Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

Many of my posts give advice for how to find a job when you’re unemployed.  Many people, however, are employed but are not challenged.  Or even worse…they are being bullied in the workplace.

Making the decision to change jobs can be as stressful as being unemployed.  (Ok, maybe not, but close!?)  If you’re in this situation you may find yourself torn between the comfort of your commute, your co-workers who may be your friends, and the opportunities that await you. 

Straddling the emotional fence is a tough gig.  In fact there was even a song written about this quandary:

“Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go there will be trouble…

If I stay there will be double…”

OK, so what’s my point?

Tip of The Day

You can use the tips I outline in this blog to find a job,

even if you’re already employed.

You may have to scale back the time you spend looking for a job because, let’s face it, the laundry and dishes have to be done with the couple of hours you have left at the end of each day.  And most of the networking activities may not be doable when you’re split between here and there but…you can do it!

Set aside an hour on Tuesday evening for your “X” list and Thursday evening for follow up.  Even two, very organized, hours per week will make a difference.

Instead of face to face networking you can use social media.  If you’re not facebook friends with anyone at work (it really is a good idea to maintain a policy of keeping work friends, at work, for this reason) you should let people know via your facebook posts, or other social media outlets, that you’re looking for work.  (Or, I guess you could block your work friends from your job seeking related facebook posts.)

And what happens when a new employer calls and wants you to interview?  Try to schedule interviews for very early in the morning or very late in the day to minimize the disruption to your day.  I try to schedule mine early to avoid the all day and very real possibility of a wardrobe or one of life’s other “malfunctions”.  Spilled coffee on my blouse, ripped stockings, a broken boot heel, lost car keys, running out of gas…yep…been there done that. 

Believe me, you don’t want to show up to an interview looking disheveled and may not have time to run home and sew your bra strap back on!

It’s very easy to get emotionally caught up in the process of looking for a job and losing focus on your actual-paying-the-bills-currently job.  Whatever you do, try not to let that happen.  You never know.  It may take you months of looking (but hopefully not) and you don’t want your work to suffer in the meantime. 

Why?

You need the reference.

Don’t burn the bridge.

…and other cliché’s that come to mind.