Changing jobs feels like a seismic shift in your own world. You spend weeks, months, or even years weighing up the decision. You worry about what your boss will think, how your colleagues will react, and whether your network will question your motives. When you finally hand in your notice, it’s both terrifying and exhilarating.

Then, reality hits: quite often, no one really cares!

Your colleagues offer polite congratulations, maybe a couple of half-hearted "we’ll miss you" comments, and then… they move on. Your LinkedIn post gets some obligatory likes, a few "congrats!" comments, and that’s it. The world keeps turning.

And that’s a good thing.

I’ve been there myself when I’ve considered a move. Personally, it’s typically taken me 6-12 months to get comfortable with deciding to move on. My head and heart competing with what I think is right. But if I’m honest, how the move might be perceived has (on a subconscious level at least) also played a part.

This isn’t meant to be brutal, it’s simply the truth. Most of us suffer from a mild case of the spotlight effect, the psychological phenomenon where we believe people are paying far more attention to our lives than they actually are. But in reality, everyone is busy dealing with their own career challenges, deadlines, and personal struggles.

Yes, your resignation is likely to cause a short-term inconvenience for your employer. A handful of colleagues will genuinely miss you. But within weeks the space you left is filled. A replacement is hired, projects continue, and business moves forward.

So, if you’ve been hesitating to change jobs because of how others might perceive it, let this be your permission slip to move on without guilt.

Loyalty is often praised in the workplace, especially in traditional industries like accounting and finance. Staying with a company for 10+ years used to be a badge of honour. But times have changed. Careers are no longer linear, and staying in a role that doesn’t challenge or fulfil you out of loyalty is a fast track to stagnation.

The best professionals understand that career growth isn’t about sticking around to prove a point, it’s about continuously evolving. Whether that means moving for better pay, leadership opportunities, flexibility, or a culture that aligns more with your values, the only person truly invested in your long-term success is you.

We’ve all seen those dramatic job change announcements on LinkedIn. You know the ones: “I’m thrilled to share that I’m starting a new chapter at XYZ Company after five amazing years at ABC Firm!”

But here’s the thing, people will scroll, hit ‘like,’ and move on with their day. Even the most engaged professionals only register these announcements for a few seconds before being bombarded with more updates, job ads, and industry news.

This isn’t to say your career moves aren’t significant. They absolutely are, to you. But expecting a dramatic reaction from others can be unrealistic. The sooner you embrace this, the freer you’ll feel to make decisions based on what’s right for you, not on what you assume others will think.

Since no one is watching as closely as you think, you have the freedom to focus on what truly matters:

1. Does this move align with your long-term goals? If your new role offers better growth, skills, or work-life balance, that’s what counts.
2. Are you moving for the right reasons? Running away from a bad situation is different from running toward a better opportunity. Be honest with yourself.
3. How will this affect your well-being? Your job is a huge part of your life. If a change will make you happier, healthier, or more fulfilled, it’s worth doing.
4. Are you maintaining strong relationships? While most people won’t dwell on your departure, networking and professional goodwill still matter. Leave on good terms, but don’t be afraid to move on.

At the end of the day, the only person who has to live with your career choices is you. The people you’re worried about impressing or disappointing? They’re too busy focusing on their own careers to spend much time thinking about yours.

So, if you’ve been holding back from making a move because of how others might perceive it, stop. Your career trajectory should be dictated by what’s best for you, not by the fleeting opinions of others.

Remember, your decision doesn’t have to be forever. I often counsel people to give new opportunities a go, to try a different role, move sector, even more city or country. If it doesn’t work at least you can say you tried. And what else is life really about?

Most people don’t care that you’ve changed jobs. And that’s exactly why you should do what’s right for you.

Andrew