Five Red Flags It’s Time to Join the Great Resignation
The job market is changing — FAST! Here are the warning signs that indicate your job could be in serious jeopardy
There’s little doubt about why so many workers have recently left their jobs.
Some are looking for a better “fit” in the job market. Others weren’t satisfied with company policy or low wages. Still others left because there were few, if any, opportunities for advancement.
The collective rationale to resign and search for greener pastures has overwhelmingly been the result of a personal reassessment of work goals and priorities — from the employee’s perspective.
Bottom line, workers are looking for better treatment, higher wages, and more independence. And they’re willing to risk the financial insecurity of a new job search to find it.
But there’s another reason — several reasons, actually — why you may want to consider leaving your current employer. And these situations have everything to do with the internal workings — and often, the culture — of the company.
Let’s call them warning signs . . . red flags that indicate your job could be in serious jeopardy.
1. You’ve gone as far as you can go.
You’ve made it clear you want to move up, but the company keeps you right where you are because you’re reliable and good at your job. In short, the company is using you to maximize short-term productivity and profit — regardless of your true talents and capability. They value your current contribution, and they see no benefit in making a change.
You’ve essentially become the proverbial square peg force-fitted into a round hole — and the company is happy to keep you there.
Granted, being snubbed for a position you really want and are qualified to fill can happen for lots of reasons. For example . . .
“You’re needed here, in this department. We can’t afford to lose you and the work you currently do.”
“The other candidate was more qualified, more familiar with the area of responsibility, and she was more experienced in getting the results we’re after.”
And while these may be great reasons, they’re also excuses. They make it clear the company would rather lose you than promote you. If you’re qualified for a promotion, but continue to be stiffed in favor of those with less experience, qualifications, or education, the writing is on the wall, and it’s time to look elsewhere for a company that’s willing to invest in your future.
2. You’re working in a good ‘ol boy’s environment — and you’re a woman.
Being slighted or outright ostracized because of your gender is a degrading throwback to the “Victorian seventies.” Sometimes it’s an attitude that permeates the company, or in some cases, an entire industry.
I remember the majority of my clients expressing disappointment with seeing more female sales reps being assigned to field positions during the mid-to-late seventies. Why? Because they couldn’t have lunch at the local strip club, or tell a dirty joke, or talk about how they were cheating on their wives with a nineteen-year-old co-ed.
I shit you not.
These complaints were directed at me because I instituted one of the first company-approved sales team functions at Eaton-Cutler Hammer. And yes, my teammate was a woman. She was young, pretty, and sexy. Oh yeah, she was also smart as hell.
Her presentations were better than mine. Her energy level put me to shame. And putting her in front of a client could eliminate buying objections faster than a machine gun. But the fact that lunch with the factory rep now meant a Grand Slam at Denny’s instead of three gin and tonics at Cheetahs was enough to ruin the rest of the day for a lot of purchasing agents.
3. Management is more concerned about maintaining their authority than taking responsibility for the professional development of their subordinates.
I’m not talking about the occasional disagreement over a procedure or a decision you didn’t like. I’m referring to a total impasse, where you feel blocked at every turn, or when it’s impossible to have a productive conversation or a simple exchange of ideas. You’re always on guard, and you’re sure your manager is ready to hang you out to dry.
Don’t try to fight the situation, or outmaneuver it, or outlast it. You’re wasting your time. On the outside chance that senior management knows your local manager is a problem, and given the choice, would rather keep you and let her go, they’ll let you know after you submit your resignation. If you don’t hear from them, consider their silence a clear confirmation you made the right decision.
4. Your company is being taken over by a larger firm.
It’s difficult to overestimate the negative impact a buyout or takeover can have on your career. When a larger company acquires a smaller one, it isn’t long before the new parent company begins to flex its muscles.
Consider a buyout, takeover, or reorganization a wake-up call — a signal to take a hard look at your career and evaluate your options. Review your contingency plan and update your list of possible new job prospects. You may even want to consider putting out a few “feelers” to test the market.
Your best protection is to know your options and be ready to transition to another employer. You’d be surprised at the number of employees that ignore the obvious signs and believe their job is secure, despite the foundational changes taking place all around them.
5. You’re working for a small company that’s losing money.
Financial liquidity is necessary for any size organization. But it’s especially vital for a smaller company, especially one with low cash reserves or that lacks the credit line of a Fortune 500.
Restrictions on expenses, cutbacks on company perks and benefits, and termination of high-salaried “wonder boys,” are all indications of a company in trouble. Waiting around for the company to be forced into receivership or go bankrupt will only decrease your leverage in finding a new position. Because then, you’ll need a job instead of being able to negotiate from the stronger position of being employed.
The old adage is still true: You’re most hire-able when you’re already employed.
Here’s the Takeaway . . .
Just like employees are subject to an annual review, employees should periodically take a close look at the economic and cultural health of their employer — both of which can affect future income and employment.
If you determine your professional success or job longevity is at risk, don’t panic. Deciding it’s time to leave puts you in charge. And the earlier you make that decision, the more time you’ll have to create a transition plan and put it into action.
Questions or concerns about your professional career path? Put it in the comments and I’ll do my best to provide a few suggestions.
Thanks for reading,
Roger Reid | Success Point 360
Roger A. Reid, Ph.D. is a certified NLP trainer with degrees in engineering and business. Roger is the author of Better Mondays and Speak Up, and host of Success Point 360 Podcast, offering tips and strategies for achieving higher levels of career success and personal fulfillment in the real world.
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