What makes people often change jobs?<\/p>\n
Some people often change jobs. Is it because they want more
\nmoney and better perks? What does it have to do with comfort at
\nwork?<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a job interview, Noor SDK Devi asked if she
\nhad a chance of becoming a manager. "If I didn't have a chance,
\nwhy should I apply for the job?"<\/p>\n
Desiria Ramadini had another thing on her mind when she sent
\nin a job application. She wanted to work in a modern building.
\nHer office should have air-conditioning, wall-to-wall carpeting
\nand modern office equipment.<\/p>\n
A researcher from the University of Massachussetts, Robert
\nWeiss, surveyed 4,000 workers. One of the questions was whether
\nthey would continue working if they inherited a huge sum of money
\nwhich would allow them to live comfortably. Eight out of 10 said
\nthey would. (Fortune, December 1994).<\/p>\n
This shows that aside from salary, would-be employees have
\ntheir own aspirations. Some dream of becoming important in their
\nworkplace. This becomes their ambition, something worth pursuing.
\nThis gives them self-esteem and helps them set standards in their
\nlives.<\/p>\n
Devi wanted to become a manager and knew she could make it a
\nreality. This gave her extra spirit to work. And her dream came
\ntrue. This 39-year-old woman became more than the first female
\nmanager in her company, PT Indosat. She is the human resources
\ngeneral manager.<\/p>\n
And then there is Desiria, who works in her dream office. At
\n30, she is now the Hotel Regent's sales director.<\/p>\n
Job seekers have many dreams, according to Pri Notowidigdo, a
\nheadhunter for Profesindo Reksa Indonesia, an affiliated company
\nof AMPROP International. Some job seekers want high salaries,
\nothers want more: company cars, houses and other perks. In
\ngeneral, they also say they need challenges.<\/p>\n
Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is
\nthat even though they say they want a challenging job, they often
\ndo not know what sort of challenges they want.<\/p>\n
"When we asked them to explain about the challenges, many of
\nthem could not tell us," Notowidigdo said.<\/p>\n
He was sure that some workers do not set their own standards,
\nbut probably use standards prevalent in their social circle.
\n"Because their friends drive good cars, they also want to look
\nlike that." There is nothing wrong with that, he said.<\/p>\n
He said it was not unusual for those in their 50s to put
\nemphasis on their performance.<\/p>\n
Somehow a wish to perform well is one factor that motivates
\npeople to work hard. Such a wish can make people stay in a job
\nfor years, or move from one place to another. Moving from place
\nto place has become a trend among professionals.<\/p>\n
But Harry Sudarsono, a manpower consultant, said it was not
\nthat simple. "They move from one place to another is a strategy
\nto develop themselves," he said.<\/p>\n
How about comfort at work? Don't they turn to another place
\nbecause they want a comfortable working environment?<\/p>\n
Sudarsono, as well as Notowidigdo, believes that money is one
\nof the factors that makes one feel comfortable at work. But they
\nunderline there are other important factors.<\/p>\n
Take Djoko Tata Ibrahim. Djoko, currently president director
\nof PT Intermas Tata Trading, has worked in three other companies.
\nHe said there are four factors that make one feel comfortable at
\nwork -- salary and other remunerations; challenges; prospects;
\nand working environment. "The priority depends on the
\nindividual," he said.<\/p>\n
Employers<\/p>\n
As for employers, they must be aware that there are employees
\nwho like to change jobs. They must be aware that headhunters
\nmight persuade their employees to move to another company. They
\nwill not have any problem if the employees who quit are not
\nproductive. But they will have a headache if young executives or
\nemployees with great potential resign.<\/p>\n
Therefore, many companies have designed strategies to counter
\nthe hijacking of their executives. They give the employees not
\nonly money and perks, but also regular training.<\/p>\n
Established companies open new sister companies to retain
\nemployees. Executives who have reached a certain level are
\ntransferred to the new company before they are hijacked.<\/p>\n
"This is to prevent boredom, saturation and to accommodate
\nthose who need challenges," said Devi of Indosat.<\/p>\n
Indosat executives who need challenges should not worry
\nbecause it has 30 sister companies. When they do not feel
\ncomfortable at work, there is always a chance to move to another
\nsister company.<\/p>\n
But how about those working in a company which does not have
\nany sister companies? When they feel that the job is not
\nchallenging any more, they might be tempted to take the offer to
\nmove.<\/p>\n
Wrong concepts<\/p>\n
In that case, Notowidigdo said they should consider the
\nsituation very carefully, even if the new job looks challenging.
\nHe suggests people should not take such offers if they cannot
\nclearly define what the challenges are. Quoting Eric Fromm's To
\nHave or To Be, Notowidigdo said that wrong concepts about the job
\noften trap employees in their career.<\/p>\n
"What's important is that you can define who you are and what
\nyou can do," he said.<\/p>\n
Starting from that point, even though there is no guarantee
\nthat all your dreams will come true, at least you will know how
\nto enjoy your work and feel comfortable with it.<\/p>\n
It is therefore understandable that Desiria refused the offer
\nto move even though it came with more money and a higher
\nposition. She feels comfortable working in the Hotel Regent, and
\nis not interested in working in a different field.<\/p>\n
Work perks, according to Desiria, is a factor to consider when
\nchoosing a job, but it is not fundamental. "You have to like the
\nwork," she said. And to decide what you really like is not always
\neasy.<\/p>\n
The above is an excerpt from Tiara, a fortnightly lifestyle
\nmagazine. The complete article with sidebars will appear in the
\nmagazine when it goes on sale tomorrow. It is printed here
\ncourtesy of Tiara.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/what-makes-people-often-change-jobs-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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