When career is a roller-coaster of emotion…

«I am leaving now, they’ll see how they do without me!», is what comes to your mind. – Warning, danger! … You cannot but let out a loud «quit» in a stormy meeting – Great danger! … «am looking for a new job», is what you answer your manager when he once again asks the impossible from you. – Ouch, this went too far… The only thing left for you now is to make the quicker move in the resignation process.

To make sure the tide does not turn against you, here are a few points that you should pay attention to:

• When angry or emotional, do not immediately consider terminating your working relationship.
• You should not mention your working relationship when in a difficult emotional state, or if so, in a strictly private circle.
• Do not threat anyone with a possible resignation.

Because: you are the one sitting at the shorten end of the lever. Which does not mean you should not consider resigning, but certainly not out of rage, anger, or frustration, or after disappointment.

Here is my checklist. Do not resign if:

…your boss is getting on your nerves again: Take the time to analyse your relationship: how often do things go well, how well valued are you? What can you get, what do you have to give for that? If the answers do not suit you, just tackle the situation and try to find possible improvements. You may after all get on your boss’s nerves as often as he gets on yours?

=> Possible ways out: You may have the opportunity for an internal change and could solve the problem this way? If all you efforts remain vain, never try to pull the rug from under your boss’s feet! Talk with the personnel department. In case of an irresolvable conflict, just play it cool and start discreetly looking for a new position.

… your colleagues are incredibly unpleasant: You will always meet unpleasant colleagues, team dynamics is continuously changing. Sometimes a pleasant colleague arrives, and things get back on track. Sometimes the nuisance resigns, and things also get back on track. Or there is a reorganization of the team, which completely change the situation.

=> Possible ways out: Analyse your own behaviour in the team. You could certainly improve a few things. Consider the dynamic over a longer period of time, bad times usually come and go. Adopt a neutral attitude. Do not lapse into victim role! Talk it over with your supervisor.

…your bonus is not as high as expected: in most Swiss companies, bonus is a defined and mostly expected part on top of the base salary. Its level usually depends on company results as well as on your individual performance. This does not mean you will always see the fruits of your hard work. Numerous personal and political factors influence bonus levels.

=> Possible ways out: Think pragmatically. Do not get hung up on a disappointing bonus. Consider bonus as a variable part in the true sense of the word. Do not take it personally if your supervisor’s and direction’s assessment differs from your own. Continue working as hard and with as much pleasure as before.

... you were not offered the expected position: It is wrong to think that the good work and results you achieve in your current position automatically qualify you for the next step up the career ladder. Conferring management functions is a political and often highly sensitive process basing on the evaluation of only few stakeholders. If you are lucky, you will get it. The chosen candidate is sometimes not the best, but the one who has not yet awoken any enmity.

=> Possible ways out: If you wish to take on another position, you should check both internal and external opportunities.

...you are afraid of the upcoming changes: «I should better get away from here, nothing good can come out of this!» This is what many employees think before mergers, spin-offs or other business transformations. You need to distinguish between your anticipation of a poor business trend and your general fear for change. Give it a thought: you will always and everywhere be faced with changes – and this can also be seen as a positive challenge.

=> Possible ways out: Adopt a proactive attitude towards the announced changes, participate in the process. This way, you remain involved and have a better overview of what may directly impact your department or position. Let things fall into place and make a factual decision.

If you seriously consider changing jobs, you should list all the pros and cons of your current position and carefully analyse them. Come back soon to read here how to carry out an in-depth value-analysis…

Dr. Irmtraud Lang, Chemist and Owner of gloor&lang ag, life science careers