My question is: as a worker experiencing job churn, what’s the point when I should consider whether I ought to more deeply change my career path?
This job churn extends pre-Covid (though it has continued now as well).
The issue is: I have several examples where a coworker of a similar background & skillset got a long-term position, while my contract wasn’t renewed (the longest job was 2 years). I enjoyed my time at each of these places, and didn’t cause any issues from what I can tell. I seemed to do my work well.
Since your best bet to improve yourself is hearing feedback, I’ve always politely asked “what I could improve upon” each time my supervisor told me I wouldn’t be renewed. Every time, their feedback has been vague. This has all felt quite odd, like I don’t know what I’m doing wrong— when I can point to clear accomplishments in my work.
These jobs ranged from policy analysis at the government, to journalist roles, to being a project coordinator at NPOs.
Is there a point where I should go back to uni and study something with more job stability?
That’s a tricky one, sorry to hear it. It could just be random chance—plenty of jobs have churn, and I think a surprising amount of doing well in jobs is getting along with other people. I wonder if you had any managers, colleagues, or friends who you think might have any specific feedback? On the other hand, this could just be chance.
Thanks for your thoughts Louis! I’ve thought it might somehow be chance, but the last thing I want is to lull myself into that complacency— I figure there must be something more going on.
I can’t recall any instance of fights or “drama” of any sort, or of missing major deadlines or any other big mistakes. I’m very tension-averse so I’m motivated to either amicably resolve an issue or let it slide if it isn’t worth the trouble.
Perhaps I should get in the habit of asking managers/colleagues for feedback before I find out I’m not getting renewed— maybe they’d be more willing then to share what mysterious issues I clearly must be having.
My question is: as a worker experiencing job churn, what’s the point when I should consider whether I ought to more deeply change my career path?
This job churn extends pre-Covid (though it has continued now as well).
The issue is: I have several examples where a coworker of a similar background & skillset got a long-term position, while my contract wasn’t renewed (the longest job was 2 years). I enjoyed my time at each of these places, and didn’t cause any issues from what I can tell. I seemed to do my work well.
Since your best bet to improve yourself is hearing feedback, I’ve always politely asked “what I could improve upon” each time my supervisor told me I wouldn’t be renewed. Every time, their feedback has been vague. This has all felt quite odd, like I don’t know what I’m doing wrong— when I can point to clear accomplishments in my work.
These jobs ranged from policy analysis at the government, to journalist roles, to being a project coordinator at NPOs.
Is there a point where I should go back to uni and study something with more job stability?
That’s a tricky one, sorry to hear it. It could just be random chance—plenty of jobs have churn, and I think a surprising amount of doing well in jobs is getting along with other people. I wonder if you had any managers, colleagues, or friends who you think might have any specific feedback? On the other hand, this could just be chance.
Thanks for your thoughts Louis! I’ve thought it might somehow be chance, but the last thing I want is to lull myself into that complacency— I figure there must be something more going on.
I can’t recall any instance of fights or “drama” of any sort, or of missing major deadlines or any other big mistakes. I’m very tension-averse so I’m motivated to either amicably resolve an issue or let it slide if it isn’t worth the trouble.
Perhaps I should get in the habit of asking managers/colleagues for feedback before I find out I’m not getting renewed— maybe they’d be more willing then to share what mysterious issues I clearly must be having.
Framing feedback as “asking for advice” can often make people more comfortable with giving feedback as well