If you’re an excellent performer and there are other equal or lesser performers who get promoted above you, then it’s the right time to look at the job market and search for another role, according to Chris Melillo, energy practice leader at Dallas recruiting firm Kaye Bassman International.
When this happens, “know that you are not as well thought of at the organization, or the organization is taking your loyalty for granted,” Melillo added.
The Kaye Bassman International representative also advised that if the oil and gas job market begins to resemble the 2011-2014 market, “and you were hired in a condensed role or condensed salary but your firm is not adjusting to the ‘new’ market,” then you should look around for a new role.
Providing his guidance on when to look for a new position, Matt Munro, Petroplan’s Canada regional recruitment manager, advised starting this process if your concerns are “not being listened to.”
“If you’ve kept your job in the downturn and are frustrated with your lot, then I would highly advise in the first instance speaking to your management. If they’re the sort of employer that you want to work for, they should listen to your concerns around workload, work-life balance and salary,” Munro said.
“If you have had a discussion and your concerns are not being listened to, then I would advise that you start the process of looking for a new position,” he added.
Asked when they thought it was the right time to search for another job in the sector, Craig Slater and Sara Howren, recruitment directors at Airswift, said, “if someone has been in the same position and job, or has not progressed or advanced in responsibilities within that role for three years, then it may be time for a change.”
“In many situations, it could be beneficial to look internally for a new challenge. However, if there are no such opportunities, finding another employer may be the best option,” the Airswift representatives stated.
When asked the same question, Gladney Darroh, founder, president and CEO of Piper-Morgan Personnel, said, “generally speaking, whether happy or unhappy in one’s current job, one should always keep an antenna up and stay educated about the market and potential job opportunities.”
Offering her thoughts, Amanda McCulloch, managing director of Thorpe Molloy Recruitment, said, “deciding to leave your job is a deeply personal decision which is rarely taken lightly.”
“Usually, a great deal of time and thought goes in to resigning and there are a myriad of influences that drive the ultimate decision. However, there are definite recurring themes behind deciding it is time to move on,” McCulloch told.
The Thorpe Molloy Recruitment representative said some of the most commonly cited reasons her company hears from the job seekers they meet from the oil and gas sector include:
being miserable
stress/health related matters
personal goals
“As we gain more life experience or come to know ourselves better, we can find ourselves in a job that isn’t fulfilling our personal dreams,” McCulloch said.
“You might really enjoy the people you work with or the challenge your work brings but … if you have life goals that you’ll never attain in the work you do then it can be right to leave without looking back with regret,” McCulloch added.
