A Lesson from Betty

betty suarez has left new york city for jolly ol' england.

and now, ugly betty is no more. for four seasons, we've gotten to watch america ferrera's character transform from a poncho wearing, outer borough brace face into an urbane and stylish manhattan magazine editor.

i remember long ago and far away, getting off the 6 train from the bronx with a lack of sophistication and dreams of being a writer, just like my queens counterpart. (my version of the poncho was dressing in color, while everyone else donned head-to-toe black. yes, i did stick out like a sore thumb, thank you.)

after a few years at my first job, like betty, i was presented with a bigger position elsewhere. as she did in the final episode, i doubted whether i should make the career move. now i think back and can't believe i hesitated; hence, my yelling at the tv, "betty, take the job!"

even though i never regretted moving on-and apparently neither did betty, since the show's finale has her living and editing happily in london-i thought i'd consult new york-based executive career coach christine wilson to see, especially in these economic times, if moving on is still a good idea.

"i encourage people to think very carefully before uprooting themselves," wilson said. research the new company, and make sure the opportunity is better, not just different than what you've got.

i recall being conflicted (as well as feeling disloyal) about leaving my employer. in fact, i recited betty's very words about her boss, daniel: "he gave me my start. i owe him everything." the question still lingers for me about whether you really owe your employer anything.

"no," wilson replied. "while you are working there you should be loyal and do your best; be worth what they're paying you. companies don't feel they owe you. they will always do what's best for them, so do what works best for you." she then added, "there's a lot of evidence that says staying in the same place is not necessarily the best for your personal or financial advancement."

i then described a scene where editor-in-grief, wilhelmina, asks betty why she bothered working her way up the ladder at mode only to "throw it all away." wilson objected to that assessment, sizing up the situation as natural progression. "betty had put in four good years with the company, moved up, wrote a blog in addition to doing her work for the magazine, which all led to her next opportunity."

there's also the matter of daniel's counter offer, something i found off- putting when it happened to me. rather than being flattered by it, i remember thinking, if i merit the promotion and raise, why didn't you give it me before i went to the trouble of finding a new job?

"i'm always concerned about an employer who doesn't give you what you deserve until you threaten to quit," said wilson, who warns, "you must be extremely careful about using the opportunity to leave as leverage." people do it and it works; however, if it doesn't, you have to take the new position whether you really want it or not.

finally, wilson counsels, "you have to take what you've accomplished and use it to manage your own career with what suits you."

so if a professional opening has come along, and you've done your due diligence on the new opportunity-then found it's the right one for you-take the risk and bid your current job farewell. or as betty would now say, "cheerio."