HONEY I CHANGED MY JOB

One of the most debatable issue in jobs is how often should I look for another job or when should I change my job? Is staying in an organization for too long a bad idea or is it the testimony of my loyalty towards the organization? Is being loyal good for the organization and bad for me? Or whether, my loyalty should be limited to my work and not the organization?

These are some of the questions that every new joinee has in mind. First few months of joining are full of enthusiasm and then after few years the person starts slogging. What you studied and what for you studied, rarely match the level of work you are required to do. Very few organizations take the best out of you.

I remember my father stayed in a single government job throughout his life. I know many people who once employed never thought of changing their organization. Some progressed well and some could not. Some retired happily with broad smile of devoting their whole life in one organization. And some went with a pinch of not changing the job at the right time and slogged in the end. Emotions and thoughts differ.

Following my father foot-steps I also decided to be in an organization for long years. This was government of India organization but soon realised that here the growth and promotions are against the vacancies. There is a minimum service requirement to be eligible for a promotion, and that was subject to available of vacancies.

It is also true that being in government of India, at a gazetted position, at a very young age, had its own charm and dignity. It was a feeling of pride and satisfaction.

Never realised that after about 8-9 years of service this pride will start diminishing when your friends working in private sector tell you about their salary and perks. So, I also decided to shift to another organization at a higher level and scale. This also happened to be a semi-government organization, an autonomous organization.

One thing that has been quite painful was, when you join new organization the treatment that you get from people is a nightmare. Most of the people see you as an alien from another planet who landed here accidentally. All sorts of advice and guidance are given which are meant to discourage you and revisit your decision. Very few welcome you. Obviously, I was also one that was not welcomed. 

Slowly and slowly your caliber makes you stable and you start making place for your existence.  I was making mine, as the time passed.

But here again after few years of working, I started feeling my need to shift to finally a private sector had again got kindled. And the time came soon when I shifted.

When I left this organization, anyone who stayed behind me termed me as a job jumper. I did not understand how a person working for 10 years and then 8 years in an organization be called a job jumper.

Today, when we look into many LinkedIn profiles, many connects can be seen shifting jobs after 2-3 years. And best is they get it also. No one calls them job-jumpers.

I happen to speak to someone whose track-record showed 6-7 jobs in 15 years. Few lasted only for months. I asked him reluctantly – “how come you change jobs so frequently and you get it also. And here people keep searching jobs and they don’t get it.”

He was quick to reply – “you work for the organization and I work for myself.” 

I could not understand the difference between my working and his working. He was very kind to explain me. “When you stay in an organization for quite long, you are either termed as stone that cannot be moved, a liability, or you are known for not getting any job since no one would want to take you now. So, to increase your market value it is important that you do not stay in an organization for long and as soon as you join an organization, after next 6 months, start searching for a new job.” 

I did not know how to react. He was talking about 6 months and we all think about retiring from the same organization. My obvious question was – “what about your role in the long-term plans of the organization.”

He continued further, “I also carried forward plans of my predecessor and my successor will carry forward plans of mine. Very government plans for 20-30 years development but yet elections happen every 5 years. This is a cycle and change is the essence of life.”

I could understand where I was wrong. Should I opt for stability in the job or I should look for experiments. To me, frequent change of jobs was nothing more than an experiment. You may or you may not like the new job or the organization. But I sensed organization was not important to my friend, his job was the only consideration, I am not writing CTC here.

In between I happen to meet another gentleman who had already spent about 25 years in an organization and was quite emotionally attached with his work and the organization. I asked him the same question – “how could you stay in one organization for 25 years and yet want to continue further until retirement.”

He replied, “My father also worked in this organization and it has given enough to my family. My father sent me to the best of schools and colleges and it was my conscious decision to join this organization and serve it further.”

I asked him – “What all changed in this organization in the last 25 years?” His reply was simple – “Only people changed, but the culture never changed since the culture is being driven by the promoters. Many people came and went. Some in 2-3 years and some in 5-6 years, but they came to left. How will an organization function if everyone is like this? Some people have to stay and ensure that the organization works properly and prospers.”

The question is, in the today’s scenario,  who is right and who is wrong?

What should a new joinee chose? Should he be selfish and keep shifting jobs after every 2-3 years or should he be looking for a long-term career in an organization?

What if he wants to stay long-term and the organisation wants him short-term?

The fight here seems to be between practical ambitions v/s emotional responsibilities.