Everyone has a price, and that price takes many forms. It could be money, loved ones, comfort, duty, or a higher calling. In fact, if you really search your heart, for most of us, money is a secondary concern, to a point. In any case, you do have a price. This question could lead to dark places, but let’s steer clear of that. Let’s focus on your price when it comes to employment.
I came across an interview question that struck me as both terrible and somewhat awesome. The interviewer asked something like: “What are your plans with our company? Would you consider leaving for something else?” It’s a diabolical question that basically is begging you to lie, but it’s also somewhat awesome if the interviewer genuinely wanted to know the answer. I assume they don’t because I don’t believe anyone is employed in a situation where they wouldn’t change if the price was right.
Even though it’s a terrible interview question (other than seeing how well the candidate would fair in politics), the question itself is something you should always be ready to answer for yourself. What would make me leave the job I am currently in?
The questions are simple, yet really hard
There are certain questions that you should be able to answer about their employment status anytime you are asked and are willing to share with the person. The top-level questions I use are very basic:
- Why am I here?
- What would make me leave?
Naturally, many people answer these questions off the cuff in a very succinct manner: “Need money” and “More money.” Most of us feel this way to some extent, certainly when we are working our first jobs. But as time passes the answers get more complex..
If you don’t have these two things on your list, you’re not in the norm, and that’s great for you! But even if you, have “food, clothing, shelter” as you primary reason you work your 40 hours a week, after those needs are covered, the answers start to get more nuanced very quickly.
So, what is your price?
Like most companies do with their employees, you should consider having a personal review periodically and ask make yourself consider that question. Why would I leave, and what factors would matter?
The base factor is usually money.
Of course, as much as you love or hate your job, there’s probably an amount of money that would make you leave immediately and just hope the rest of the factors were fine.
Yet don’t just think of money as a factor that only needs to increase in your answers to yourself. Every factor I’ll note (and all the one’s you have I won’t) fit on sliding scales and figure into some equation with other factors to achieve your overall personal needs. If you could do everything you need with 10% less, you might consider a jump with more flexibility or better benefits like vacation if that is your desire.
Naturally there is a money line where you would only ask a few questions before deciding to leave. For instance, the morality of the new situation. “We will pay you five times your current salary to work one hour a week.” Sure you will, what’s the catch? “You will have to let people watch you club seals.” Um, no thank you.
The Other Factors Are a Mess
The rest of our needs are more uniquely personal and they may get really messy. For the sake of this section, I will ignore money, but we all know that everything costs something.
As an example, some of my other factors have always been:
- Job function: This was what drew me all the way to Redgate, the possibility to write about technology for a living. (And not being on call. I did not love the feeling of my body going from asleep to awake in 10 seconds one bit.)
- Family: Geographically, we live near family for reasons.
- Paid Time Off: We love going to theme parks, not to mention what I said in the previous bullet
- Training: Conferences, training materials, and generally learning new things are a big part of what has made my career what it is.
- Flexibility: Being able to work when and where I want sometimes is awesome.
- The company: I want to work for a company that does cool things. Maybe even have specific companies that are your “only choices.”
Some factors may be (or include) deal breakers, and may just be nice to haves. These reasons change frequently, as life changes. You may not be able to move now, but next year you can. You may change your mind and go into management, or do you dream job, like writing for a living for a software company like Redgate. (That one is taken, so don’t get any ideas!)
Make Your List
Unless you are truly happy in your job and are very sure they are happy with you, probably don’t share your list, not even with hints like i have left. Really think about what it would take to change from your current situation to something else. Be really honest, even brutally so.
And then try to form a few sentences that answer the simple question: “I would leave if…” so when you are asked by a friend “Hey, there is an opportunity I know about that you would be great for”, you know the actual answer.
Your honest, private answers are your baseline. You do not want to share them with anyone who you are associating with professionally. For that you need to have your standard answer. For most of us, the answer is “I am not looking to change.” I would add “…ever again.”
My List
As I have done this over time, it has been an interesting process. Money never really entered my mind as a large factor. My previous company (due to my 20+ year tenure) had plenty of paid time off, solid pay, good amounts of training, etc. I loved being a data platform developer/architect, and I loved my team (many who had also been there 10 years or more). It all really comes down to determining your own employment value.
So my list was tight. It basically was two items. I would immediately consider working for two places:
- Disney working as an Imagineer helping them build a better version of their customer facing systems
- Redgate working on their products or writing for them
The big, non-negotiable items on my list were basically geographic (family). As I told my last employer when I was leaving, they didn’t try to stop me, because they could tell was something I wanted to do. They didn’t know my list, but they knew me.
And That is the Reason for The List
If you know what you want and what you need, then you will be able to tell your current employer and grow. If that isn’t possible, you will know when it is time to change jobs, because you know that your price is being met since you know what you need to lead the life you want.
Even your current employer will know because you can spell it out for them simply and they will know it is time for you to go and congratulate you, not try to bribe you to stay while at the same time starting to plan your replacements.
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