New Year, New Job?

HR Confidential

New Year, New Job?

The why and how behind 2023's flood of career transitions.

March 05, 2023

Happy New Year, friends! The start of a new year often signals a time to refocus, set goals, or try new things. Just weeks into 2023, mass layoffs are in the headlines and “quiet quitting” continues to pop up in our social media feeds. As an executive coach, here’s how I’m helping leaders put the trends into perspective and consider their own career transitions.

Starting a new job

Now that more organizations are getting clear on their plan—remote, hybrid, fully back in the office—employees are seeking roles with companies that best fit their lifestyle. Many of the leaders I’m working with are preparing to join a new organization in 2023, and they’re thinking about culture. Some had given up waiting for their previous organization to recognize their efforts through promotion. Some are looking to change their industry or field. Others are escaping toxic cultures or managers they can no longer tolerate.

Whatever the case, here are some tips to start you off right:

Create an onboarding plan. Take the time to be deliberate about how you will spend your first 90 to 120 days in your new job. Share your plan with others and get perspective on what you may want to add.
Listen more than talk. Your new company may have a different culture than what you’ve been used to; listening and watching can give you critical insights into how things get done.

Focus on internal advancement

Finding a new opportunity doesn’t always require leaving your current company. In fact, for some, the idea of leaving the secure paycheck to venture into something new or unknown doesn’t feel prudent given economic pressures and other factors. That’s where internal advancement (i.e., seeking promotion or more responsibilities in your current organization) comes into play. Some leaders are intensely focusing on understanding what it takes to move to the next level and how they can set themselves up to achieve that goal. Here are a few of the best practices to help make this happen:

Understand what success looks like in your current role as well as the next role or level so you can ensure you’re modeling those behaviors.
Get comfortable talking about your accomplishments. Don’t rely on the “hope strategy”—that someone in charge will see your good work and reward you with an advancement opportunity.

‘Quiet quitting’

Many of us have heard this term, which refers to employees who are doing the bare minimum to keep their job and get their paycheck; we used to refer to this as “actively disengaged.” Some have found themselves in this space because they’re no longer satisfied with their current company or job—they may be looking for something to change at the current organization to feel more engaged. Others are looking for another job, which is taking all their time and energy. Some feel trapped because they want to find a new job, but they can’t leave their current company for financial or other reasons.

Here is the counsel I offer if you’re in this space:

Life is too short to be doing something we do not enjoy. Take the time to figure out what you want to do and create a plan to get yourself there. If you need help, hire a career coach to support you.
Remember, someone out there may be the perfect fit for your role. Find your right fit so they can find theirs.

Layoffs

This is a big one. Since I coach leaders all over the globe, I’ve had the chance to chat with several who have recently been laid off. Many didn’t see it coming and are now faced with the daunting task of finding a job, with little or no steady income in the meantime. Confidence takes a hit during a layoff, no matter how many people were also impacted. Recently laid-off employees are often nervous about job market saturation, not finding a job they like, and financial impact—all very understandable concerns.

Even leaders who were spared in their company’s layoffs are affected. Watching your colleagues leave in droves while you’re staying on can change the way you look at an organization. Some feel guilty they were selected to stay. Whatever side of the layoff you’re on, be sure to take care of yourself. Try to focus on the things you can control and seek help in the job search through friends, colleagues, and coaches.