When to Change Jobs - Top 3 New Rules

Current employment counseling wisdom in parts of America in1995 - 2010 has been that:

If you are not promoted within 3 years of your last promotion (or first position with your company), then look for a new job. There is no opportunity for further advancement at your company.

The rationale for this belief is that America has taken on the highly advertised concept of Continuous Improvement in its business world. This may have begun with the "lean management" system in the production and manufacturing sectors or with the "black belt" system devised by Six Sigma.

Martial arts advanced black belt holders may snort or roll their eyes at this last concept; because, continuous improvement in Korean and other styles includes the full life span, not to be rushed. Still, Six Sigma can be very well applied to the business world to create positive results. The belt levels may be a marketing hook that attracts people, who enjoy that concept. Perhaps they roll their eyes at martial arts?

Can a person have continuous improvement in the same job for 30 years? Possibly. Performance may continue to increase even when the top of the pat range has been reached, but this is not the usual result. In fact, certain construction companies (one in particular in my city) begin to administer a 3% per year DECREASE in salary to employees on their 50th birthday. Thus, workers suffer a yearly decrease in pay with an even larger yearly increase in cost of living expenses, until they quit or retire 12 - 17 years later.

America became a nation (1990 - 2010) of constantly upward-movers and continuous-improvers -- If you did not improve, you did not receive a raise, let alone keep your job. Until a recession in 2008 - 2009 put a "concrete ceiling" in place over the heads of movin'-on-up improvers. They had moved on up on credit that was sometimes above their means. Others had just started on successful career elevations. Some became homeless. Some lost their health insurance and died for lack of consistent treatment.

Advancement screeched to a halt in many sectors, except for bonuses paid out for continuous improvement and top staff retainment among some Bush- and-Obama-bailout-receiving corporations that had actually declined rather than improved. Perhaps this was "negative improvement", the results curve being, after all, continuous.

REPHRASE:

1) If rumors of recession or individual business failure begin, ask your supervisor about it. Notice whether departments are being downsized, retiring or quitting employees not being replaced, or production results or work hours are reduced. Is the amount of mail the company received cut in half? Are projects put on hold? Does the phone ring less often? If it all "feels" like business is not booming, look for another job while still doing your best at the one you have. Promotion is not possible.

Consider asked your supervisor how to ask for a job transfer to a division of the company that is more successful (find that out by examining Internet information about the companies and their division - look for job listings for each).

This may be a good reason in 2010 - 2030 to look for another job.

Earth Day, conservation, and Native American reverence for the planet were taken up by students in the 1970s. Since the 1980s, significantly increasing emphasis has been placed by governments and media around the work upon the problems of a) overpopulation, b) waste, and c) climate change.

Greater numbers of business incentives involve going green and becoming sustainable in work and industry processes. Companies that do not participate to some extent in such activities as 1) recycling, 2) community green projects, 3) sustainable methods, and others may be left behind in the world of progress and success.

If your company has no policies that prevent or reduce product and human resource waste, promote recycling, and the like, then notice if business seems to be decreasing suddenly or in the long-term if and when additional green collar jobs begin to fill the nation's job pool.

When you are offered a new job, you are to receive an offer letter in writing that outlines your job title, supervisors name, site of employment, salary and benefits, the interval of payment, training to be provided; and the date of your first review, with some indication of a regular review cycle.

If you do not receive this letter or a written and signed contract, then you are not afforded any assurances of any of the items listed above. Your first pay check might be shockingly small. You may never receive a review. You may never have a vacation. Or insurance.

Reviews are chances for raises and promotions to be offered and accepted, so you want to have them. If your company does not offer reviews or ongoing professional development that is training for you to a) become more productive and b) earn a promotion, then it is likely time to find another job. See the helpful links below.

• How to Find Professional Development.
• How to Participate in an Employee Review.
• How to Find a Job in a Recession.