Nine clues it’s time to consider leaving your job sooner rather than later
As a veterinarian recruiter, I hear horror stories from veterinarians who were terminated ‘out of the blue.’ They tell me, “everything seemed fine. I was there for 5 years. I seemed to have good relationships with the owner and the staff. And then one day I was told they had decided to not renew my contract. After I left, I heard from others at my former practice that they had hired a new graduate.”
Sometimes in the busy-ness of life, I’ve noticed I get a little unconscious and unaware of what’s really going on around me. With demands from work and home and family and friends, etc. it seems hard to keep up sometimes. As veterinarians, I know your plate is very full. You wear many hats at work and at home.
I’m writing this article to help you create safety and security around your job. I want to make sure you are not ‘unconscious’ in your work environment and are alert to the subtle clues that may indicate it is time to move on.
Clues:
- You’re not excited like you used to be to get up in the morning and go to work. The initial sense of excitement, enthusiasm and possibility of contribution when you first started there has been replaced by irritation and boredom with the ‘same old same old’ problems.
- You never get feedback from the owner and/or the hospital manager. They never tell you how you’re doing or what you could do better. No one every says ‘thank you.’ You and the staff pass like ships in the night at the hospital.
- The hospital is not growing. In some ways you feel your hospital is stuck in the Dark Ages. They refuse to adapt with the times. Staff is beginning to turnover more frequently. The owner and the hospital manager are constantly meeting behind closed doors.
- You notice when you do have time to go out with friends that you are always complaining about work. Your social events turn into gripe sessions. When you get home from work, you discuss all the difficulties and frustrations on the job. Stress is beginning to keep you up at night.
- Your stress at work is beginning to affect your health. The ongoing drama at the hospital is wearing you down. You notice you are tired all the time. You are constantly in “overwhelm” at work and at home.
- You don’t seem to fit into the hospital culture. You notice there are ethical and/or moral differences developing.
- It seems to take you forever to accomplish the same tasks you used to do in half the time. You are not learning anything new.
- You are spending more time at work and less time with your family because of work. There seems to be no work-life balance.
- No one really asks you what you think about upcoming changes/challenges in the practice. Your ideas are not being heard.
If you are one of those who is experiencing some or all of these symptoms, you can try and improve the situation, gripe about to all who will listen, go into denial that the situation isn’t really that bad or decide it might be time to leave. For those of you thinking about leaving, consider setting goals for you detailing what you are looking for in your next position: responsibilities, culture, compensation and benefits.
As both a career/life coach and a recruiter, my goal is to elevate the veterinary industry so that hospital owners are making good hiring decisions and veterinarians are in the perfect job for them. If you would like to add to this vision or discuss how we might work together, please contact me at Victoria@travisandassociates.com. My website is www.travisandassociates.com. And my phone is: 720-535-6433.