According to research conducted in the U.S., the average baby boomer will switch jobs 10 times throughout their careers. Regardless of economic conditions, we all need to take greater control of our own careers. The concept of a traditional move up the corporate ladder is no longer guaranteed as it once was nor an obvious final destination to plan towards. Your career plan needs to be continuously evolving.
Job moves are almost always inevitable, they are seldom easy and nearly always emotionally fraught—and too often they lead to a noticeable decline in performance, in both the short and the long term. There are five common job-change themes that are worth thinking about before making our move. These are often cited by search consultants as well as HR Managers as being re-occurring issues for people. Prior to making the move ask yourself these questions:
- Have I done enough research?
- Am I leaving for the money?
- Am I going “to” rather than “from?”;
- Am I overestimating myself?;
- 5. Am I thinking too short term?
They can follow predictable patterns and persist throughout the course of a career. These issues are not necessarily independent of one another and they can play out as a system of behaviors, dissatisfaction, unrealistic hopes, ill-considered moves, and more dissatisfaction.
Have you done enough research?
Job hunters need to do their research in four important areas: The reality of opportunities in your industry or function. Do you have unrealistic expectations of what’s out there? Secondly, have you done your homework on your potential employer’s financial stability and market position? Don’t just assume that your new employer is on solid ground, check their balance sheet, it’s up to you to assess whether you will have a job in six months. Ensure there is a cultural fit with your potential employer – everyone will suffer if there is a poor fit. Make sure that the title and description of the role you are being offered is a true reflection of the actual role responsibilities. You may find yourself in a job, after you have started, that bears little relationship to the title, which can lead to loss of credibility if the job is beyond you or massive disappointment if your skills and experience are beyond the job.
Are you leaving just for money?
It’s easy to be lured away for an attractive financial offer. It’s interesting how, when asked, we rank money as about fourth on our list of reasons to change job, but when it comes down to it, it becomes number one when making a final decision. Consider what relationships, networks and connections you may be leaving behind for the sake of a few more dollars, right now. Have you done all the necessary research as cited above before just making the decision to move for more money; is it really the right move?
Are you moving “to” the right Job or moving away “from” the wrong job?
If you have got to the point where you are really unhappy in your current job and just want to get out, you may make hasty decisions which may lead to another career mistake. This is the time to pause and plan your next career move. Don’t rush through the job hunt – follow the career planning steps and wait for the right offer. Don’t skimp on research. Be strategic in your thinking, not emotional. Have you, for example, discounted your current employer or are there perhaps other opportunities to explore with them?
Are you overestimating yourself?
Be reflective about what you actually have contributed to your organisation. Do you have unrealistic views of your skills and experience? Can you identify the sources of your successes and failures in your existing job? We need to be self-critical and identify what part of our current unhappiness is due to external factors and the environment we find our self in and what has to do with our own personal frustrations and issues? If we don’t think this issue through, we run the risk of finding ourselves unhappy and dissatisfied again, for the same reasons, in a new role. Be honest with yourself – is your unhappiness and disappointment everything to do with the current employer or job, or is there underlying personal issues that need to be addressed before planning your next move? Do you need to think about skills training or experience gaps? Do you need to be think about working in a different industry or in a different function? Is it time to go back and explore what it is you are passionate about and then plan ways to fulfil that potentially along a new career path?
Are you thinking too short term?
Having a short-term perspective can feed into each of the other four issues. For instance, if you overestimate yourself, you may believe you deserve rewards right now, not in five years. Leaving a firm because of money and going “from” rather than “to” are both overly influenced by immediate information and considerations. “How much money can I make right now?”, “How can I escape an unpleasant work environment?”. Try and plan for the longer term. Ask yourself if this next job move is leading you along the longer term path you envisage. It’s important to try and plan longer term whilst remaining curious to all possibilities along the way. Having a plan but at the same time remaining open minded about other possibilities. In summary, it’s important to try and plan ahead, but keep your plan alive and evolving. Try not to be pressured into making hasty decisions. As you go through the job change process ask yourself: “What if I’m wrong? What is the evidence that this new company would be a good fit?” Develop alternative options. Have you considered all the opportunities that might be available for you with your current employer? Speak to a mentor, or trusted advisor within your network who can provide you with a reality check.
