EditorialsBy Matt Bud, Chairman, The FENG

Out of the frying pan, into the fire. We sure have a lot of expressions relating to the very simple problem of thinking that life would be better if we were only somewhere else.

I’ll add another: You can’t go home again. I can assure you that the dream job you once had contained blemishes that you have now forgotten.

It would always appear to me to be worth a shot not making the same mistake again (whatever it might have been) in the selection of your next job.

When jobs are scarce, and they may be in your segment, I strongly recommend taking whatever you can find. It is always better to be working. And, as any good sailor knows: Any port in a storm.

While I would be the first to argue that there is a reason why they call it work – if it was too much fun they would have to come up with another name – we do spend a lot of time doing it, far more than any other activity in our lives and it is worthy of some thoughtful consideration what we like and what we dislike about our current situation or potential situations.

To me, step one is the people. Are these my kind of people? Do they share my values? Are they ethical? Can I stand being with them all the hours I am likely to be doing so? If the answer is no, run, don’t walk to the nearest exit. No amount of money is worth it.

Step two is about the work. What is the real work content going to be? Will I be learning? Will I be practicing skill sets that I enjoy doing? I can’t image any torture more extreme than having to do work day in and day out that I find painful.

Step three is about the future. Will this next job in any way shape or form prepare me for the next step in my career? Will it provide me with what I need to keep on working? Steps in your career are not always up. Up is good, but to always be working is even more important. For example, you don’t want to take a job that is going to leave you so burned out that you will be unemployable.

Change is good. I am not suggesting that anyone stay put. It is possible the grass is greener. Just remember, if it really is greener someone is going to have to mow it, and that person may be you.

Regards, Matt

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