If there’s one overarching theme in the past four seasons of Mad Men, it’s that there’s life beyond a career, or at least there should be: Don Draper is the kind of person who neglects just about everything in life that isn’t part of the corporate ladder. This is obviously a simplification of the show’s many themes–and Draper’s many problems–but an important one nonetheless. Don Draper represents a generation–or multiple generations really–for whom success and a career meant sacrifice and commitment no matter what the personal cost.
For those of us who loosely fall into the category of Gen Y, this idea no longer holds the same appeal. For a number of reasons–not all of them as selfish as some like to think–satisfaction and novelty are now a major selling point in a career. As this column has previously explored, Gen Y is also Gen Flux when it comes to careers, trying a variety of jobs before settling. After seeing those who came before us spend their lives at jobs that made them unhappy, we decided to seek something more rewarding in our professional lives. There’s also the fact that the world today has been shaped by people like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, people who dropped out of school and built their own companies, risking everything to pursue their own ambitions. With heroes like this to look up to, it’s no surprise that slaving away at a less than satisfying job isn’t appealing to many people.
So, with happiness and satisfaction at the forefront and the increased chance that we’ll all be trying something new at some point, how do you know when it’s time to move on from a job?
When to move on: the early years
When you’re younger things are quite a bit easier. Without the more complicated aspects of adult life holding you back, you can make a move with less planning. At this stage in life professional growth is key. As you’re starting in a career happiness is important, but so are things like continued learning. If you’re stuck doing menial tasks with no chance of advancement and with little room to improve, expand or deepen your skills, perhaps it’s time to try something new.
Equally important at this stage in your career is being surrounded by smart people. You may not always love your coworkers or bosses, but it’s essential that you respect and value their insights. Even a cruel boss who imparts industry knowledge is better than a cruel boss who doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing.
In these formative career years many people are still figuring out precisely what they want to do, so a stimulating environment will help build the skills and strategic insights to take with you down the road. If you’re not learning anything new or working with people who can be informal mentors and career role models, start looking at other options.
When to move on: the later years
As you get older, things like kids and mortgages make leaving a job much more difficult. At this stage in your career learning it still important, but ongoing mentorship isn’t as much of a priority. What becomes essential is that you’re happy with your life and not miserable to the people around you.
In recent decades workdays in nearly every industry have become longer and studies have show that this is having a negative effect on people, with increases in depression and insomnia near the top of the list. While it’s one thing to be in a work-hard-play-hard nonstop environment in your youth, as you get older other things need your attention. It’s not all about personal satisfaction, but if work is your entire life it’s probably time to think about more balance. Since we’re all going to be working longer, general happiness can’t hurt.
When to move on: at any age
Regardless of your age, if your job is making you physically ill, it’s time to move on. The kind of stress that makes it hard to get up in the morning has negative effects at home and will eventually be reflected in your work. Forbes’ Caroline Ghosn paints a sad but all too typical picture of the physical effects a bad work environment can have. Whether your workload is keeping you up at night or your boss doesn’t give you a decent amount of humane respect, nobody should work in a toxic work environment.
And as we’ve seen in recent months, ethics never go out of fashion. You have to feel comfortable with the kind of work that’s happening in an office, as well as how your employer interacts with customers and clients. Greg Smith’s letter about leaving Goldman Sachs was read and applauded around the world. Closer to home, the Globe and Mail’s Tim Kildaze wrote this article chronicling his own time in the world of finance and why he left. In both cases, taking an ethical stand meant leaving behind large salaries and choosing a different path.
Choosing a career isn’t always about the “perfect” job, but about being in the right place and doing something stimulating. You might have a terrible day at a job you love, but you’ll still want come back the next day. Your work and what you put into it need to reflect the life you want to live; making a move might be a terrifying prospect, but if staying where you are is killing you, take the leap and create a new path for yourself.
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Kiel Hume writes for Toronto Standard. Follow him on Twitter at @kielculture.
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