Are you really happy or just really comfortable?

Hugh McCarthy

It’s the time of year where we all tend to reflect and measure where we are at in terms of career satisfaction. It’s a natural thing as you look towards the following year. The question you should be asking yourself is, are you loving your job? Nothings perfect, but if you have serious concerns as an IT candidate on an aspect of your current role, the answer might be to make a change.

Change does not come easily to most. It takes bravery and it often involves leaving your comfort zone and a working environment that you are familiar with. If you are lucky enough to be extremely satisfied with your job, it’s simple, just stay put. If you can sense in yourself that things just don’t sit with you the way you would like, you are doing yourself as an IT candidate a disservice, as your options elsewhere will be wide and varied. The job market is strong.

When reflecting on your year from a work perspective, there are a number of things to think about and are often factors that involve people making a job change. If one of the below factors is a negative for you, it might be worth considering a career change. If more than one is an issue for you, it might well be time to move!

Location/Commute: Are you dealing with a sustainable commute? Is it something that you find draining and saps your enjoyment of your role? If the idea of entering another year with the same daily commute grind is really getting you down, you might want to look for something more sustainable and less taxing. The distribution of IT and Tech firms across all parts of the major Irish cities is wide and varied. If you look, there is going to be something closer to home. Maybe time to make a change?

Money: Let’s face it. We all want more. It is always well up there as a factor with most IT candidates when they do decide to move jobs. If you know you are underpaid having benchmarked your skills against your peers in the market, the reality is that in most IT disciplines salaries have risen this year. If you are appealing to your employer and really feel you can back up your pay claim, but are not getting a response, why settle? Someone is going to pay you your market value. Maybe time to make a change?

Technology Stack: Are you feeling left behind? Are you looking at emerging trends in your area and wish you could have a piece of the pie? Are you working with older technologies or a legacy based stack? Have you offered suggestions as to how more modern tools and technologies could better the environment you are in, but you have hit a brick wall? Someone out there will have something in a tech environment that is modern, moving forwards, and will enable you to stay at the top of your chosen field. Maybe time to make a change?

Work life Balance: Do you have the time to pursue your hobbies and interests outside of work? Are you doing fifty and sixty-hour weeks with little financial compensation or compensation in terms of time back to you? Is your family life suffering? Is your social life suffering? Is your “me time” suffering? Is the expectation from your employer unreasonable? There are now so many employers out there that have really made sure that they enable their staff to work hard and be productive, but also understand that your life outside the office is of equal importance. Flexitime, remote work etc. is becoming the new norm. There is an employer out there who will give you the option of a better work-life balance. Time to make a change?

Career Development: Are you making strides in your career? Are you working hard, working smart, helping those around you and leading from the front, but not seeing the career advancement or getting the rightful accolades from your employer? Is the promotional culture just not there? If you are career driven and strive to move forward, there are likely to be many employers who will put a value on the experience you have built up. Maybe time to make a change?

Company culture: Are you in an environment that just doesn’t feel positive? Where people are demotivated? Are heads down all around you? Does the company culture sit well with you and who you are? If not, there is going to be a company culture that largely aligns with your own needs. Different people work better in different environments. One size does not fit all. If it is not fitting. Maybe time to make a change?

It’s a great time to consider your career over the Christmas period. Things largely slow down and it’s a period in the year where you get headspace that you don’t get at any other time. If any of the factors above are impacting on you, then is it time to take control as you enter the New Year?

Brightwater's Hugh McCarthy Regional Manager – Information Technology
For information about current and future opportunities available within IT which may be of interest contact me on 01 662 1000 or email [email protected].