To put it frankly, the days of lifetime employment may be behind us. That means that absent a really incredible set of incentives - meaning the whole dream-job package: compensation, work culture, etc. - it’s likely that top talent will change jobs repeatedly during their career. Just a few years back, job-changing might not have been quite so common, but nowadays, it’s the rule of thumb.

However, that fact isn’t necessarily evidence that jobs are getting worse, nor does it prove that the upcoming generations of candidates are overly demanding or whiny. In fact, what it shows is that top employers are adapting their human resources models to fit the human needs of their top talent, and that puts talent in a great position. At the same time, it’s why Quiet Working Professionals are so desirable: they’ve got OK jobs now, and they’re talented and loyal but they can be enticed if given the right conditions. And that’s not a bad thing.

Of course, if you’re a QWP, that doesn’t mean you should haphazardly look for a way out of your job. We’ve recommended against it, and Penelope Trunk posted recently about it too. She addresses one of the big reasons for a job-change: The Bad Boss. However, she recommends that employees evaluate their own interpersonal skills before denouncing a boss who - granted - may leave a bit to be desired in terms of “managing skills.” She tells a personal story about a job in which

“I could have spent my time complaining. There was a lot to complain about. Instead I always approached [my boss] with empathy and knew when to put my two cents in and when to shut up. Aside from cutting a deal, he didn’t have a lot of management skills, and this gap left more room for me to shine.”

She learned not merely how to grin and bear it but how to excel by taking advantage of the “gaps” bad management created.

Of course she doesn’t work there any more, and that’s important. Maybe it was because she just couldn’t put up with it any more, or maybe it was because she pulled the trigger on her Plan B. Regardless, one way or another, she moved from being a QWP to an active candidate. Sometimes, that’s a talented employee’s best option.

In a post on his blog, Bryan Johanson says that that transformation is becoming more and more common as businesses and recruiters figure out ways to graciously attract top talent.

“If your current recruiting process doesn’t take these things into account, you’re likely to be losing some real top talent. Sleeping Giants [QWPs] won’t remain passive for long. Once awakened, you have to quickly change your process to accommodate their needs.”

Employees know these truths in growing numbers. There’s less and less remorse about a job change. It’s not seen as being disloyal or “jumping ship.” As more employers become savvy about what it is that top talent wants out of a job, QWPs are becoming more willing to activate Plan B or otherwise shift into active candidate mode.

Share This