Why do we seek to change everything when embarking on a job search process?
Janis Ransom
Principal Resume Writer @ Franklin Paterson Company, Resume Writing, Interview Preparation, Career and Job Search Strategy
As we embark on our job search or a career upgrade, we often seek a significant definable change, hoping that our change-of-everything approach will fix what is wrong with our current work situation! Many believe they would be more satisfied in a different work environment, company, industry, or location.
When anxiety about a career change sets in, we often fail to go granular in our research of why our current job or the company is no longer fit. For example, we do not consider the employment conditions currently working for or against us.
Here are a few things to consider before leaving your current position.
Is it our discontent related to team politics or undercurrents of general team dissatisfaction? Is it workload stress, undelivered promotions, low wages, unaligned vision/goals, or the work-life balance? Is there a lack of management support and training, or is the increasing cost of benefits causing your unhappiness in your current role?
It is essential to look through all these factors to find out the root cause of your frustration. Then, use what you learn as benchmarks as you review the positions you decide to apply for and prepare for interviews for the new positions.
Are you truly a top performer?
Sometimes, we overrate ourselves, our contribution, and our value to the team and organization. Seek feedback from your supervisor or trusted teammates regarding your competencies. Then, brush up on your skills and access the training or classes needed to advance or refine the skills that could be key to helping you secure your next position.
Refine your choices and identify the other areas to consider.
Consider job searching within your current company. Sometimes, a stay-where-you-are-job search can be the best approach; try researching job opportunities within your company, its branches, or sister companies. There may be an opportunity at another local branch in other cities or states. Could this be the case for your organization? Sometimes, job searching within your current company makes good sense.
In addition, you may advance your career by searching for jobs within one of your former companies. Is there support from past colleagues for your new adventure? Most job seekers ignore the possibility that their next job could be at their former employer. Consider securing your next position next job through secure networking with former colleagues. Plan out your internal and external job search; both can run in parallel. Develop and write down your goals, actions, and feedback steps. Track and evaluate your progress in these areas, and make reasonable adjustments to the “got to get out of here” timeline.
Job searching can be time-consuming, overwhelming, and sometimes even devoid of favorable feedback. Breaking your job search into steps will help you identify and evaluate your progress or stumbling blocks and where you need help.
At a minimum, do a bi-weekly assessment of your results and job search status, and remember to nurture the other parts of your life, such as your family, volunteer work, and hobbies.
Now may also be the time for an attitude adjustment. It is crucial to assess and monitor your attitude. You should be methodical and deliberate in your job search and resist the urge to grab the first reasonable offer because you are anxious to leave and are concerned about missing your deadline. Although difficult to admit, you may need to accept that while you are ready to make the job or career change, the emotional investment of your nearest and dearest may be bordering on ambivalent and disinterested interest.
Also, be prepared to discover that job searching and career exploration can be lonely, so be kind to yourself as you hit unexpected bumps and disappointments.
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I like this approach: Before handing in your notice, consider if there is any unexplored potential in your current job that could make it worthwhile to stay. Well, at least until you have formulated a proper leaving plan!
Remember to take care before handing in your notice to review and consider if there is any unexplored potential in your current job or at your company that you can explore that could be a worthwhile reason to stay.
Resume Writer, Interview Coach and Career Strategy Expert
1dSometimes, people are only casually seeking a change, so their process is not informed. Managers notice that.
Resume Writer, Interview Coach @ Franklin Paterson | Career Counseling Expert | Inspiring success through expert Career Counseling.
1dThis is a good point: "Be methodical and deliberate in your job search and fight the temptation to grab the first reasonable offer because you are anxious to leave and are concerned about missing your deadline." Sometimes, we wait too long to start the job change process, so we have to cut corners on the preparation piece.