The Impending Crappy Job Swap

December 5, 2009

Many people are unhappy in their jobs. This fact has always been true, but never before have such overwhelmingly large numbers of people waited eagerly for the first opportunity to split, vamoose, look the old boss in the eye and say, “I’m out of here, see ya!”

A recent survey found that 54% of Americans plan to look for a different job as soon as the recession begins to wane and new job opportunities present themselves. An even more staggering 71% of Gen Y workers, those between 18- and 29-years-old, report they’re ready to bolt. These numbers are stunning and certainly unprecedented in our lifetime.

Of course, virtually no one’s leaving a job today because people believe there’s no place to go. Nevertheless, employers should be terrified that they will soon lose a great deal of their talent; they’ve already lost any loyalty they may have had. So, even in the face of reductions in pay, furloughs, uncertainty, more workload, and very often a leader who operates in a Neanderthal fashion, people are hunkering down and staying put—at least for now. However, like a recoiled spring waiting to be released, the moment the economy improves, they’re gone!

There’s another very interesting statistic worth thinking about. Long before the current economic crisis began, numerous studies have shown that as many as 70% of people were unhappy in their jobs. Why were most people unhappy in their work before the organizational actions brought about by the recession? I think it’s simply a reflection of the fact that most people work in jobs that are disconnected from their purpose and their calling. So while people are staying put for now, the majority of people are seriously considering leaving their jobs when economic conditions allow.  Even though many people were unhappy in their work before the recession hit, they didn’t leave their jobs because their organizations provided them with a decent paycheck, a perception of security, and just enough respect to retain them. But the recession drove organizations to take draconian actions in order to survive, and now the tipping point has been reached.

So if you’re one of the millions who plan to change jobs at the first opportunity, is this situation disastrous or a great opportunity? The answer to this question depends on the way you respond. The great danger is that you may go about finding a new job the way you’ve always gone about it, that you change jobs, but, once again, you don’t find the type of work that resonates with the person God created you to be. If so, you’ll just exchange one crappy job for another crappy job. Nevertheless, many people will soon leave their current jobs for a little more pay, as a way of thumbing their nose at their current employer and because people want to believe that the grass must be greener on the other side of the organizational fence. Unfortunately, this won’t work. Not if it’s fulfillment you’re after, not if joy is your aim. However, if you’ve reached your tipping point, if you’re ready to venture out, you can use this moment in our economic history as a pivotal moment in your personal journey. You can make this moment one of the greatest opportunities of your life if you commit yourself to do whatever is necessary to find work that provides great meaning to you, that brings joy to your journey, that causes your heart to sing. Now that’s a change worth making.