How to Successfully Transition to a New Job

If you’ve transitioned to a new job over the past two years or are thinking about doing so, you’re not alone. The United States hasn’t experienced such high job turnover since the early 1970s. And even as the economy begins to slow, the so-called “Great Resignation” is expected to persist.

While most people who transition to new jobs have no regrets, the experience can be stressful. This article explores why so many Americans are currently on the move and why job transitions are often more challenging than expected.

Why Employees Are Pursuing Job Transitions

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2022, Americans continued to transition to new jobs at historically high rates. Between January and March 2022, 2.5 percent of U.S. workers (about 4 million) switched jobs each month. This means approximately 30 percent or close to 50 million workers will change their job by the end of the year.

The impetus to look for new work seems to be driven by two key factors and varies depending on one’s position in the job market. For most American workers, money still is a key motivator for transitioning to a new job, and it seems to pay off. Between April 2020 to March 2021, 51 percent of job switchers experienced a notable increase in earnings, which was not the case for people who remained in their current jobs. However, among higher-compensated workers, the impetus to switch jobs seems to be driven by different factors. In addition to individuals transitioning jobs to secure greater work flexibility, many are transitioning to work for companies more closely aligned with their values. According to the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, 60 percent of employees chose their current workplace based on values alignment.

Why Transitioning to a New Job Can Be Stressful

Even when you’re eager to transition to a new job, the transition can be stressful for several reasons.

• Higher levels of uncertainty: Whether one is excited about their new position or not, new jobs present increased uncertainty. As some people exhibit lower levels of tolerance for uncertainty than others, transitioning to a new job can lead to a spike in stress and related mental health challenges.
• Disrupted routines, policies, and protocols: Just as children often struggle to adjust to a new school due to the new routines, policies, and procedures, it can be difficult for adults to adjust to the different routines, policies, and procedures found in any new workplace. Among other impacts, navigating a different start time, a new commute to work, and a different set of organizational rules can have an unexpected drain on one’s energy.
• Lack of support and community: In recent years, a vast body of research has emerged on the benefits of having friends at work. Among other findings, researchers have found that having friends at work tends to increase one’s job satisfaction and success (Winstead et al., 1995) and increase one’s joy on the job (Sias and Cahill, 2009). Naturally, one of the key challenges individuals face when transitioning to a new job is that they typically lose their established support network and community. Given that new jobs often frequently lead to a temporary increase in stress, the sudden loss of one’s workplace support network can feel especially challenging.

How to Mitigate the Stress Associated with Job Transitions

If you’re in the process of transitioning to a new job, there are several steps you can take to reduce the related stress.

• Be patient: It takes time to establish yourself as a trusted and vital member of a new team. Whether you’re joining as a leader or manager or team member, don’t assume you’ll be up and running on day one. Give yourself time to integrate. You’ll reduce the stress of transitioning to a new job if you have realistic expectations about the time it takes to fully settle in.
• Establish rapport: On a related note, don’t assume you’ll immediately be able to establish the rapport you likely had with team members in your previous workplace. Take time out to build rapport with individuals and your new team. While being curious is a great first step, also proactively seek to foster rapport using tried and true techniques, including social mirroring. Time invested in building rapport early on will help ease your transition.
• Build trust: Like rapport, it is important to avoid taking trust for granted when transitioning to a new workplace. While you may think about yourself as a deeply trustworthy individual, it is important to recognize that others may not immediately see you in this light. Building on Stephen Covey’s research, a great place to start is to focus on building trust in your character, communication, and competence.
• Take care of yourself: Even if you’re excited about your new job and the opportunities it presents, you’re likely expending more energy than you realize. Be extra careful to take time to get a full night’s sleep, recharge and nourish yourself, and take time off to relax and reflect.

New jobs present new opportunities, but this doesn’t mean they are always easy. Acknowledging the psychological stresses that accompany new jobs is the best way to ensure your next transition will be successful.