If you have been thinking about resigning or building the courage to ask for a well-deserved pay raise, then this is your sign. Read on!
My colleague and I had a heart-to-heart moment, and she confessed that she was conflicted about the idea of resigning. She had been with our current company for four years, but after we were given the liberty of working from home last year, she found work online and discovered she could live off of the salary she earns on her virtual job. She added that she couldn't see any career growth in staying and she and her husband had long been arguing about this as he was adamant for her to quit already.
The 2 main questions I asked her are:
#1 What keeps you here?
She answered that she feels guilty about resigning because she knows that we are too busy to be short-staffed now and doesn't want to burden anyone else with the extra work if she leaves. She also wanted to organize her tasks so that she can easily transition her job to who will replace her. Finally, She has a sense of gratitude towards the company that made her hesitate so much.
I told her to list down all the pros and cons, if the one is higher, then that’s her sign to stay or leave. I told her that she is a very good employee for thinking about her successor but at the same time asked her if she’ll still be happy waiting for the next person to be fully ready. If not, then she has the right to be selfish. Her happiness, mental well-being, career growth, and putting her family at ease must be her priority.
#2 When is the right time?
In my nine years of experience in the corporate world, if you keep on delaying your resignation, there will always be more “urgent” and “important” tasks that will pile up on top of you to the point that you will second guess yourself and chicken out of resigning. There will NEVER be a perfect time to resign if you keep on making excuses. Set a specific date and stick with it!
I told her I hope that I didn’t sound like I wanted her to part ways with the company or disregard the benefits we received (Ours is as good as any other, might even be better compared to some), but I just want her to see all the options she has, both the good and the bad with no sugar coating. She thanked me for helping her with her resolve and she set her resignation date by the end of the month.
I’ll share with you 5 secrets that might help you take that leap of faith and spread your wings for a better career.
1. Don’t guilt-trip by “Loyalty to the Company” talk
A job with no clear direction is like running a marathon with no finish line.
I have worked in Recruitment for a while and I'm quite familiar with the basic interview questions like “Can you tell me about yourself?” or “What do you consider your greatest weakness”. The one thing that truly hits me now is “What do you see yourself 5 years from now?”
I have a few good answers that I can use in your next interview:
a. “I see myself taking a Master’s Degree/Doctorate decree”, accompanied by a follow-up question “Will the company be alright with me working while I study?”. It also doesn’t hurt to ask if they have scholarship programs for their employees. Answering the question like this will make the interviewer view you as someone who wants to develop his/ her skills and knowledge by pursuing higher education, which in turn will make you more valuable to the company. If you are not planning to go to school again, you can also answer with:
b. “I can see myself being promoted or becoming the (insert team leader/ supervisor/ manager title here).” With this answer, you will let the interviewer know that you are fully committed to getting the job and would be a loyal employee since you are seeing yourself in a higher position within the company in the long run.
When I was just fresh from college and with my first few interviews, I was asked that same question and of course, I answered using either of the two. But sometimes they have a follow-up question “What if your boss/colleagues /working condition/ pay/ working hours will not be so good?”. As someone innocent and ignorant, the answer would be something like “ I wouldn't care about that as long as I’m doing my job and an asset to the company, nothing matters.” or “ It’s been a dream working at this establishment, the rest will be just a bonus.”
WRONG ANSWER!
I was interviewed again after 8 years in the industry, I wasn’t looking but I was convinced by my mother. I was asked another question, I forgot what exactly it was, but I remembered sharing about my old boss and how energetic, knowledgeable, and motivating he was. I added that the office wasn’t the same without him. I was then asked “ So would this mean you will not be motivated to work without a good boss?”. I stumbled with my answer, saying “That’s not the case, I can perfectly work without that, etc.”
Looking back at it now, I would honestly say, yes, I don’t think I can work my best without a good boss. Saying working your “best” is different from doing “good” work. Yes, I can still do my job, but it’s not the same as doing it best. A great boss is a leader that sets the direction, brings out the potential of employees, and can guide and motivate his/her team to reach higher goals. That goes the same with having a competitive salary, amiable coworkers, and a good working environment. You don’t have to slay away with your comfort and health at risk. You have to know your worth! This is why older generations don’t seem to understand why we “job hop”, which knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t consider it that way. We are a generation that values our skills and talents and oftentimes we don't settle for mediocre compensation ( if we could help it). So don’t put up with rude bosses, unjust salaries, and a hazardous working environment! Go for greener pastures!
2. Business is BUSINESS
No company truly loves its employees.
I know this is hard to swallow, as a Human Resource graduate, it was instilled in my brain back in college that “Employees are the heart and soul of an organization”, but then again the main point of running a business is for PROFIT. All employees are dispensable. Free coffee mugs, company outings/events, and Christmas bonuses are just the icing that covers the darker side of the industry. Let’s think about it, how many have you experienced or heard stories of other people who instead of getting the salary increase you need to survive, are given free pens instead? How about companies who are only forced to give you the well-deserved promotion because you threatened them with resignation? How many have been given extra tasks but not extra pay? Even if you are extremely ill, you are still forced to work? I’m not saying all companies or top management are like this, but it’s just the reality. Business is BUSINESS and everything will always go back to M.O.N.E.Y.
3. There's no such thing as “no favoritism”.
Even God favored Abel
I have plenty of stories of undeserving employees getting promotions. Usually, because they have the looks, they know the right people but the one that really bothers me is basing promotion on seniority. Don’t get me wrong, some employees that showed loyalty to the company by staying for so long do deserve the promotion but it shouldn’t be based on “seniority” alone. Seniority should mean that since they have been with the company for many years, they have mastered their crafts and are fit to lead people or willing to learn.
I have known someone from another department who just got promoted to a Managerial position because he has been with the company since day 1. I admire his loyalty but not how he does his responsibilities. He has no clue! From making memos to external legal correspondences he would pass the task to another Manager from another department because either he doesn’t know how, is lazy, or he knows he can get away with it. Responsibilities that are supposed to be his alone (confidential within the level of his position) are passed to subordinates. He arrives late and leaves early. Doesn’t that spell out favoritism?
4. Crossing To Other Side
What’s on the other side? The point of no return…
When you cross to the “other side” meaning promoted to roles like a team leader, supervisor, or manager a.k.a the “Management Side”, there is no turning back (unless you are demoted).
Before I was promoted to a supervisory role, I often tried to observe the bosses that I have worked with and nitpick their good or bad qualities. Tell me honestly, I bet you have told yourself “If I was in his/ her position, I would never do that.” When I was finally on the other side, even if I tried so much, your perspective of the company does change! It’s because some doors of corporate secrets are finally opened to you and it’s hard to side with those in lower ranks when you acquire that privilege (ahem, burden) because it’s up to you to keep that secret to the "unworthy" (unless you want to be fired).
Let me share a few of them:
Most meetings are just excuses to leave the office, talk nonsense, and free food. Gosh, I hated those! Such a waste of time, but I wouldn't say no to the snacks!
Corporate politics are real.
Professionalism is a joke even in the higher ranks. If one manager finds a flaw in another manager, he/she will attack like a shark who has been eating vegan food for a week.
Monkey businesses with lower ranks for promotions are a thing.
They will turn a blind eye if you can offer them something in return
5. Levels of Hierarchy
Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. Genesis 11:7
It will be hard to socialize with those you left behind in the lower ranks because your views and opinion will gradually shift in favor of the management side. Sometimes you can't relate to the conversation because there is a certain "language" or "code" that each organizational levels use. Let me explain further, Managers have different levels of understanding in the organization because of the information they have from top management or executives that is confidential to the rest of the levels. They have contrasting terms or ways of speaking that only their level can understand. That also goes for the Rank and File. Since they are the ones whose hands are soiled dirty, they have the day-to-day information that keeps the business running and they have their own set of code terms too. Even departments have their own language! That is why communication is essential between departments and all levels of the organization in order to break down those barriers and share the valuable knowledge that can help make the business successful. Often the problem is that they may listen but choose not to understand.
Why is there no perfect company?
That’s easy! Because it is run by imperfect humans. Would that mean the rise of robot intelligence, which will likely replace all mankind, be better? I don’t know, but I hope I’m no longer here to see it.
I hope I don’t sound too bitter in my views, but I just want to share the dark realities I have experienced while working. They don’t teach you these things in school, which is a shame. I petty the wild-eyed innocent gaze of a fresh graduate.
What do you think? Have you experienced this at your own workplace?
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