Sometimes Change Does’t ChanGe Much

Yesterday I was chatting with a friend.

He was grateful to be have come out unscathed from the two COVID waves.

Quickly, the conversation digressed into how stuck he was feeling, holed up indoors for literally 16 months now. The working hours had increased, and so had the household responsibilities with schooling, cleaning, cooking being split by the couple.

He said, it's enough, and I have started interviewing actively. I need a change!

I asked him, so was he not happy with his current job? He said he as happy with the work flexibility, compensation and especially support the firm had offered since WFH began.

So I asked him, what he was looking for in the new job. He said it isn’t anything specific, I just need a change and maybe higher compensation.

Nothing wrong in changing for higher compensation, if that’s what we seek. It made me wonder, whether the current work environment has created a kind of anti-incumbency at work given that it’s possibly the easiest thing to change. It may be worthwhile to reflect on what we seek before we make the change, else novelty of the new job will soon wear out. I have found having a hobby or a side project as great motivators during these times to experience variety & change.