Like millions of his fans around the globe, Chicagoan Mary Downing-Smith was saddened to hear Michael Jordan announce his retirement.
But as someone who walked away from a high-level corporate job, she could relate to Jordan when he said, “I just feel that I don’t have anything else to prove” and “the desire just isn’t there” in explaining his decision to hang up his Nikes.
Three years ago, Downing-Smith ditched her position as vice president and director of business development for a division of ITT, a telecommunications company.
“I simply knew it was time to go, because the accomplishments weren’t as rewarding,” says Downing-Smith, now a work-options consultant who helps clients assess career changes and develop proposals to present to employers.
Career experts say that’s a common but often-unexpressed sentiment in this uncertain economy.
Today, many employees are engaging in the protective reflex of settling for less. Without the cushion of the golden parachute enjoyed by elite executives, workers are toiling 50 hours a week at jobs that no longer deliver satisfaction, in part because it’s easier than contemplating the unknown. But recognizing when your career is on cruise control is essential for long-term professional growth.
“You have to be able to say, `This one’s over,’ ” says Carol Olmstead, president of CareerStyle, a women’s career development company in Bethesda, Md. “Once you do, you open yourself to new opportunities.”
Even though the job market is tight, you don’t have to cheat yourself out of a fulfilling work life. Although it may seem daunting, it’s possible to set change in motion.
How can you tell whether you’re ready for a new challenge?
“If things that used to be rewarding are now hassles, and if things that used to be easy are now hard because you don’t want to do them, then it’s time to go,” Downing-Smith says.
Experts say you’ll probably feel bored and frustrated at work. Your productivity drops, you procrastinate and your overall well-being suffers.
Solutions range from the subtle (changing aspects of your current job) to the dramatic (entering a new profession or starting your own business). For some workers, the answer rests in seeking a transfer. Others, who aren’t in a position to make a switch-for financial or personal reasons-may benefit from redirecting their focus.
Here are some expert tips for shifting from autopilot to high gear:
– Acknowledge the situation. “It’s easier to get up and go to work than say, `This isn’t right,’ because you don’t know what the answers are,” Downing-Smith says. To help clarify things, make a list of everything you like and dislike about your job.
– Assess whether it’s a phase or a permanent condition. Phases last a few months and can be linked to difficult bosses or problem colleagues. “If you basically like your career and feel like you’re facing temporary obstacles, then hang in there,” advises Downing-Smith. “But if the feelings intensify and persist, if you realize that you really don’t like your career and you’re not committed to your employer, then you have to move on.”
– Consider the options and fight paralysis. “Take steps every day,” recommends Sharon Bobbitt Schuster, a Northbrook, Ill., publisher of ReCareering Newsletter, a publication for professionals in transition. Brainstorm ideas for careers and join a job-search group.
– Take action. If you’re in a slump because of circumstances, change your attitude to make the situation more tolerable. If you want to alter your job description or transfer to another department, submit a proposal that outlines mutual benefits. “The wrong road is to say, `I’m not happy with my job. I need more,’ ” Downing-Smith cautions.
LIFELINES
Resourceful organization
The Society for Human Resource Management is an international organization with more than 56,000 members. It sponsors conferences and publishes a monthly magazine. Membership: $160. Call 703-548-3440 for more information.
A night for networking
Women Employed, an organization for Chicago-area professional women, will sponsor “Career Networking Night” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at 77 W. Washington St. Cost: $5 for non-members. To register, call 312-782-3902.
Starting anew
“ReCareering Newsletter” is a publication aimed at job-seeking managers, early retirees and other professionals in transition refocus their careers. $55 for 10 issues. Call 708-498-1981.
Healthy pursuit
American Medical Technologists is a certifying organization for medical laboratory and other allied health professionals. It has 39 chapters nationwide. Call 800-275-1268.
Worker’s bookshelf
“Caught in the Middle: How to Survive & Thrive in Today’s Management Squeeze” (Prentice Hall, $21.95) by Lynda C. McDermott.
