Time to Leave

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Woman Having Birthday at Work

Hubby and I love parties!  Friends, music, eating and entertainment all in one place.  And we are sticklers for party etiquette.  We try to arrive slightly after the start time to allow the host time to be ready.  And our goal is to leave the party while we – and the host – are still having a good time.  No one wants to be “that person”; the one who’s the last to leave, over-staying their welcome and still partying while the hosts have changed into pajamas and turned out the lights.

It’s relatively easy to know when to leave a party since they have a definite beginning and end.  A job, on the other hand, is a different story.

How do you know when it’s time to move on to the next opportunity?  Is it a certain number of years, or the desire for a promotion; the need for more money or simply boredom?  A shorter commute, perhaps?

All of those are valid reasons.  It’s really a personal decision, and each of us needs to determine what suits our needs, wants and desires.   Here are a few to get you started.

You Know It’s Time To Leave Your Job When:

  • The first thing you do Monday morning is program your Outlook calendar to countdown the days, hours, minutes and seconds until 5:00 pm Friday
  • You’ve been at the company for so long and lived through so many RIFs that everything has come full-circle: the people who were laid-off in the first round have returned as the newest hires
  • Before you get your first morning cup of coffee you’re planning where to go for lunch
  • Looking back at the original office directory, you are the only one on the list that’s still with the company
  • You know the entire cafeteria menu by heart, including prices and the staff know exactly what you will order without asking
  • Although an early adopter of LinkedIn, your profile has cobwebs due to lack of updates
  • The company loyalty program is named after you [the annual company loyalty award is named after you]
  • The new CEO asks for the company history and they call you

While these are great signs, sometimes the decision to leave is not that simple.  What if they don’t fit your particular situation?  In that case, take time – away from work – to clear your head and consider how you feel about your current job.  Ask yourself what you like about the company and the things that drive you crazy.  Most importantly, determine if you like the actual work.  Sometimes the work is great; it’s simply the environment that’s making you cray-cray.

Whatever the reason, just remember to leave the party while you’re still having fun and before anyone puts on their pj’s.   Now that would be awkward.

How Shopping and Fashion Helps Me With My Job Search

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It’s no secret that I love fashion.  Hip, fashionable clothing and accessories make me feel like I’m on top of the world.  I feel better about myself when I’m confident in my looks, and staying in fashion always helps me in this regard.  Yep, nothing like a new pair of shoes, a new outfit or some new bling to make this girl feel great. 

I’ve learned a lot about fashion over the years, especially what works for me and what doesn’t.  Things like proper fit, accessorizing in proportion to my size and what constitutes a great handbag.  Success, when it comes to fashion, means understanding that while something may be “in” and look great on others, if it doesn’t look good or work for me, then it’s not going to do one thing for me confidence-wise.  Not to mention the stares I would receive walking down the street.  Nicki Minaj is willing to go where no person should go when it comes to fashion, but for most of us that kind of styling is just wrong on so many levels.   

It’s amazing how this can be applied to my job search/career.  

  • Shoes – For me, shoes can be summed up in one word: fit.  Despite what many will tell you, most shoes will not magically “stretch” to fit better.  If they are not comfortable in the store, they will not get better at home.  My feet have experienced enough blisters trying this.  With narrow feet I have difficulty finding stylish (read “hip”) shoes that will stay on my feet.  Oh, I can find narrow shoes – as long as I don’t mind plain, utilitarian, granny shoes.  Ick!   When I do find shoes that are both stylish and stay on my feet, I will pay almost any price for them – and purchase them in multiple colors.

 

  • Handbags – Architects tend to argue “form over function”.  So do fashion designers. Yet those of us who must schlep our necessities, including 3 shades of lipstick need more than good form. When it comes to handbags there should be a balance; the bag must look good but also be functional, with enough pockets and zippers as well as a comfortable handle/strap.

 

  • Clothing – So much to say here.  Let’s start with overall fit – with everything from petite to plus sizes; juniors, slim fit, low rise, etc. – there is almost enough variety to make things work right off the rack.  I’m not a fan of alterations, which in some cases means almost remaking the item entirely.  If it doesn’t fit properly to begin with, why try to force it?                                                                                                         Same thing with the styles.  Runway fashion is not for the masses.  Not to mention that those six foot tall, 90 lb models could wear a trash bag and make it look great.  For the rest of us, we have to work with our body type.  Age-appropriate clothing is another thing.  While I don’t 100% agree that I need to dress a certain way because I’m slightly older than fresh out of college, there are some styles that are just plain wrong for anyone over the age of 35.  Yes, I can still shop at Forever 21. I just make sure to put my age-filter glasses on to avoid choosing the wrong pieces.  I certainly don’t want to show up wearing the exact same outfit as my college-aged nieces.

So what does any of this have to do with my career?  

  • The company and job have to be right for me.  Just like shoes, fit is everything. If anything – company culture, job responsibilities, commute – is not a fit, then it’s not the right opportunity.  As with my quest for stylish shoes in my size, it may take time to find the right job, but when I do, it’s worth the effort.

 

  • Like a great handbag, there has to be the right mix of “form and function”: the right blend of opportunity, responsibilities and benefits that work for me as well as the company.

 

  • Unlike clothing, companies cannot be altered to fit my needs.  None of us should expect the company or boss to suddenly change because we’ve been hired.  If the culture is not something I feel comfortable in, that’s not a good sign – almost as much as the type of work I’ll be doing.  Just like fashion, I can try to be “one of them” by wearing the same styles, yet it probably won’t work in the long run.

Who knew that all that time spent at the mall was actually good for my career?  Remember: good fit applies to work as well as a great outfit.