Should you pivot, or should you stay at your current role.

Money versus job satisfaction, what is more important? (It’s health). What if you are mid career, but you are feeling burnt out and you are thinking about a career change. Should you go for a pay cut, to get a somewhat less stressful job ?

It’s tricky. If you are mid career and you have marketable skills, you should not go and take a paycut. Less money almost always means less quality of life. You should however try to manage your work, and make sure your seniority matches with how you do your work. You should be delegating, and working smart, not micromanaging or balls to the wall work every day in and out. That will be a sure way to burnout.

However, don’t quit your job before you have another one, that goes without saying. You manage until you upgrade. It will give you more leverage, more confidence, and a better final outcome in your negotiation. It will give you the confidence to say no to low ball offers, and protect you from lowering your self worth by asking recruiters what the ‘status’ is. That reeks of desperation. Let them come to you.

If you were let go, or otherwise, then you have a problem. Unless you have real marketable skills, even then, it’s hard to find a new position if you are a senior person that was earning a certain pay check. Most companies will deem you a flight risk when you accept less pay, will wonder why you have been let go, and consider you overqualified.

You fake it until you make it. The same goes for keeping the status quo until you have something that fits your life style better. Work a little bit less, and a little bit smarter. Let someone else pick up the slack. If you are a senior person, you should be leading, not doing work on the frontlines. Whatever you do, don’t burn out until you have that next job.

When you do get the new job, set clear goals and expectations from you, and communicate this clearly to everyone on how you work. Don’t make the same mistakes you did previously. Take some time off to reflect, if needed. Remember health is the most important thing in your life, not work. Although work is a close second, as it provides the means to that health.

Pivoting is a luxury. But if you really can’t stand your current job anymore, it’s time to change. But maybe try a change in the same industry. And unless you have enough financial independence, we wouldn’t recommend going into a whole new industry, as that will mean start from scratch, and your pay will reflect that. And to circle back, not many people will hire a senior person, above 40, with a resume that shows a long career, as there is to much risk involved.

So thread light footed and think twice before you jump ship. Just remember, the grass is not always greener on the other side…