A well-timed, deliberate change of jobs can be a crucial move towards a successful career. After all, it expands your skillset and value as a professional. Fortunately, with the number of job openings, there’s no pressure for you to enter the first company that contacts you nor the first salary offer that is offered to you. In Ohio alone, there were 381,000 vacant positions late last year due to an influx of resignations. The demand for labor is so strong that some companies increased salaries to attract more applicants.
It is also much easier to look for jobs today with digital network platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. Listings can be filtered, and an application takes a matter of minutes before it is sent to the employer.
However, the real challenge is making a strategic exit and career turn. If you’re at a crossroads with your career, here are four questions you need to ask yourself before you move jobs.
#1 Should I move jobs?
Often, the urge to resign and find another job is influenced by strong negative emotions. Behavior researcher Dr. Shahram Heshmat notes how emotions like anger or frustration overemphasize your current feelings, making you act on impulse and ignore the possible consequences. It also narrows your focus, zoning in on the negatives associated with your current job in an effort to support your decision to leave.
To avoid being swayed by negative emotions, you should first identify your frustrations and understand where they’re coming from. See if these issues are amenable first. Stress could be from challenging tasks that can serve as learning opportunities. If the reasons for your frustration lie in poor work conditions, such as toxic workplace relationships, then don’t hesitate to discuss this in person with your manager or team leader.
But never compromise on your well-being if your needs and highlighted issues cannot be resolved by your current workplace.
#2 Am I really ready to move?
Make a list of what you’ve learned from and contributed to your job. Then, ask yourself: “Have I maximized what I can learn from and do for this company?” Conversely, if there’s still much to learn in your current position, it’s too early to switch jobs.
However, if the only thing lingering is fear, outplacement coach Jolanta Joaszko highlights that you should focus more on the opportunities your eventual job search presents instead of the fear of leaving your current job. Rather than worrying about rejection, look forward to learning more about yourself as well as acquiring specific skills. While change is inevitably accompanied by fear, your mindset has to focus on the growth it entails.
#3 Will this help advance my career?
Moving jobs should be based on what you want to achieve in the future as it essentially steers the trajectory of your career. Will the new job help you acquire the skills you need to reach your goals? When moving jobs it is important to know what your next company will be able to do for your career that your current workplace couldn’t.
On the other hand, this question also considers the prospect of staying with your current job. It’s especially worth staying if your company offers employee development programs that prepare you for higher positions or train you for other roles in the company. In the end, it’s about choosing the option that can help you grow.
#4 What kind of environment am I looking for?
Working for a company whose principles and values align with yours is productive and fulfilling. People would even stick with lower pay for a great company culture rather than put up with a toxic workplace. According to thought leader on corporate culture Natalie Baumgartner, no pay can beat a company that values their individuality and allows them to find meaning in their work.
However, there are various preferences when it comes to company culture. If you’re looking for a more relaxed environment, for example, companies like Horizons INC. have flexible hours and a comfortable workplace. Nonprofit organizations like Cleveland Clinic are for those who value diversity and community service. Use this job change as an opportunity to explore various company cultures out there, read reviews online, and find one that aligns with your character.
Ultimately, changing jobs edges you closer to achieving your career goals. And while the prospect of a new job is enticing, it’s imperative that such a decision is carried out with a thorough deliberation that weighs up the different pros and cons between your current job and the next.
Ivan Vassiliev
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