74. Should You Change Jobs or Change Companies? And Protecting Your Time at Work (Q&A)
Episode 74
Should you change jobs or change companies? And how do you protect your time at work without feeling guilty?
In this Q&A episode, I answer two powerful questions submitted by listeners. The first question dives into a major career decision — whether to change jobs within your current company or look for new opportunities elsewhere. I share practical steps for making this decision, including how to assess your skills, talk to your manager, and prepare for a new role.
The second question is all about saying no at work — without guilt. I share strategies for clear communication with your manager, setting healthy boundaries, and protecting your time and energy.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ How to decide if you should change jobs or change companies
✅ How to assess your skills for a new role
✅ How to communicate with your manager about job growth
✅ How to set boundaries and say no to additional work without guilt
✅ How to protect your time and energy while remaining professional
🎙️Other Episodes + Resources Mentioned
Episode 26: Maintaining Work Motivation
Episode 45: Are You Doing Too Much?
Episode 53: Facing Time Management Reality and Setting Work Boundaries
Episode 60: Handling Workplace Conflict
Episode 63: How to Have a Productive Day
Episode 73: How to Get Better at Things
✏️Get my FREE parent training: How to Help Your Student Handle School Like a Pro — Without Study Frustration, Assignment Overwhelm, or All the Drama (If you’re the parent of a high school or college student, this training is for you.)
-
The following transcript was autogenerated and may contain some interesting and silly errors. But in the name of efficiency and productivity, I am choosing not to spend my time fixing them 😉
74 Should You Change Jobs or Change Companies? And Protecting Your Time at Work (Q&A)===
[00:00:00] Hello and welcome to the Learn and Work Smarter podcast. This is episode 74 and it's one of our monthly q and a episodes. This is where I answer questions submitted by you, the listener, and this month we have two.
As a reminder, or if you're new to the show, you can submit your own questions for me to answer on future episodes by going to learnandworksmarter.com.
There is a very simple form right there on the homepage. I've also linked that form below, wherever you're listening to this, or maybe you're watching on YouTube. Okay, so both [00:00:30] questions today are submitted by professionals. Sometimes I try to have one submitted by a student and one by a professional. But this week we've got two professionals.
As always, the questions we hear other people ask, often unlock questions that we didn't even know we had ourselves. So I am absolutely certain or hopeful that you're going to walk away from today's episode with at least a few insights, maybe some strategies or tips that you can apply to your own situation. And with that, let's begin.
[00:01:00] All right, so our first question today is from a working professional who's feeling antsy [00:01:30] in their job. I'm going to read the question directly.
They wrote, I've been in the same job at the same company for six years. While I'm happy with the company and I've gotten several promotions, I'm itching to change jobs. In your opinion, what's the best way to start this process?
Such a great question. Essentially what I think you're asking is, do I change jobs? Or do I change companies? I know you're saying how do I start this process? But I think the real question underneath this, and we'll get to how do you start it, but is do you [00:02:00] change jobs or do you change companies?
And I think that is the first thing to get clear on because your question does not indicate in one way or the other, just that you're itching to change jobs. Right. And there are multiple ways to do that. If you decide you want to change jobs, but you are happy with your company, then your next step is practically to explore internal options. Check your internal job postings, talk to your manager about other roles. Maybe talk to some of your colleagues that are in other [00:02:30] positions, and then once you land on something that piques your interest, get a clear sense of what that position requires.
But you know, let's get specific here. How do you know if you have the skills needed for a new role? Let's say that you talk to your hiring manager or your HR department, and they said, well, we do have these positions in these departments. Okay? And so you start researching what those positions are and you realize that, okay, I need to determine whether that's a real fit or not.
So carefully read the job description, highlight the [00:03:00] skills, the certifications, the experience that they list, and be honest with yourself about which ones you have and which ones you don't have yet. All right, but don't immediately count yourself out if you don't have everything that a job description says you need.
Because sometimes leadership experience, uh, proven problem solving skills or strong communication abilities can offset like highly specific, You know, technical gaps that we might have. When talking to [00:03:30] your manager, approach it thoughtfully. Let them know that you like the company, you don't want to leave the company, but that you're interested in exploring growth opportunities, and you would value their insight.
You may say something like, "You know, I've been with a company for six years. I love it here, but I'm interested in exploring ways that I can grow. Could we discuss any upcoming opportunities that might be a good fit?"
Now, a good manager should support your growth. Even if they don't have an opportunity immediately, they can keep you in mind for the future.
[00:04:00] If you're aiming for a job higher than your current role, consider what you can do now to prepare. Are there courses you can take? Are there skills you can build in your current role? Maybe take on additional projects in your current role that really weren't on your radar, but you're like, oh, if I do that project, then it'll help me develop this skill and it'll help, you know, put me in this light to advertise to a hiring manager within the company that I can do things like this, right?
So all of that requires deliberation and [00:04:30] intention. And a little bit of planning. Now, if you don't have the skills for the target job, but you think you can get there, I'm going to direct you to last week's episode, episode 73 called How to Get Better at Something.
That's where I teach an effective two-pronged approach to systematically and intentionally improving at something specific.
But on the other hand, if you are itching for a completely new environment, meaning a new company, then your process starts with clarity. What exactly are you [00:05:00] looking for and why do you want to change?
Spend some time thinking about what you enjoy about your current job. Make a list. If it helps, you know, I am always here to suggest making a list and then get clear on what you want to avoid.
If there's something specific that's making you unhappy now, make sure you don't step into the same situation somewhere else, because then you're just going to end up with that same sense of, you know, itching to get out. You're going to end up with the same set of problems down the road once the novelty of the new company and the [00:05:30] new position wears off.
Next, make sure your resume and that your LinkedIn profiles are up to date. This is just non-negotiable. And beyond just listing your job titles and your responsibilities on the date you did, you know, whatever projects, make sure that you're highlighting your achievements and the skills that make you a strong candidate. Do an audit of your six years at your current company and think back to all you have accomplished, all the projects that you had a role in, all the committees and the teams that you were part of.
And make sure that the skills that [00:06:00] you needed to complete those projects and to be a part of the, those teams are clearly emphasized in both your resume and LinkedIn, right? It's not just about what you did and when you did it. It's about what skills you brought to the table to make those things happen.
You also want to keep your professional relationships strong because you may need a reference at some point. The job market is so competitive and a good recommendation can make a huge difference. So if you feel yourself tempted by the [00:06:30] concept of quiet quitting, or just dropping your output or motivation, even just a little, be wary of this because managers notice everything.
A dip in energy is obvious to those around us. And even if you're technically, you know, fulfilling your job requirements. They're going to notice if there is a difference in how you used to do things versus how you're doing them now, that's going to be perceived, and if you need a job reference at some point, you want your [00:07:00] manager to have a really positive impression of you, of your work, of your work ethic.
And even if you had, let's say, five and a half years, like really good, positive years of good, solid, positive input at your company, but your last six months are lackluster or just, you know, not as good as they used to be, that's the impression that your manager is going to be left with as they write your rec, your recommendation letter or your reference letter.
One more thing, start your [00:07:30] job search while you are still employed. You probably already knew this, but you know, don't quit your day job just yet. That way you have financial stability and professional foundation while you explore your options. It's not that having a gap in your resume is, you know, the end of the world.
That's super common, right? But just financially, you don't want to, you know, cut ties over here, but you, before you have ground to land on over here. Once you have an official offer that you have accepted, then you can give your two weeks notice [00:08:00] professionally and gracefully.
Now, I know I just said one more thing, but there's, and then said it, but there's actually just one more final point I want to make, which is this.
Sometimes we get antsy in what we perceive is our job, but it's not actually related to our job. And maybe yours is completely related to your job. Okay? That's actually what you said in your question, but it's worth asking yourself is your itchiness, I'm saying itchy 'cause that's the word that you used in your question,
your [00:08:30] itchiness to change jobs may be related to how you're spending your time outside of your job. Hear me out. For most of us, we spend the majority of our work week, you know, at work, or at least doing work. You know, working from home, that doesn't matter, but doing work and typical jobs are around 40 hours a week, and that's a lot of time.
So it makes sense to think that if you're feeling bored or unmotivated or agitated in some way, that it's related to how you're spending that giant chunk of time each [00:09:00] week, but not always.
Sometimes when we've fallen into a rut in what we do outside of our work hours, we feel antsy during our work hours, and we feel unsatisfied during the time that we're at our desk.
If you've neglected your hobbies or you're falling into a boring routine after work that leaves you uninspired, it makes sense that you show up to work bored and uninspired, even if those feelings have nothing to do with your job.
So maybe I should have opened my answer with this, but the low hanging [00:09:30] fruit here is to, you know, maybe take a look at how you're spending your time when you're not at work.
Back in episode 63, I talk about my three bucket productivity system and how I believe that one key to feeling satisfied at the end of each day, you know, is if we've completed some balanced ratio of what we have to do, what we should do, and what we want to do.
Okay. What we have to do is typically the work obligations. Something we should do is typically related to sort of long-term projects or long-term goals [00:10:00] inside or outside of work. And then there's something we want to do that's not tied to a manager or to a deadline. It's simply something that brings us joy.
Are you doing those things? Are you doing enough of them? Are the activities you're doing after work good quality leisure activities that feel restorative and exciting? Because when we're balanced and invigorated outside of work, we often show up to work feeling balanced and invigorated as well. So this is an important question to answer for [00:10:30] yourself before you go and quit your job.
And not that that's what you're saying. You know what I mean? okay.
I hope this helps and I think it's exciting that you're even thinking about making a change. Exploring new opportunities is a sign of growth and no matter what you decide, you are moving forward and that is so much better than feeling stuck.
Alright, let's move on to our second question. Also submitted by a working professional.
They write: Hey Katie. Thanks so much for the opportunity to ask questions. I've really been enjoying the show, so thank you for the topics you cover. My [00:11:00] question is about saying no at work. I've been with my company for almost two years, and lately my manager has been asking me and a colleague of mine to take on additional work after a series of layoffs, essentially my colleague and I are being asked to cover three jobs between the two of us.
Here's the problem. My colleague is quick to say yes to everything he's asked, whereas I'm not comfortable with or able to say yes to this additional work. Thoughts, tips, and thank you.
All right. First of all, thank you for the question and thank you for the kind words. That [00:11:30] is awesome. It is such a relevant question, especially in today's work environment where many companies are asking employees to do more with less, and I want to start with this.
You can only do what you can do. Alright. That's not just a nice, cozy little idea. That is a reality. No amount of guilt or pressure can change the fact that we all have a capacity and taking on more than that does not help anyone in the long run. With that said, [00:12:00] this situation is going to require two things, probably more than two, but let's focus on two: clear communication with your manager and ninja level prioritization.
So let's talk about communication, which starts with a direct but respectful conversation with your manager. I suggest setting up a meeting where you make it clear that you want to talk about optimizing your role. Make sure you do some prep work ahead of time so you have a clear and complete list of what you're currently working on.
[00:12:30] That's going to actually be really relevant in a minute. We'll come back to that. You can even create a visual sort of snapshot of your week that shows how much time you're spending on your current projects. And then here's the approach I would take at the meeting. You could say something like, "okay, since we're short staffed or you know, as we are presumably in the process of hiring another associate, I understand there are additional projects that need handling. I am certainly willing to help with these [00:13:00] additional projects, and I'm looking for some insight into which ones you'd like me to prioritize. Here is what I'm currently working on. Here are the new tasks that need to happen. Which of my current responsibilities would you prefer I pause in order to accommodate the new ones?"
Okay. And that's where your list of current projects, or a snapshot of the time that you're already putting into your current projects and spending your time comes into play.
[00:13:30] Now, notice how the focus here is on which projects you'll be working on. It's not about saying no to helping out with all of the new work. It's about being clear on what you can say yes to. This approach shows that you are willing to help, that you are open to taking on new tasks, that you're a team player, but also that you need to respect your very real capacity. It also makes you look good, like you care about your work. It's all about how you frame this.
You're not saying, "no, I can't do that [00:14:00] because you know, I'm already so busy" as if like you're busier than everybody else. Everybody's busy. But you're saying, "sure I can help. Yes. What should I pause or let go of in the meantime to make space for that new work?" And when you phrase it this way, your manager is maybe reminded of all the projects that you're currently working on. Maybe they didn't know, right?
Maybe they're not a micromanager and didn't realize that you had already had like 15 iron irons in the fire. They're confronted with making a choice of where they want you to spend your [00:14:30] time. And maybe when you lay it out like this, they see that your current projects are actually more important than the new ones, and that the additional ones or the new ones are better suited for someone else depending on the skills you bring to the table.
So it's not a yes or no scenario, rather it's a yes. Which ones? Scenario. And a good manager should understand this balance, but sometimes they just need to be reminded of the things you're really working on and they need to see for themselves that your time is [00:15:00] already accounted for. And I say this a lot, but time is math, which is really, really hard to argue against.
Now listen, if your manager pushes back, you can always reiterate, I am here to help in the places I can be most effective. But in order to do high quality work, I need clarity on priorities. And you know what? Honestly, I would expect them to push back in the beginning, and that's just how conversations go.
There is a back and forth sort of ping ponging of [00:15:30] ideas. So we can't be surprised here when they're like, no. Right. So even if you present your case articulately and clearly there's a chance that your manager might say like, "whoa, we really need all hands on deck at this time." I'm saying that with like a tone in my voice, but I can just hear it.
To which you would respond, "Yes, I am all in for working on the most important projects. But again, in order to do that, I'm going to need to narrow those down. Which ones would you like me to postpone the deadlines for?" [00:16:00] Right.
And now your, your colleague who's saying yes to everything. Oh, it is so easy to fall into a comparison trap, especially if it looks like that colleague of yours is handling everything perfectly.
But you don't actually know what's happening behind the scenes, right? Maybe their work is slipping, maybe they're burning out. Maybe they have a different agreement with your manager. We can never assume what's going on behind the scenes with anybody. What you can control is [00:16:30] the quality of your own work and the clarity of your own communication.
Focus on doing great work with the tasks that you are responsible for. And focus on your own boundaries. But I hear you, and I know this is hard. I know, or at least I think I can imagine all of the thoughts that you're having. Like, oh, like if I don't agree to everything, like will this make me look like a bad employee?
Will this affect my career trajectory? Will my [00:17:00] colleague resent me for not being a team player and a good doobie? These are all very reasonable questions and I would probably have myself. Right, but at the end of the day, those, the answers to those questions have nothing to do with you and you can't control them.
If your colleague has resentment about you not being a team player that says more about them than it does about you, we can't control others' opinions of us. That's on your colleague to deal [00:17:30] with and to have those feelings. Now, of course you can communicate openly with your colleague and explain the projects you're working on. You don't have to do this, but it can be helpful to clear the air. In episode 60, I have a great interview with an HR manager of an international company, and she shares some highly actionable tips for managing workplace conflict.
Um, and at the center of those tips is communication, obviously. Again, that's episode 60, which I will leave linked in the show notes.
Now, another [00:18:00] episode that you might find helpful because it relates to work boundaries is episode 53. That was actually another q and a episode where another listener asked about setting work boundaries, and I share some, you know, thoughts and tips and you know, perspectives in that episode that I think will apply to your situation as well.
And then I should have mentioned this one earlier, but in episode 45, which is called, are you doing Too Much? I give you a step-by-step roadmap for how to determine if you are indeed doing too much. [00:18:30] And going through that process might help you create that visual snapshot of your, you know, weekly time allotment that you might want to share with your manager.
And even if you don't share it directly with them, it can help you get clarity on what your true boundaries are. And you know this, but the clearer that we are about something in our own heads, the clearer and more effectively we can communicate it to other people. So in a nutshell, it's totally normal to feel guilty or to compare yourself, but it's not serving you.
It's not [00:19:00] serving your company either. What will serve you is being honest about your capacity, being proactive about your communication, and maintaining the quality of your work. All right, my friends, that brings us to the end of today's episode. I hope hearing others share what they're dealing with and me providing some ways to think about these issues helps shed some light on what you might be dealing with too.
Remember, you can submit your own questions for future q and a episodes by heading to Learnandworksmarter.com, and for all the links [00:19:30] I mentioned today and the transcript for this episode, head to learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/74 because this is episode 74.
As always, thank you for your time and never stop learning.
