I surveyed almost 100 people about how satisfied they were at work.  These were split into those who had left a ‘corporate job’ and those still there.

Firstly the positives. 84% who’d left saw pay and benefits as a positive and 60% of those still there. 76% of those who had left said work colleagues were a positive, 50% of those still there.

Secondly, the negatives. 84% of those who had left cited hours worked as a negative and 48% saw values of the company negatively. Only 26% of those still there saw hours as a negative, in fact 37% saw it as a positive. This suggests that companies with more flexible working policies keep their staff.

Leaving work

Those who wanted to leave jumped fast – 52% in less than 6 months. Of those still there only 15% rarely or never think of leaving.

The reasons for leaving

48% left to set up their own business and 40% a job that better met their values. Those still in corporate jobs gave similar answers – 41% to set up their own business and 35% a job that better met their values.

Finally when asked why they delayed leaving, a lack of self confidence delayed 48% of those who had left and 28% of those still there. Fear accounted for 40% of those who had left and 30% of those still there. 48% cited financial reasons and 44% the aspects of the job. This corresponded to 50% finanical and 37% postive aspects for those still there.

Self confidence is what enables us to be the very best us we can possibly be.

Have you left a career path? Do you want to? Comment below.

Do you want to rethink your career?

I am a licensed Firework career coach. I work with women to take you from a blank sheet of paper to an action plan of how to put ideas into practice. If you like a structured approach, I have a career coaching package of around 13 sessions.

Contact me to talk further.

- Mark Twain

These three words are also the three headings of my career coaching package, devised by Firework Coaching (click here for testimonials of those who have used the Firework programme). This is a structured programme to get a thorough understanding of yourself and what you need to be fulfilled in life. We will work together to explore your work preferences and what motivates you. As we work together you’ll become clearer about what is really important to you – your values, key strengths, work motivators, favourite skills, your passions and interests. At the end of the programme we create a structured action plan which will take you from where you are to where you know you want to be.

ACTION CHALLENGE: What are you resisting? What are you NOT doing, that one day might disappoint you? Where in your life do you want to do more exploring, more dreaming, more discovering? I challenge you to sail away from the safe harbour…

Is it time to leave your job?

Friend and career coach Janice Robertson has written an article on some of the questions to consider.

-do you hate your job or just the boss?
-do you feel like a square peg in a round hole?
-do you have another calling?
-is there a possibility of redundancy?

‘In this day and age it is quite common for people to change career at least once in their working life. It’s an important decision though – one which will affect you and can affect your close family. In order to help you to decide whether this is the right move for you consider these questions:

DO YOU HATE YOUR JOB OR JUST THE BOSS?

It’s important that you make this distinction. If you love what you do and it’s just the boss or even work colleagues that you can’t get along with then changing careers might not be the answer for you. If you are not able to make it work with your boss on your own then seek help through your human resources department, if you have one, or get some coaching on this specific matter. If all else fails then before you take the leap into a different career, look at other employers in the same field or even consider becoming self employed doing the work you love!

DO YOU FEEL LIKE A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE?

There could be many reasons why you feel that you just don’t fit it with your current career.

It could be that there is a conflict between your own personal values and ethics and those of your employer’s.

-The job is more stressful than exciting and you feel burnt-out.

-Your job is no longer challenging – you’ve gone as far as you can – got pretty much all that you can out of it and there are no opportunities for promotion.

-You could be in a job that was chosen by your parents rather than in one aligned with your own true interests or passions.

-You fell into your job without really thinking about your career goals and wonder how you got here!

-What interested you at 21 no longer excites or motivates you.

DO YOU HAVE A CALLING OR ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?

Sometimes, you just have a sense that there is more to life – that there is something you are meant to be or something you are meant to bring to the world. It feels literally like you are being called!

If you feel like this and can’t really explain to yourself why you have this feeling, then have a think about the things in your life that you are drawn to. It could be hobbies, interests, types of people, jobs that catch your eye, areas of study that pull you time and time again.

I believe that our life purpose is about expressing our unique talents and gifts. Do have a need to express yourself in some way?

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF REDUNDANCY?

In today’s uncertain climate there is of course the possibility of redundancy. Having myself been through redundancy I am aware that it can be a time of upheaval and also I must stress an opportunity to try something new, something that you’ve always dreamed of doing. Before you take the leap into a new career, find out whether your employer is considering offering redundancy packages – it could just be the cushion you are looking for while you train or look for something you really want to do.

DO YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO CHANGE CAREERS BUT DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NEXT?

Most of us haven’t thought about what we wanted to do since school – even then people often jump into the first job without really thinking about long term career goals or what really matters to them about work.

If you have decided that you really do want to change careers but don’t know what you want to do next then consider getting some career counselling or coaching to help you to discover a new career aligned with your true interests, passions, values and life purpose.’ (Janice Robertson)

I can honestly say I’ve never regretted that initial ‘rash’ decision to hand in my notice. Despite things not always been easy or going the way I wanted since that date.

I have a similar decision at the moment; whether or not to reduce hours or leave my part-time job completely in order to concentrate more fully on coaching. This feels equally scary, despite there being less to lose and more to gain!

My part time work does fit my values, I do feel I fit and there is no sense of being moulded into someone I do not want to be. The situation reminds me that life is not black and white. The decision is not just between staying and going. The best decision for some will be to work part-time. Or to add in to your life voluntary work or other activities which better fit your values. Or to make peace with your existing work (see earlier article).

And – apart from a few obvious exceptions – fear is not a good reason for avoiding anything.

What would you do if you were not afraid?

It’s only 12 questions and mostly multiple choice so very quick to answer! (Names will be kept confidential and no contact information is requested)

Survey for women working in a corporate setting:

http://rosalynclare.jobsurvey.sgizmo.com

(And one for those who have already left that corporate environment

http://rosalynclare.jobsurveyleavers.sgizmo.com)

Many thanks for your help.

If you would like to receive the results, there’s a sign up form at the right of the screen.