The Top Stressors in a Job Change
Changing jobs can be a positive and exciting time in a person's life. However, the transition to a new career is often stressful and mentally exhausting. New employees must create new habits and adjust to new workplace routines. An employee must also establish working relationships with new co-workers and a new boss. The top causes of stress in a job change usually stem from a worker's inability or reluctance to adapt to a new business environment and the uncertainty of new job responsibilities.
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Uncertainty
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Many people who change jobs are uncertain about their future with the new organization. The fear of failure and the possibility of unemployment because the new job may not be a good fit can cause much stress for a new employee. Further, the possibility that a new job will not meet an employee’s needs financially may also cause a significant amount of stress. Perhaps the salary is less or the benefits are not as good as the previous job. The uncertainty of not knowing if the job change was a good idea can be stressful until the worker establishes himself and becomes comfortable in the new organization.
Loss of Relationships
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When an employee leaves a job, relationships with old co-workers and business associates tend to deteriorate. Common bonds are lost because old co-workers no longer see each other every day. This change in an employee's social life can cause stress. Transitioning to a new job also means a worker must establish new relationships and adjust to a new social circle. The fear of not being accepted by new co-workers and the anxiety that comes from adapting to unfamiliar social behaviors can be especially stressful in a worker’s life.
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Learning Curve
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A learning curve is the amount of time it takes a new employee to become efficient in a new job. New employees must adjust to a new work environment, new processes and procedures and new work responsibilities. Learning new job proficiencies can create much stress in an employee’s life, especially if the worker is in an entirely different field. Many workers strive for perfection to make a good impression on a new employer but often fall short. This creates doubt and stress for an employee who wants to do well but lacks the level of knowledge necessary to perform job duties optimally.
Work-Life Balance
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A new job often creates a disruption in a person’s balance between home and work life. An employee must adjust to a new work schedule and commute that, at times, interferes with a family’s daily routine. For example, a change in work hours or commuting distance might require a parent to change how the children get to and from school. Additional job responsibilities may require work to be brought home, which could impede on time spent with a significant other or family and friends.
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References
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