Some are cautiously sniffing around. Many are squinting at the vacant jobs. And some have already taken the plunge. Or maybe your boss is just not satisfied with your performance at the work.
The job market seems to be taking on a new look, as many things are undergoing change. Many employees are rethinking. They want to change jobs, try something different, or quit. At the same time, there is a growing shortage of skilled workers in many industries, which puts employees in a good negotiating position.
THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF
The big question: why do so many people want to change jobs now?
1st reason: “Gravel, moolah, dough” – more of it in the bank account
It can be felt everywhere: more and more employees are confidently demanding what they are financially entitled to. For many years, employees have worked in various jobs without receiving fair compensation.
A recent soft garden study (“Job Change 2022”) underscores the assumption that one of the reasons for changing jobs is that the pay is too low. Around 62 percent of the study participants who apply to another company from a currently still existing employment relationship do so with the hope of receiving a better salary. The rising cost of living also speaks in favor of looking around on the job market in order to be able to have more in the bank account soon.
Reason 2: Too few opportunities for career advancement
Modest, meager career prospects are driving more and more employees into the arms of other employers: Those who are currently dissatisfied and have no hope of advancing their careers are likely to change jobs. At least, that’s what about 52 percent of the respondents in the job change study said.
Often, an acute lack of perspective arises for employees who see no possibility of gaining more responsibility, a better position, or recognition in the form of a promotion. In this way, drive and a sense of purpose can dwindle. They regularly lead to those affected quitting the job internally and – at some point – leaving the company.
3rd reason: The boss is to blame
The survey further revealed that 50 percent of those who quit without a new job offer said that dissatisfaction with their own boss was the reason.
This is not new: A Forsa survey from 2019 has already shown that one in three employees wanted to hang up the job because it simply did not fit with the direct supervisor. If we go back another 10 years to 2009, we can also see such a trend in a study by Ruhr University (Faculty of Psychology): According to this study, the boss has a significant influence on employee satisfaction.
OTHER ISSUES
Common problems with the boss can be:
- aloofness
- toxic leadership
- authoritarian hierarchy
- unreliability
Good to know: Employers and companies should keep in mind that current key topics such as recognition, appreciation, and constructive, regular feedback discussions are also important to employees. If communication of this kind is lacking, employees may quickly look elsewhere.
Reason 4: The job offers little meaning
Another reason for changing jobs is that employees cannot connect with the “company purpose.” If meaning and identification are missing, it is difficult to maintain the desire to work.
Conversely, this shows how important it has become to ascribe greater value to the job than just making money. Shared values and the inner drive to continue doing the job are rarely present in such cases.
Above all, the inner drive is linked to meaningfulness: So-called “intrinsic stimuli” ensure that one’s performance engine has enough energy to run. If the inner motivation is missing, external influencing factors such as money and prestige rarely help.
Reason 5: Lack of work-life balance.
The desire for more vacation days is a reason for some employees to change jobs. Not only a vacation but having more free time is also a great option. In general, the desire for a better work-life balance is also often behind this. All employees are willing to have enough free time to cope with their daily routine, rest, chill with online slots, and have more time for family. Also, they do not want to drop the job, though sometimes that happens. Around 26 percent of respondents in the soft garden survey cited this as a reason for changing jobs.
It comes as little surprise. The term “work-life balance” has been present above all since Generation Y became increasingly important for the job market. Work and private life should be able to be combined well – that’s the idea. In practice, however, many employees work more than they would like. A frequent reason for this is the lack of personnel in many companies and industries so the shortage of skilled workers also becomes a burden for current employees.