Are you running to or from a job?

“Are you running to a job or from a job?” This is something say so often that my husband put it in our shared notes app. Unbeknownst to me, when we began working at home together in March 2020, my husband started a list of “Wendy-isms” based on what he heard me say in meetings over and over again.

This one made the top of his list because I say it so frequently. As someone who talks to people about their careers pretty regularly, my first order of business is always to determine why someone is looking for a change and by asking the simple question, “are you running to something or away from something?” I can usually get my answer.

When you are running from a job, it is no different than running from danger, you experience tunnel vision as you look for your escape plan, your heart rate is up and your fight or flight response is activated. When we make decisions in this highly emotional state, we lose the ability to think logically and creatively, we often see only two (binary) options, and then we select between them.

Conversely, when we are running to a job, we are excited about future possibilities. We see it in front of us, and can imagine a better future. These are the jobs where we feel there are endless possibilities. Running to a job often starts with dreaming, soul-searching, and strategy. What am I looking for? Why am I making a move? What's in it for me? These are the types of questions you want to ask before you move jobs, not after. Starting here will help you to not merely leave a job, but to find one that provides additional experiences, an industry change, or an opportunity that’s more interesting or fulfilling.

Regardless of your reasons for leaving a job, whether you’re running away or heading toward something new, you want to make sure you do your homework on the new job. You need to learn about the business, the team, the culture, the leader, the work, and all the requirements and expectations. It’s absolutely crucial that you approach every job search as though you are also interviewing the company. Too often, we think that the hiring process is about the company finding the best person for the job, and we often forget that it’s also about the person (you) finding the best job and company for them.