What about moving to a different function within the same organization, even if laterally? I won’t bore you with the “careers are jungle gym” analogy but there is merit to the argument.
Is it culture? Is it solvable or too deeply embedded?
Is it the prospect and excitement of a new piece of work that isn’t available in the current workplace?
The judgment never spares us, at either end of the spectrum. Because, there are enough and more people in the world who also say, “You have spent 6 years in the same company. You are such furniture now.”
Perhaps, the only rule that matters is the “5 second rule”, and that’s to do with food. All other timeline rules, in my not-so-humble opinion, are eminently ignorable.
P. S. Views strictly personal. Post doesn’t refer to any organisation that I am currently associated with.
Good One Kavitha. As always - I have been a fan of ur writings. And let me add something. In one of my interviews, a guy told me - You are planning to switch in 2.5 years and that raises a question mark on ur loyalty. Look at me I had stayed in my last job for 4.5 years and 5+ years in the job before that.
And I humbly replied- But still you quit na ? how is someone switching in 2.5 years is disloyal and if you do it in 4.5 years you are loyal? Who made these rules ? and what is the logic behind such rules? Its like saying if you loot a bank and steal 1 Mn then you are a thief but if you steal INR10/- from your neighbour you are not a thief.. ...... And guess what he got offended and told me no point in having a debate on something that I am unable to understand. And then I replied - R u sure it's me who is unable to understand???? And after that the meeting (so called interview ended) ...
N.B:
But let me tell you that I never wanted to join this company and hence, when found the arguments to be so illogical, I started to counter it. But my sincere advise- If you are badly in need of a job- Then do not try such stunts. And even if you want to try, please try at your own risk .. :-)