Your Social Work Career Coach: Should I Stay or Should I Go? Navigating One of Your Most Important Career Decisions

by Jennifer Luna, MSSW

     Have you found yourself going to work with a sense of apprehension? Have you found that the transition from working remotely to going into the office is difficult? After more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers are faced with yet another transition and are considering leaving their positions. 

     At the beginning of the pandemic and for several months afterwards, we transformed our homes into offices, created new rules of engagement with family members who were also at home, and began new patterns of productivity based on our home surroundings. Going back to the office has been a roller coaster of sorts. As we returned to the office, we have yet to make another transition. We gained and lost opportunities and met new challenges. While it is great to reconnect with our colleagues, engage in face-to-face communication, and resume fresh routines, many may miss the freedom of autonomy they found in working remotely. These factors, coupled with the fact that there are many jobs available and the increase in opportunities to make a higher salary, make this a job seeker’s market. You may be considering whether it is time for a job change. But how does one decide?

Recognize That Things Are Not the Same

     First, we must understand that this is a normal pattern of career development. As with career advancement in most industries, discomfort generally brings change. Recognizing that we have the capacity to be productive, effective, and satisfied in a remote environment naturally may lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and even resentment as we reenter the workplace. Additionally, as organizational cultures have changed throughout the pandemic, your workplace may be remarkably different now compared to March of 2020. Co-workers may be working different hours, office doors are kept closed, and community-building activities in the workplace may have ceased.

    It is also important to recognize that supervisors and administrators are struggling. How do you voice these concerns with your supervisor? First and foremost, have a plan. Write down your concerns, and practice how you will articulate them. You might ask your supervisor if there are alternatives, such as a couple of days to work remotely, a different role, or a certification that will bring you a new sense of enthusiasm about your job. If your concern is more related to morale and organizational culture, suggest ways to improve the situation, such as employee engagement activities, mixers, or perhaps a committee to address these issues.

Think About It

     If you are contemplating the idea of leaving your job, what are things you should consider before you leave? Sometimes, when we are feeling a sense of burnout or boredom, it is difficult to identify what the cause is. It could be many things that culminate into a feeling of being overwhelmed. The following are factors to think about when assessing your situation:

• Am I struggling with a temporary transition?
• What was my original career goal? How do these considerations fall in line with my goal? Has my career goal changed? `
• In my current role, do I continue to gain new skills and knowledge areas to move my career forward?
• Is there a clear career trajectory in my current job, with opportunities for advancement and compensation?
• Are there opportunities to expand my network and expertise in my current role?
• Am I staying for the right reasons? Many people stay at a job because of loyalty. If this is the reason you hesitate to make a move, take time to think about how this may be affecting your career path.
• If I decide to leave, what are my options for next steps in my career? Do I have a new job opportunity lined up? Is self-employment a possibility? If I do not have something new lined up, how long can I afford to be without a paycheck?

Use Good Decision-Making Skills

     The good news is that, as social workers, we were made for this! Our profession teaches us to help our clients to make difficult decisions all the time. Apply these same principles to your own struggles. 

• Assess your current work situation from a micro, mezzo, and macro perspective.
• Take a strengths-based approach to career decision-making. 
• Apply problem solving skills to complex work situations to break down the challenges, and address each one with a goal and a plan.
• Advocate for yourself in your current situation as you would ultimately advocate for a client.
• Utilize the Code of Ethics to assure that you are applying social work values each step of the way.
• Apply a self-care plan each step of the way, so you can keep up your stamina throughout this process.

Before You Go

     Deciding to quit your job is an emotional decision. Make sure that you have given yourself plenty of time to process your decision before you speak to your supervisor. Regardless of the circumstances of your resignation, remember that it is not professional or ethical to quit without following the proper process. Provide your resignation in writing, make sure the message is clear, and stay positive in your tone.

     It is also imperative to eliminate as much disruption as possible, especially when it comes to talking with your co-workers. Remember that this is the last impression you will leave within the organization, so you want to keep it positive and intentional, not impulsive. Finally, consider how this may affect your professional brand, and get ahead of it. Write down how you will articulate your new career move, and practice saying it out loud. For example, “I have decided to leave my current position in order to seek new opportunities in ______.”

     We have faced many challenges over these past couple of years, and this may be our greatest challenge yet. Remember that each job you will undertake is just a “career moment.” All of these moments together serve as stepping stones in your career and, ultimately, your legacy. What may seem to be an agonizing decision may turn out to be the best step you have ever taken!

Jennifer Luna, MSSW, writes about social work career development. Jennifer is a social worker, career coach, keynote speaker, and trainer. She serves as Director of the DiNitto Center for Career Services at the University of Texas at Austin, Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Jennifer utilizes a collaborative yet strategic coaching approach to assist social workers in identifying their strongest skills, areas of knowledge, key strengths, and leadership characteristics.