Don't Quit Your Job For Another Role Believing That It Will Make You A Different, Better Person: Do This Instead

By Jack Kelly

We’ve all noticed some people who frequently pick up and move to another city, state or country. They may not admit it, but I think they believe that starting all over in a far away place will magically transform them. It might, but usually you are who-you-are no matter where-you-are. 

People also leave their jobs and start working at a new company in the hopes that it will automatically improve their lives. Similar to moving across the country, you will still be the same person, with the same baggage—only now in a new company. We want to believe that a change in scenery will make us happier. It may help, but it's not that simple. You can't escape yourself by running away. 

If you are disenchanted and uninspired in your current job and career, it could be bigger issues that you need to tackle. It may not be the fault of your manager, co-workers or company. You should consider if you are the source of your own misery.

I’ve seen this happen all the time to candidates. You get stuck in a downward spiral of negativity. It could begin with a bad boss, a blown opportunity or lost promotion. Whatever the cause may be, it is clear to everyone else— except perhaps you—that you are in a career tailspin.

Before beginning a new job search, I suggest that you engage in a little introspection. Take a good, hard look at what you are doing, analyze your actions, thoughts and beliefs to determine if they are the cause of your discontentment. If it is your own internal thoughts and actions that are causing you to be dissatisfied with your job, switching jobs will not make a difference. You will end up miserable there too.

Most people play an unending loop of negative thoughts in their minds:

• I am not good enough to get the promotion.
• I could never go back to school at my age to get an advanced degree.
• I'm not the type of person who will be picked to lead a team.
• Why don't I get any breaks?
• I'm not brave enough to ask for a big raise. 

You need to confront these negative thoughts before you move on, otherwise, you'll get a new job, but still have the same self-doubts and defeatist attitude. It may take some time. However, once you remove toxic thoughts and behaviors, you can quickly drive your career forward.

I'm not so na?ve to think that reading this will magically change your life—but it's a start. I'd suggest that you begin working on your mindset. Most people succumb to the negative voices in their head that have been drummed into them since childhood. These voices—played on endless loops—beat you up with negativity, anxiety, fear of failure and the unknown and it becomes easier to do nothing than to act. We all feel insecure, anxiety, nervousness, worry and fear. The only people who go through life without worry or fear are people too dumb to know what is happening around them, psychopaths and liars.

To jettison these beliefs, actions and inactions, you will have to rewire yourself. Find a quiet place to relax your mind and visualize what you want to achieve in your job and career. Feel free to think big. Hyperfocus on your positive traits and have faith in yourself. Take inventory of all your prior successes to counterbalance the negativity and rejection associated with interviewing. Think of all the times you prevailed over seemingly insurmountable obstacles. 

Most people sprinkle their successes like dust scattered everywhere and pile up their losses into a mountain. They then point to this mountain and lament about their failures and cannot find the triumphs. Do the opposite. Collect all of your good, positive and winning moments and build them up to a large, New York skyscraper. When the negative thoughts kick in, look to the gleaming skyscraper and think that you will add a new job to it.

Once you recognize how your thoughts are holding you back and eventually overcome them, it will free you to aggressively go after your goals. You may decide to remain at your job and fight for the pay and promotions you richly deserve or you could determine that you deserve much better than the way you are currently treated and enter the job search with a renewed sense of confidence, enthusiasm and drive.

#motivation #success #interviewing #jobsearch #gethired #careercoach #mindset #mentalhealth