DON’T QUIT!

Best workplaces

BY Prasenjit Bhattacharya

A recent study by Great Place to Work® reveals that 69 percent of employees are below 35 and only a fifth in these organisations have been with the company for more than five years.

The majority of the workforce are young and most don’t remain with a company for long. But remember that not everyone who changes jobs enjoys a great career; and nor do all those who stay on have a great career.

Assuming that you have a career goal, and have assessed your financial status and consulted your family, here are five common mistakes you should avoid when changing jobs.

GREAT PACKAGE Many organisations that offer high salaries will typically budget six months of your pay on the assumption that by that time, your contribution to the business will more than pay for your salary.

Carefully consider the expectations of your role and how many people in the company routinely achieve their goals. If it is to be a nonfinancial role, find out if the organisation has a history of restructuring and discontinuing such posts. And if it’s a small outfit,  check to see if this is the first time it’s investing in such a role…


KNOW THE BOSS Your previous boss may have joined another company and you may have had a great working relationship with him or her. But consider the possibility that this person may not last long in his or her new job.

The CEO of a global company walked out with a number of senior managers to launch a competing business some time ago. While it was tempting to walk out with this charismatic leader, some opted to stay back – and they not only managed to protect and grow the business but were rewarded with more important roles. They also earned the gratitude of the parent company.

PERFECT ROLE There’s a certain degree of comfort in moving into roles that you have already mastered. Carefully examine the support structure that made you successful in your current workplace and find out whether there’s scope for the same in your next job.

A high performing product manager in a family owned company joined a large multinational and soon found that most decisions involved an intricate matrix structure, which led to delays that impacted performance in the market. He was back with his former company in six months.

REPUTATION CHECK Does this organisation have a reputation for being a great workplace? Is it led by a promoter who is known for his or her ‘use and throw’ approach to employees? Find out about the organisation’s culture.

THE LAST STRAW Leaving a company because you ‘can’t take it anymore’ is perhaps the worst reason to quit. Any extreme statement is an indication of your emotional and psychological state rather than that of the organisation you seek to leave.

What’s worse is that following a few job changes, you realise that this has become a familiar and self-defeating script that you unconsciously continue to repeat. Even the worst workplace or boss isn’t a hopeless case. Maybe you should leave…but not before you’ve attempted to repair your ties. An amicable divorce and parting as friends is best.