Changing jobs is always nerve-wracking. But if you’re unhappy in your current role, and have been for a while (despite your best efforts), it might be worth exploring something new.
The truth is, some jobs aren’t for everyone. You’re allowed to move on. There are a ton of great opportunities available and you deserve to find one that “fills your cup” every day.
Honestly, your next job could be closer than you think. In fact, you might not even have to switch organizations. It’s not uncommon for someone to shift positions within a company — provided it makes sense for all parties.
This might be worth considering if you like your employer, but feel motivated to pursue something different. In the end, your company could have the exact opportunity you’ve been looking for, making this a great arrangement for both sides; they get to retain an employee and you’re more satisfied with your work.
Food for thought.
Here at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we have hundreds of corporate employees who each leave a distinct impression on our business and the transportation industry. That said, over the years, many employees have changed their roles within ATS’ four operating divisions. In most instances, this has been an excellent trade-off, allowing our company to grow and our employees to thrive.
So, if you’re interested in staying at your current employer, but aren’t sure where to start, this article will give you a step-by-step guide for navigating this process.
Before you start searching for a new job — within your organization or outside of it — it’s important to spotlight what you’re actually looking for. Take some time to categorize the things you do and do not enjoy about your current role.
This will help you make discernments as to what to look for next.
From here, ask yourself what’s truly driving your desire for change.
Is it the duties and responsibilities of your role? Is it a compensation issue? Are you having trouble with your manager? Are you unsatisfied with the growth opportunities afforded to you?
There’s an array of reasons you could be looking to switch jobs. Some of these concerns can be addressed by a new internal role, but others can’t. For this reason, make sure to narrow in on the exact reason you’re looking for a change.
If, for instance, you’re looking for a job that will allow you a more diverse set of duties and responsibilities, there’s probably another position internally that will curb this desire. On the other hand, if you’re unhappy with the culture at your company, it’s probably better to look elsewhere.
So, before you move forward, make sure you can articulate the reason you’re unhappy in your current job.
Once you have a good understanding of what’s truly impacting your job satisfaction, approach your manager with these concerns. Great leaders are always eager to help their direct reports succeed, even if that means giving them up.
While this might be an uncomfortable conversation, it’s important you engage your manager in this process. With your concerns in mind, they’ll be able to assist you in your search, connecting you with the appropriate resources and outlining your options.
Provided you and your manager have a good working relationship, their help will be invaluable. In all likelihood, they’ll have experienced this before — or will have undergone training on how to respond to these requests.
Together, you and your manager can get to the bottom of your job dissatisfaction and come up with a plan to address them. If it’s a compensation problem, this can be discussed. If you’re looking for an inter-departmental role change, they can provide feedback and assistance.
In some situations, problem-solving with your manager may be enough to tackle your concerns and start you on a path toward job satisfaction once more.
Following a conversation with your manager where you’ve outlined your concerns and expressed a desire for change, the work of finding your next internal fit can begin.
Though this process will change based on your situation, usually this includes connecting with your company’s talent acquisition team to explore current openings.
These recruiting professionals have a firm understanding of the duties, responsibilities and challenges associated with each role. They’ll also be able to verify whether your needs, background and skills match your company’s current openings.
Provided you’re a good employee — consistently meeting goals, a good organizational fit, etc. — your company wants to retain you. In this case, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to apply for a different role internally.
You may even be afforded the opportunity to “test” out different positions or shadow a few roles to find your best fit.
With the help of your internal advocates (your manager, co-workers, the recruiting team), at some point, the opportunity will arise to apply for a new job internally.
While having a positive employment history at your company gives you a leg up, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll get the position you apply for. For this reason, don’t take these opportunities lightly. Approach them exactly as you would with any other job; write a relevant cover letter (where applicable), line up a few solid job references, craft a strong resume and ace your interview(s).
If you go through these four steps, have the appropriate conversations and come to the conclusion that your company simply isn’t a great fit, that’s ok too. Sometimes, it makes sense for an employee to separate themselves from their organization — particularly when both parties are unsatisfied.
While it’s important to have honest conversations with your manager and try to figure out ways to make it work, eventually, it’s time to move on.
In this situation, you may want to consider a career in the transportation industry.
Transportation companies offer a wide array of opportunities to people like you, giving them an above-average earning potential, work/life balance and the ability to make an impact on international commerce each day. For more information on what a job in this industry could mean for you, check out this article covering the pros and cons of a career here.
Also, take this Transportation Industry Job Match Quiz to discover your best-fit role in this growing industry.
Finally, if you would like to learn more about the current openings here at ATS (we have jobs available in many U.S. cities), check out our corporate openings page here.