The Grass is Always Greener?

In the last few weeks a fair few of my friends and colleagues have been thinking of moving jobs and making a fresh start. This is partly spurred on by the Credit Crunch; some of them have been worried about losing their jobs (many are working in Banking), whist others have simply been enjoying the good spring weather and would prefer to be spending more time outside than in an office. Very different reasons for thinking of a career change, however, the same principles apply when trying to find a new job.

1. Make sure you really want to find a new job. People often forget how much hard work and frustration can come in finding a new job. You need to ask yourself what your motivation for leaving is – further your career, more money, status, better working hours, better working environment or to do something passionate about. If you choose the first three then hopefully you already enjoy your current job as wherever you move is only likely to be harder work. If it’s the latter three you need to open your mind as the jobs you would be willing to do. There are always ups and downs in jobs and only to often people leave job when they are in a trough, only to regret it when they do leave and miss the good times. Make sure you aren’t leaving simply because you it not enjoyable at the moment and think of the bigger picture.

2. Have you tried to move internally? If you want to further your career or increase you status then the first point of call should be looking internally. By telling you employer that you want to look for a new role internally you are signalling how ambitious and proactive you are. If you are good at your current job, employers would always to try and move you internally and try and move towards your needs if they can. They have invested a lot of money in you, and replacing you can be a very costly business. If they can’t help you, then that is the time to look externally.

3. If you want a big change, be bold. All too often people decide they want a big change, quit their jobs, take a look around for a new one and find something they would be good at, but end up back a job not that different to what they were doing before and go through the same cycle again. If it is type of work that you don’t enjoy, then make sure when you look for a new job you are bold, think laterally and go for something truly different. But remember, if you do this and apply for different jobs you still need to show that your skills are applicable to the job you are applying. You may well get rejections. Don’t take this as a sign that you can’t do that job; you simply need to find an employer who is willing to take transferable skills. If you do get rejected, find out why and use that feedback to adapt your next application.

4.Don’t run from a job, run to a job. It’s a bit of and old saying, but it rings true. Quitting your job without having anything to go to can be very stressful, particularly if you need the income. It is likely to take longer than you think it might too, so make sure you account for that. If you can put up with your job whilst you look for new ones, make sure you do. If you really can’t stand your job and decide to leave before you have somewhere to go, make sure you don’t waste your time off. It’s all too easy to sit at home, put on the TV and watch episodes of 24 for hours. Be disciplined. Plan your day; search for jobs in the morning, amend your CV to personalise it for each employer before lunch etc. Make sure you speak to friends and family and look through your address book and see if you have names of people you have met in the past that may be able to help. It’s not easy to find a job, it takes effort on your part – if you are disciplined and put in the effort , you will reap the rewards.