Success is failure turned inside out. If you're afraid to fail, you'll never succeed.
- Dorothy Herman
Timothy was feeling as if he was in a silver cage. The office appeared to be so nice. The environment and culture was great but somehow Tim felt his wings were cut short. He had been working with this company for 11 years and while he loved everything he did at work he wasn't sure if it was right for him to hang around anymore.
Have you ever been in the same situation as Tim? Have you ever felt unsure of your job? Have you ever got worried about the future prospects? If answer to any of these questions is yes, read on...
In this article we will share some signs that will help you know whether your boss or company takes you seriously, whether they value your work and if they have any future plan for your career growth.
Sign#1 - Ask your boss or the HR manager about your Career Path and note their response. Does the HR manager or your boss change the topic as soon as you mention the term 'Career Path'? If they do not provide a definitive answer and clear direction then it is a clear sign that you are not being considered for a bigger role.
Sign#2 - Look for internal job postings in your own company and express your interest when you see one. Does your boss allow you to apply for an IJP? Does the HR approve? And when you apply for these IJP's are you able to get through the selection process? If you are not able to get through due to any of the reasons given above then it's a sign that you are stuck at your current role.
Sign#3 - Has your boss helped you plan a backup who can take up your role when required? If your boss always gives you some reason or another for not creating a backup then it means that your boss is not confident that you are ready to take up a bigger role. It is a clear sign that you will not be able to grow.
Sign#4 - You receive a salary hike once in a year but other than that you do not receive any recognition or appreciation of your work. This is a clear indicator that your organization does NOT value your work enough. It is also a sign that you may need to move on.
Sign #5 - You put additional or extended hours at work to meet the tight deadlines but the organization doesn't respond in the same gesture. You don't get enough flexibility and opportunities to learn, reskill, upskill are limited. This may be an indicator that the company doesn't have any plans for your growth as a professional.
It is also important to note if your boss gives you enough time on a day to day basis. You should also note if your boss has too many direct reportees and whether he/ she provides you get enough attention. If your boss is not spending enough time with you then it may mean that either he is very confident of your performance or he may not consider you important enough to spend time on you. This is where the five signs mentioned above may help you decide whether it's time to hang on or let go. When you note that these signs are becoming a reality then you need to take some necessary steps which will help you move on. Here are some of those key steps...
Step#1 - Check your market value by floating your CV and do appear for some interviews.
Step#2 - Build your professional connections outside your company. Use Linkedin, Payscale, Glassdoor etc.
Step#3 - Research and read the latest industry, business and technology trends. Follow Gartner, Mckinsey and other leading research companies.
Step#4 - After you see the response from the first few interviews, take a pause, draw a strategy, prepare well and then hunt for a better career option aggressively.
Once you receive an offer letter from the prospective new employer make sure that you research enough about your new employer. Ask the right questions to the new boss and the HR about your career growth and the growth and vision of the company in general. After all it's not just a job change, for you it is a big change that will define your career path. Be careful. All the best.
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