Should you feel bad for getting a new job?

Good morning Dinks.  Let me ask you a question, are you happy at your job? Last week I took on new responsibilities at my work and moved from external communications to the position of community manager.

I did feel bad for leaving my already small team with one less team member and with no doubt the best writer on the team, but at the end of the day I had to do what’s best for me.  Does that make me a total traitor? I just keep telling myself, it’s not personal it’s just business.

How long should you wait before looking for a new job?

To tell you that I am actually really happy at my new job would be an understatement because I absolutely love my new job.  I can now say that I have one of those cool, creative online jobs that didn’t exist ten years ago.  As a community manager I get to use my blogging skills, sales skills and writing skills in my new digital marketing team.  Not to sound like a total self-centered douche-bag but once again I landed a really great job and once again I owe it all to my blogging experience.

I know what you are thinking – WOW she changes jobs  a lot. In case you are keeping track, over the last two years I have gone from financial planner at a bank to an external communications analyst and now to a community manager.  That may seem like a lot but before you judge keep in mind I worked in banking since I was 19 and now I’m 33, so that’s a long time.

Would you look for a new job if you were truly happy at yours?

OK here’s my follow up question, are you in the market for a new job? Maybe you like your current job but you are but are looking for a new challenge.  I didn’t hate my old job, although I wasn’t fond of one of my co-workers.  I was getting bored in my old job, even though I had only been there a year. So when this job as a community manager came up I knew it was a perfect fit and I couldn’t let the opportunity pass by.

I am happy that I had the opportunity to grow my career with the same employer, but that is not always the case.  To be honest I was also looking outside of my organization for a new job but then this opportunity as community manger came up and it was a sign to apply.

Should you be loyal to your employer?

I probably wouldn’t still be at the company if this job didn’t come up because I was not happy in my previous team.  However at the same time I felt a sense of loyalty to the organization because they gave me my first chance at a career in communications after working in banking for so many years.  I still work in the financial sector, but I am no longer on the front lines in the branch. The industry didn’t change, but the job description definitely did.

For that reason I felt a sense of loyalty to my employer.  I wanted a chance to grow my career with them before I started looking outside the organization.  Thankfully it worked out.

Photo by MuchRamblings 

Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.