“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” –Robin Sharma
Changing jobs can be scary. I say that as someone who has experienced the uneasiness of taking a leap into a new job. Graduating from college in 2008, I landed a job as a family counselor at a non-profit company in the Boston area. I remember the day vividly as I packed up my car at my parents’ home in Syracuse and took a leap of faith moving to Boston on my own to start my career. Over the next seven years, I stayed at the same company experiencing new roles and learning as much as I possibly could.
There was something safe and predictable about showing up to the same place every day. I had developed relationships with people who cared about me and believed in me. The only thing that scared me at that time was leaving the company where I had built a stable career with good connections.
In Spring 2015, I was presented with a new opportunity that was hard to walk away from. There were so many pros but only that one big con – the fear of leaving the comfort of one job that had treated me so well for seven years. I assessed the risk, made the leap and now find myself here at Hawkins Point Partners. This change has propelled my career forward and has refined my skills, empowering me to help people in a much different way.
As a recruiter, I often find myself working with others as they navigate this same scenario. Which leads me to wonder: why do people take that leap of faith to new opportunities especially when they may not be in search of something new? For some, it might be an increase of salary or benefits. For others it might be a career advancement that may better position them for future opportunities. Or it could even be the opportunity for a new fresh start.
Whatever the reason is, I’ve learned that there is seldom going to be a right or easy time to make a job change. The workforce is changing and people are less likely to stay with one employer. Change brings fresh perspective, new opportunities and overall growth and development. If you are considering a change, check out this article from Pinnacle.jobs. It will provide you with some insight into overcoming the fear of changing jobs.
If you find yourself in this position, take a deep breath and make a list of pros and cons to help you assess your options. Most importantly, remember that nothing is ever final. We are all on journey in life and sometimes it takes a bump in the road (or two) to take us to that gorgeous, smooth sailing road around the bend.
