March 1, 2007

by Norma Mushkat Gaffin
Monster Staff Writer

Is it time to move on? Or should you stay where you are? If you see your situation in these 10 signs, perhaps it's time to settle into your job rather than look to leave.

1. You're Happy
We're not talking mere complacency here, but genuine happiness. If you're happy, you're going to be more productive, and that will impact the company's (and your own) bottom line.

2. You're Learning
You can race up the corporate ladder with agility, but if you don't learn anything on the way, you won't enjoy a lengthy stay. Anything you learn is another bullet on your resume.

3. The Company Is Hiring
This is not the hiring you saw in the '90s, but rather the new and improved smart hiring that will help your company get to the next level. You want to see your employer putting new employees into positions that directly support the company's goals.

4. The Company Listens to Its Workers
Employees are often a company's most valuable asset. If processes don't work or morale is low, the workers are the ones to know. But remember: Decisions are based on the big picture, which may include some facts every employee cannot be privy to.

5. The Company Has a Plan
Does your employer have a mission and clear goals? Is there a plan for reaching those goals? Clarity is important for every worker, and it's even more important for the larger business.

6. The Company Fixes Its Problems
Everyone makes mistakes, and true virtue lies in how they're corrected. If your company actively tries to mend itself, then you know it's getting ready for the long haul.

7. The Company Promotes from Within
This goes back to employees being a company's biggest asset. Does your company reward its workers and promote accordingly? That shows the company is willing to invest in you, and your investment in the company could have a payoff.

8. The Company Is Open About Its Financials
If your company shares only its successes, beware. But if your employer shares information around profits and loss, it's inviting you to be a partner and is empowering you with the information you need to help.

9. Your Accomplishments and Contributions Are Noticed and Valued
Do you get credit for the work you do? No one should be taken for granted. If your employer notes your accomplishments, you're more likely to move up or be able to take on more challenging projects.

10. You Look Forward to Monday
Everyone enjoys a day off, but do you look forward to returning to work? Whether it's your job, your colleagues or the office culture, if there's something that stops you from dreading Mondays, you've struck career gold.

Improve Your Situation

If you realize your current employer and position are not right for you, you need to take some action. Start with these four steps:

1. What's Wrong?
Are you unhappy with your current job, or are you concerned for your company's future? You need to determine the current problem before you can find a solution.

2. Assessments

Introspection can only lead to more clarity where your career is concerned. Look into taking career assessments to discover where your interests and aptitudes meet, and determine what type of workplace culture would be best for you.  Self-assessments can be extremely helpful for answering several different career questions, including:

• How do I find the most rewarding career field for me?
• How do I use this information to get a job immediately?
• How can this information help me perform better where I am now?

Self-assessment provides information about three important areas for career satisfaction: personality, work values and culture.

Personality

This entails assessing the Big Five dimensions of personality: emotional stability, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness.

Your personality style reflects your behavior style. People who work at careers they love often tell me, "I can't imagine doing anything else. I get to express so much of my personality at work." Understanding your personality traits and how they can translate into work you love requires digging deeper than the printed results. Your dream job will most likely require a wonderful opportunity to showcase your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Because you are basically being paid to be yourself, choosing a career where your personality can soar will reward your efforts.

Work Values

This is about knowing and owning your values, such as achievement, independence, recognition and support.

Your work values tell you what is important to you and are good motivators. Values are those key triggers you look for when searching for your dream job, so be sure to prioritize them in the order of their importance to you. The relationship between motivating values and what you hold dear must be explored at a deeper level. Prioritizing values is a good way to do so.

Culture

Do your values provide a good fit within a culture?

The characteristics of culture that appeal to you are values that need to be considered. Does the culture fit your personality style? Examples of values are individual expressiveness, the ability to exchange information, a high salary or a casual atmosphere.

The beauty of assessment really shines when you start recognizing patterns in your results. If you're extroverted and individual expressiveness is important to you, you'd better escape that bean counter position. Consider this permission to express yourself to the fullest in your dream job. Be outrageous and ask, "Where could I be most wildly myself and get paid to talk about something I value?"

Looking for a Career

When seeking a job, those careers highlighted by your assessment provide a quick place to start looking for new possibilities. Use the results to explore positions in these fields. Get past the knee-jerk reaction that none of those fields interest you. Be open to researching the different career venues, even if it's only to figure out what you and that job have in common. There is a relatively high likelihood that there will be a connection between personality style, work values and culture. Read about these fields and their outlook in the economy, and discover a lateral move you might make. This can result in greater career satisfaction, while building toward what might become your dream career.

Grow and Develop in Your Current Position

One of the most immediate applications of your self-assessment results is to measure your current situation and look for areas you know need reinforcing. Learn to manage your career by making the most of your current situation. If you realize you are tense on the job rather than calm, what can you do to build more relaxation into your work schedule? If recognition is an important value to you, ask yourself, "Where does that recognition need to come from?" Recognition can come from your boss, a customer who is pleased with your extra effort or a colleague you helped out of a jam. You can also achieve self-recognition by setting and meeting attainable, measurable goals.

3. Update Your Resume

Even if you're completely content in your current position, you should always keep your resume updated. You never know what might happen next, even at a thriving company.

4. Network

Talking to people is one of the best ways to learn about job openings or even a new field you had never considered for yourself. Don't just join professional organizations, but be an active member. You need to put yourself out there and take some risks to find the job that's right for you.