Staying or Changing Jobs: Which Is Right for You?
Do you sometimes think about changing jobs? Do you wonder if you should stay put or move on?
It is not always easy to figure out when it makes sense to stay in a job and when it makes sense to go. A small change in your current job may improve your situation. Finding a new employer might be the right decision for you. Or maybe you're ready to start planning a bigger career change.
It may be helpful to take stock of both your life and your job to see what works for you and what doesn't. This inventory can help you think about just how big a change you need to make. The following charts list several key life and work situations that may be affecting you. Answer these questions to find out more about what's best for you.
Instructions: Print this page. And then consider your answers.
Questions about Your Life
| Life Situation | Possible Actions | Yes | No |
| Your family responsibilities have changed. | If they've increased, can you arrange more flexible work options for caregiving? | O | O |
| Health conditions are affecting your work. |
Can you arrange for a job accommodation to better do your
work? Is there a different type of work that would be better for you? |
O O |
O O |
| You are bored with your work and want something more challenging to do. |
Can you take in-service training for a new
responsibility? Is there a new project or task you can volunteer for? |
O O |
O O |
| You want to get ready for a different kind of work in retirement. |
Will a few more years of work get you the pension benefits
you want? Would you rather use your energy to plan your post-retirement work or business - than make a big job change now? Can you work different hours for a few years, or phase into retirement gradually? |
O O O |
O O O |
If you answer "yes" to two or more "Questions about You," it may be a good idea to explore a job change, even a small one.
The next chart looks at situations that may put your job at risk. The questions can help you assess the situation.
Questions about Your Job
| Job Situation | Assessment | Yes | No |
| Your job may be at risk. |
Are your skills good only for old technology or old company
priorities? Would you be trapped if the job requirements change? Would it be hard to show how you contribute to the bottom line? Could the kind of work you do be outsourced? Is there someone with a lower salary who could do your work? Does the work you do lack visibility? |
O O O O O |
O O O O O |
| Your company is losing out to its competition. |
Have profits or market share been down? Has the product or
service that your work unit provides been doing poorly? Does your company depend on business from other organizations that have cutbacks? Has your employer had to downsize recently? Has your employer offered early retirement or tried other cost cutting efforts? |
O O O O |
O O O O |
| Your geographic region is going downhill. |
Does your region have economic troubles? Are there layoffs in the region that also affect your employer? |
O O |
O O |
| Your industry is in trouble. |
Are there many mergers or layoffs in the industry? What is going on in the U.S. economy that could change your industry? Do you work in an industry that is changing rapidly? Is there more competition than previously - especially from overseas? |
O O O O |
O O O O |
A "yes" answer to two or more of these "Questions about Your Job" could be a danger sign - or the push you've needed.
If you answered "no" to everything, your job could be in good shape. But the U.S. economy will continue to change, so stay on top of information about your work.
Take some time to research your job and your industry. Then make a decision to stay put or change.
AARP Resources
AARP on
Caregiving
These articles will help you think through your caregiving
responsibilities.
Additional Resources
Job Accommodation Network
(JAN)
JAN's site has lots of ideas for adjustments that will help
you work with any type of physical or health condition.
True
Stories From the "2young2retire" Website
Read 100+ stories of real people answering the question,
"What are you doing with the rest of your life."
Tomorrow's
Jobs
This article predicts the job opportunities of the future. In
easy-to-follow sections, it shows how jobs are affected by
changes in the population, the labor force, and the demand for
goods and services.
Career Guide to
Industries
Find your industry in this Department of Labor guide. In
straightforward language, the guide explains how the big economic
picture affects jobs.
Job
Information for Your State
A click on your state will take you to links for the state's
job predictions.
Books
Find these books online at Barnes and Noble.com
Rewired, Rehired, or Retired? A Global Guide for the Experienced Worker, Robert K. Critchley, Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, 2002. Written for workers age 50+ who are thinking about what they could do with their careers. Full of short questionnaires and stories of workers who choose one of these paths: continue working hard, cut back on long hours, stop working, or work part-time.
