Present Situation Analysis

The Present Situation Analysis will help you see a little more clearly where you stand today. Start with the “Love of Job” section. Take each factor in the left-hand column and scan across till you find something that most closely describes your situation. Circle it and enter the numerical value from the top line. Do this for each of the factors; then add up your total “Love of Job” score and enter it at the bottom. Do the same with the “Confidence in the Future” section.
 

	FACTOR SUPER (score 3) PRETTY_GOOD (score 2) SO-SO (score1) NOWHERE (score 0) The work itself Stimulating; I can’t wait to get to work More great than not Ups and downs Would bore a robot Communication and feedback Always tuned in; open and free, up and down Mostly know what’s going on, how I’m going More from the grapevine than the boss There isn’t even a watercooler in this place Freedom, empowerment Make important decisions on my own Make many decisions, not all Half and half Need permission to use the john Recognition Plenty of it; satisfying and motivating Get some, not as often as I’d like Hear more about the screw-ups than the good work Does anyone know I’m here? The people Love them all, even the boss Like most of them; we have a pretty good time Some are great, others not Nightmare creatures Pay and benefits Generous Pretty good; fair Could be better Looking the minimum wage straight in the eye TOTAL:
	FACTOR SUPER (score 3) PRETTY_GOOD (score 2) SO-SO (score1) NOWHERE (score 0) Training and development Learning all the time; company is aggressive about training Take some courses, have grown in this job Occasionally learn something Head full of mush Advancement Good opportunities here; on a fast track As good as can be expected Some chance to move higher Nobody gets promoted here Company stability Stable, solid outfit Some upheaval not much Have been recent management changes, reengineering Working in a mess Company direction On target; management knows what it is doing Seem to be ok Fair, but too many false starts, not changing fast enough Lost and wandering Company industry growth Growth industry; expanding rapidly Better than most Barely holding our own Sinking fast Gut feeling Confident, looking to the future; right place at the right time Not particularly worried Concerned about the future Continual anxiety attack TOTAL:

If you hate your job and have little confidence that it holds any kind of decent future for you (lower left-hand corner), you should be planning your escape.

If you don’t like your job, but you feel there could be a relatively decent future with your present company (lower right), you ought to try to change the scope of your job within the company. If you love your job but don’t think there’s a future with the company (upper left), you have to decide. Want to stick it out, have fun, and take your chances, or explore other employers now? If you love your job and have a great future (upper right), you are indeed a lucky dog.

Three of the four quadrants call for some kind of change. Even if you are in the “Lucky dog” quadrant you should be getting ready – because you never know.