I Need Another Pepper Grinder! Or do I? A Career Change Quandry!

You know the statement “The grass is always greener…” I was thinking about that statement and pepper grinders (pepper mills) the other day.

When I go out to eat, the waiter or waitress in many of my favorite restaurants often comes by with this “ginormous” pepper grinder and asks if I want pepper on my salad or soup, or entrée! There is something (don’t laugh) almost romantic about the pepper grinder and the pepper. It makes me feel special.

Romanticized the restaurant pepper grinder

At home, I love to cook and often look for ways to duplicate the restaurant experience. I bought several different pepper grinders over the years — admittedly never the ultra-large (ginormous) ones I see the waiters use in the restaurants, but good quality pepper grinders. My pepper grinders grind pepper. I even buy the pretty mixed color peppercorns in search of the special feeling. But it is never quite the same.

Perhaps I have romanticized the restaurant pepper grinder to being so much better than ones at home. The atmosphere at the restaurant is decidedly different than home. The lighting, the tablecloths, candlelight…

Whatever the reason, my pepper-grinders never give me the same experience.

Do job seekers romanticize change too?

Change can be good. It can be just what you need. But as much as I like to help people with career moves, I want to make sure that they have thought it through.

There have been quite a few calls recently from prospective clients in the medical field. Some individuals are looking to move from one facility to another, some want to move to another role in the medical field, and some are looking to move out of the field completely.

The Top Questions to ask before you plan a career change

Whenever you look at a career change, especially one that is voluntary, there are things to consider.

1. What is the stability of the company or organization you want to move to?
2. Have they been around for a long time?
3. Are they expanding?
4. Do you know what the employee feedback is for the organization? Is it positive?
5. What does the press say?

If you want to move from one role to another, again, you need to check out what people are saying. Never rely on just one source for any important decision. Research and ask.

If you think you want to leave your career or occupation, review why. Make a list of the reasons (pros and cons) as well as the pros and cons of the new position. Looking objectively at your choices can help you make informed decisions. Sometimes our reason for change or our choice of a move can be clouded by other factors.

Frequent career moves, especially in this economy, can damage your resume.

It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t move. It just means you should think about the reasons you want to move and determine if the place, the role, or the change will be positive and if you will be able to stay, and perhaps grow, with the new position or company. Keeping your resume up-to-date with your accomplishments is a good thing but using it strategically is a better thing.

In search of the perfect pepper-grinder, I realize that perhaps there is more to why the ones in the restaurant are special. I have an emotional attachment to the experience. There are other factors than just the quality of the pepper-grinder. I may never find the perfect pepper-grinder because it may only exist in my imagination.

Even if you are currently out of a job, you need to think through these same steps.

Every career move in your life should be deliberate and thought-out. You will end up being an attractive commodity to employers if you look like someone who has put thought into their career. Never make a career move out of pure emotion.

The grass isn’t always greener — and the pepper grinder isn’t always better…

What do you think? When it is time for a career move, do you really evaluate your reasons?