Why do privacy people change jobs?

Privacy is a profession on the rise, and experienced professionals are in high demand in Europe, particularly now with the GDPR's DPO appointment requirement. Consequently, many privacy professionals conclude that this is the perfect time to grab a new career opportunity. In our practice, we speak with talented individuals at all seniority levels every day. All look for something new, something fresh, something better!

​But what is better, really? What makes a privacy pro to start looking at what else is out there in the market? During our interviews with candidates, we try to explore what they are experiencing in their current roles and what type of a privacy role may present itself as an opportunity.


So, why do privacy people want to change jobs?


Below you will find a compilation of statements we regularly hear from privacy job-seekers in our practice. As interesting as it is, while reading, keep in mind that:

1 - Some of these reasons are due to the simple fact that the privacy profession is still in the making and is trying to find its correct place within the corporate structure. And not only in Europe. The job still sounds mysterious not only to the wider public (you notice this when you go to birthday parties and when asked what you do for living) but also to other departments in your company (“are you a lawyer or something?”).  
 
2 - When someone decides to leave, this decision is usually also based on a combination of factors with cumulative effect.  You won’t leave just because you are unhappy with your salary. Things add up. People do take the time to evaluate their job satisfaction with all dimensions, and go elsewhere only when there is no hope for improvement.
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3 - Self-awareness is a virtue and not all individuals have this asset. Some of the below statements will raise eyebrows, since we know that it is easier to point fingers to the employer and to avoid any effort to assess own shortcomings. 
So, if you are a hiring manager, take these statements with a pinch of salt and gather additional information about the capabilities of the candidate.
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That’s one of the ways how we help hiring managers with their decisions. We conduct thorough assessments of all our candidates even if it is for a junior / contracting privacy role, and we present findings in our reports. We receive a lot of appreciation for our neutral feedback.
 
Let’s take a look at what privacy pros are telling us!

Question: What are your reasons to look for a new career opportunity?
Responses (in order of frequency):

1	​“My work is not valued by the senior management. So much so that, if I leave, they’d probably shut down the privacy program. I would like to work in a company where privacy compliance is a business priority."
2	​“I am tired of being the only privacy person in Europe and being left to my own devices. My senior management and colleagues in corporate HQ underestimate my challenges here. I would like to work within a team."
3	“There is very little awareness/interest for privacy within the business. I am not involved in new processes from the beginning. If they ever come to me, it is either at the final stage or after the product/service launch! I would like to work in a company where pro-active thinking is part of the DNA.”
4	“I hear all the nice words about privacy compliance but there is hardly ever a budget to spend on resources which can support my work (e.g. privacy software, tools, publications). I would like to work in a company where adequate resources are allocated to the program; this is critical for my success.”
5	“They did not know where to put me on the organization chart and finally I have a very irrelevant reporting line. My direct manager does not understand my work at all. This results in lack of cooperation and poor analysis of my performance. I would like to report to someone who is at least familiar with what I am doing.”
6	“I am not sure whether the business approaches me for the right purpose. My advice is usually ignored. I feel like they are coming to me just to tick a box, and they move on with what they were doing. This is frustrating!”
7	“I am tired of being an external (e.g. consultant, DPO, external legal counsel) and would like to go for an in-house privacy role. I enjoy serving a variety of clients but I also would like to see the implementation within the business and the results.”
8	“I have an EMEA/EU responsibility but I would like to go for a global privacy role.”
9	“I have an in-house role at a B2B company and I hear that all the exciting things happen in B2C/big data environments! Due to their challenges, they invest much more in privacy. This means that I can learn more.”
10	“I read/hear that privacy pros like me are much in demand. That is not what I see on my pay cheque. I think I am not paid in line with my experience and the local market.”
11	“I am responsible for only one EU country and I would like to have a Europe-wide responsibility”.
12	“I cannot keep myself up-to-date with the latest developments in privacy nor benefit from networking. There is simply no budget for any training or conference”.
13	“After so many years working in-house, I would like to become an external consultant / DPO to businesses. I think I can regulate my work-life balance much better this way while learning about different businesses.”
14	“We are small company and I see no career perspectives here. Perhaps larger organizations and their HR are more proactive in providing a career development program for their privacy officers?”
15	Other  “I can’t get along with my manager.” “I am working with unpleasant colleagues.” “I would like to move to X European country for family reasons.” “I always wanted to move to Europe and now with the GDPR (and the need for 28k privacy pros!) this is the perfect time.” (from privacy pros outside Europe)

As said earlier, except for a few situations (e.g. an immediate need to move to another country), it is  usually a combination of factors which trigger the job search of a privacy professional.

With the changing legislative landscape, exciting times are ahead of privacy professionals in Europe. One thing is for sure: whether in their current roles or in a new place, privacy pros who enjoy challenges won't be disappointed!
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