Applying? what?
Okay, i’m not a “job-guru”. Let’s get that out of the way first. BUT, i have managed to land a job or two already in my career - through applying - but also from being headhunted. One thing that i’ve learned over the years, is to keep a CV (resume) and cover letter within arm’s reach - so that you’d be able to just give them a quick polish and rewrite if you should stumble upon something that seems interesting.
Don’t get me wrong; If you have a job, and you’re happy where you’re at - lovely. I still think you should keep your eyes open though. Opportunities have to be taken - and are rarely just given. There can be many ways to define opportunity, some of them could be: Better salary, more time off, better location, more interesting tasks, benefits in form of bonuses, healthcare, company trips… the list is long, and it tends to vary for most of us, what is considered “important”.
That’s what is making this all so interesting. A thing that we got taught in Product Development classes at University was that the consumers rarely know exactly what they want, especially when it comes to new - groundbreaking technology or products in general. You see, you don’t know what to ask for, if you don’t know what you’re looking for. A different example: “I can’t ask a question i don’t know” - You wouldn’t ask about something to drink, if you never got thirsty. You would never think about buying a bed if you never had to sleep. Stuff like that.
Often, when it comes to creating new products and solutions, you have to create a sense of use - a need. It has to solve something, or create a problem which this product then will solve. (Looking at Pay-2-Win games).
Either way; back to applying for jobs.
What you got - not what you’ll get!
Most people know what they get at their current job. The salary they get, how many weeks or days off, on-location and/or home office hybrid, pension plans, and so on. These things, most of us know. We know our current situation. What we don’t know, is potential situations. What things would be like; in different companies, different roles, different regions or cities. We know what we got here and now, and what we used to have. Not what we could have. The only way to get to know this, is to try to find out… By applying for a job.
This factor can often be a limiting thing. Somehow, for some reason, many people are almost afraid to apply for jobs. They feel as they are betraying their employer and colleagues by doing this. That sending a cover letter and CV (resume) will count as the utter most betrayal towards someone who trusted you, and gave you a job in the first place. And i get why you feel that way. But remember: this is business. And you - you are your own advocate. You can at anytime, so to speak, alter your situation. To improve it, one way or another, should you wish to do so.
I like what i do
Awesome! You have found a job you like, and that is actually worth A TON! Congratulations! However… i would actually still suggest you to apply for similar positions from time to time. Who knows? maybe you could up your salary by 10-20% doing the exact same job, but in a different company? Or you get one extra week of vacation? How about healthcare? Pension plan, anything different there? There are many factors - and it’s never a bad thing to take some “samples” from time to time, to check what the market is actually willing to offer you.
“But Abbi, i love my colleagues! They need me too!”
Ah. Yes, this is probably one of the most classic “traps” of the equation. I get it, you found a good bunch of good people where you currently work - and that IS worth something! No doubt about it. Still… You think that no other places have fun or good colleagues for you? You somehow found THE place to be? Huh… now that is truly awesome then! And that they need you, so bad in fact, that you feel like they would go bankrupt without you there. Sorry to burst the bubble, but that is just wrong. Business, my friend. You leave, they will replace you. None of us (as much as we’d love to think so) are irreplaceable. And there are in most cases cool people working all places. You’d get great colleagues at a new place too, i’m sure of it. It’s mostly about attitude and how personalities match - or don’t match.
I think that most people (read: everyone) should apply to a job a couple of times a year - even if you’re perfectly happy where you are. Sure thing, this can be more difficult if you’ve established a life, have a family - or maybe live in a small town that is far away from other opportunities. Your situation may vary, and there are a TON of variables to take into consideration here. I haven’t said that it would be easy - by any means, but i do think it’s well worth your time to actually explore the many opportunities that are out there. A job - and potentially a career (even a career shift) can be life altering in many ways, good and bad. Only one way to figure that out though: Apply!
At the end of the day…
You need to do what makes you happy, and what enables you to reach and obtain what you’d want in life. That is perhaps the most fantastic thing about the world we have created on this floating space-rock we call home. What makes me happy, and what my goals are, can be close to worthless in your book of “a great life”. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay - it’s freaking amazing!
It’s almost like a get-out-of-jail-free card out of nowhere. As long as you work towards the life you truly want to live, a reality where you would like to continue to exist, evolve and thrive - great. Love it!
Still, though… I would recommend you keep an up-to-date CV(resume) and cover letter… You know, just in case!