Contemplating Life’s Choices

Sheesh! I keep running behind but I’m not giving up on this so here we go! One of the things that’s helped me figure out what I want in jobs was knowing what worked and what didn’t work in past jobs. So the question for today in the 52 Weeks of Contemplation, Career Discovery series is this.

You may find this question changes over time and based on where you are in your career. For some people, it may be avoiding long hours, working weekends, or early mornings. For other people, it may be commuting over 2 hours a day, micromanaging bosses, or team members who aren’t collaborative. I recommend thinking about the culture of a place too. Sometimes what is dressed up as great perks can be a way to try and cover up those long hours, toxic working environments, or a lack of trust that people can do their work without being in the bosses line of sight.

Whatever your answer, make sure you keep an eye out for those red flags both in your current role or if you decide to move on to something else. It’s easy to be dazzled by a big title or salary but if that comes with a 80+ hour work week, 5-6 days in the office, and a 2 hour a day commute it may not be the right fit if your list of things to avoid include commuting and working more than 40-ish hours a week.

Also, even if you love your current role knowing what your non negotiable are can help you in case there is a change in management which seems to be happening a lot lately. Departments will be reorganized or people will be demoted and you could find the job you loved with a manager who cared about you suddenly changes when you’re reporting to someone different through no fault or choice of your own.

So what is it for you? What are the deal breakers and red flags that let you know the role or place is not for you? Have you asked this question and found ways to negotiate for the things you’re looking for to improve your current role. There is no one sized fits all for career development but as you work through these questions I hope they help you better understand what works for you at this point in your life.