When to leave a job?
There are times when leaving a job and embarking on a job search is a great idea. However, you should not abandon ship lightly. You must first have five tasks completed before putting yourself on the job market.
1. You have to be able to chronicle and discuss your reasons for leaving, and they must be valid. (Your list must have a minimum of three reasons, preferably five.)
2. You must know what jobs are actually "out" there, what they are, what they require and what they really pay. Your study of the market must be done before you embark on your search.
3. You must know who you are and why you would be attractive to a prospective employer. This marketing product on you must be done before you begin to look.
4. You must have developed a coordinated attack plan to get that next job.
5. You must be able to carefully track you new job pursuit path.
Remember, all industries are "small" and many times incestuous, so that once you embark you could actually end up looking on a fulltime basis.
Most of the above items you can do on your own, but some may require a second party's input. There are plenty of career coaches or counselors available, just be sure before you engage one that ask about their credentials and methodology. One final note on your questioning of the career coach or counselor, ask to explain their follow-up system.
Many times, when prospective candidates call, I ask them why they want to leave, and to give me three good reasons before I accept them as a client. If they are just unhappy, I often tell them to stay put, as I am not comfortable with their analysis of the market; their reasons for leaving, their job skills preparation and their presentation materials.
I am trying to give good sound advice; that is not self-serving, that is what you want from a good career coach, indeed, must demand, from that coach, even before you engage them.
There are times when there really are good reasons to leave a job even in a bad economy; when conditions, product, market, management, and or co-workers become intolerable.
See the list below: Although not complete, it is reflective of problems at work today that could cause you to leave a job.
1. When the company plays with your compensation or quota program several times in a short period of time. Each time; making your task to earn even what you did last year or last quarter almost impossible.
2. When there is a constant revolving door in middle and upper management.
3. When your superiors treat your clients with distain or worse.
4. When the "paycheck" bounces, is late or is incorrect, or "lost."
5. When business travel is restricted because of cost.
If I have enumerated some of the "hot" points for you then you need to begin planning that job search campaign. Again, a simple reminder, if you are engaged in looking for new job (position); please be sure that your motives, goals, and career objectives are realistic, attainable, and in your best interests.
A word of caution, if you are currently in a job and suddenly you think the market has changed please "always" be discrete about your "paper" (Credentials)
As the market recovers, there may well be a rush to hire, with a concomitant rush to dehire if the market suddenly swings back.
Bruce Dreyfus, Managing Partner
To read more please visit our website: www.get-that-next-job.com
Our goal for these advisories is to demonstrate how you can "Move from the Herd to be Heard" in today's job market place.
Transition Compass
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