Career midpoint: how to prepare for a (maybe) move
June 15, 2024 7:20 AM Subscribe
I've had a short-term conflict at work that will blow over, but it has led me to realize that there are some structural issues that may complicate my staying there long-term. I've also got some personal reasons for considering a move. What's the best way to prep for a job search before it becomes a five alarm fire?
Context: I'm a mid-career researcher (nontenurable) at a large public academic institution. I have some technical skills that are fairly portable but by now a little bit out of date.
I'll try to keep the structural issues brief. I've been at this job for roughly ten years. My boss has been great and supportive in many ways. However, I've started to notice a pattern in which Boss grooms people for more powerful and more independent roles in the organization, then gets frustrated and withdraws support when they are no longer available to do exactly what Boss tells them to do. I came to notice this because of seeing it happen to multiple colleagues but it may also play a role in what's been bothering me. I got a promotion about a year ago with nebulous responsibilities, but in trying to meet those responsibilities I've found myself unsupported and occasionally even shut out of relevant conversations. I plan to talk with Boss about this in a few weeks at my annual review so I can at least recalibrate my expectations of this job -- presumably there is some kind of growth opportunity here. However, stepping back from my ego as much as possible, I think the general pattern is still concerning. Also concerning is the fact that Boss is overcommitted and it's starting to result in errors that may affect staffing (errors that Boss is disclaiming responsibility for, to boot). I've been told my job isn't at risk, and I suspect that's true in the near term but I would not count on it holding over the next couple of years.
Some personal life stuff has made me think about leaving too. I've been hopping from one family medical crisis to another over the last four years without a real vacation since 2019 and I'm tired, having spent most of my paid leave in that time exhausting myself for other people. I'm more emotional than I want to be at work, I'm snapping at the cats, it's not great. I love my skillset but do not love my content area and find the research community worrisomely indifferent to facts in some respects. I have a small volunteer gig using my skillset in another area and that work has made me feel alive again, which pushes me to feel curious about actually transitioning to that field. However, I know that there's BS everywhere and that paid work is just plain different from volunteer work. Plus which it's hard to imagine interviewing in this emotional state. I really want a break of a few weeks to a couple of months, but I know it's much more difficult to jobsearch while unemployed. It's also really hard to contemplate giving up state benefits & pension.
Here's what I think I want help with. (1) What should I be doing to lay the groundwork for a successful job search if I want to transition sometime soon, but want to wait for a good fit and not take just anything? (2) How do I psych myself up to be positive, collegial, curious, etc in interviews when I am burned out? I really can be those things but have just not been feeling it of late.
Context: I'm a mid-career researcher (nontenurable) at a large public academic institution. I have some technical skills that are fairly portable but by now a little bit out of date.
I'll try to keep the structural issues brief. I've been at this job for roughly ten years. My boss has been great and supportive in many ways. However, I've started to notice a pattern in which Boss grooms people for more powerful and more independent roles in the organization, then gets frustrated and withdraws support when they are no longer available to do exactly what Boss tells them to do. I came to notice this because of seeing it happen to multiple colleagues but it may also play a role in what's been bothering me. I got a promotion about a year ago with nebulous responsibilities, but in trying to meet those responsibilities I've found myself unsupported and occasionally even shut out of relevant conversations. I plan to talk with Boss about this in a few weeks at my annual review so I can at least recalibrate my expectations of this job -- presumably there is some kind of growth opportunity here. However, stepping back from my ego as much as possible, I think the general pattern is still concerning. Also concerning is the fact that Boss is overcommitted and it's starting to result in errors that may affect staffing (errors that Boss is disclaiming responsibility for, to boot). I've been told my job isn't at risk, and I suspect that's true in the near term but I would not count on it holding over the next couple of years.
Some personal life stuff has made me think about leaving too. I've been hopping from one family medical crisis to another over the last four years without a real vacation since 2019 and I'm tired, having spent most of my paid leave in that time exhausting myself for other people. I'm more emotional than I want to be at work, I'm snapping at the cats, it's not great. I love my skillset but do not love my content area and find the research community worrisomely indifferent to facts in some respects. I have a small volunteer gig using my skillset in another area and that work has made me feel alive again, which pushes me to feel curious about actually transitioning to that field. However, I know that there's BS everywhere and that paid work is just plain different from volunteer work. Plus which it's hard to imagine interviewing in this emotional state. I really want a break of a few weeks to a couple of months, but I know it's much more difficult to jobsearch while unemployed. It's also really hard to contemplate giving up state benefits & pension.
Here's what I think I want help with. (1) What should I be doing to lay the groundwork for a successful job search if I want to transition sometime soon, but want to wait for a good fit and not take just anything? (2) How do I psych myself up to be positive, collegial, curious, etc in interviews when I am burned out? I really can be those things but have just not been feeling it of late.
What should I be doing to lay the groundwork for a successful job search if I want to transition sometime soon, but want to wait for a good fit and not take just anything?
start looking now. you'll see what the current conditions are like in the field. who knows, you may even see a job that looks perfect! even if there's no ideal job right now, the understanding of what employers are hiring & what they're looking for will help you be better prepared when you're finally ready
(2) How do I psych myself up to be positive, collegial, curious, etc
there's a reason you went into this work in the first place, right? reconnect with that. one common question in interviews is: why do you want to work here? if you have a strong sense of what actually excites you about elements of your chosen field that's a god foundation. then, of course, all the research you've been doing (see above) will help you describe why exactly, rather than all the others, a particular place interests you
posted by HearHere at 9:16 AM on June 15
start looking now. you'll see what the current conditions are like in the field. who knows, you may even see a job that looks perfect! even if there's no ideal job right now, the understanding of what employers are hiring & what they're looking for will help you be better prepared when you're finally ready
(2) How do I psych myself up to be positive, collegial, curious, etc
there's a reason you went into this work in the first place, right? reconnect with that. one common question in interviews is: why do you want to work here? if you have a strong sense of what actually excites you about elements of your chosen field that's a god foundation. then, of course, all the research you've been doing (see above) will help you describe why exactly, rather than all the others, a particular place interests you
posted by HearHere at 9:16 AM on June 15
Have you kept a bravo box? That's a folder in your email (pref personal, if permitted to forward things by your org) where you throw emails that were complimentary, reports you did demonstrating success, the news that you got a grant, etc. If not, maybe build one.
When you're putting a resume/CV together and going to interviews, peruse the box!
posted by warriorqueen at 10:21 AM on June 15 [6 favorites]
When you're putting a resume/CV together and going to interviews, peruse the box!
posted by warriorqueen at 10:21 AM on June 15 [6 favorites]
Are there other units at your institution that you can move to? Do you keep an eye on job postings?
posted by feste at 10:34 AM on June 15
posted by feste at 10:34 AM on June 15
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posted by seemoorglass at 7:53 AM on June 15 [2 favorites]