One
of the first questions I ask potential candidates is the reason why they are
willing to talk to me.
Some
people tell me that they engage in every conversation with a head-hunter
because they want to explore the market and to see what is available. As much
as I appreciate honesty, let’s face it, it will give me the impression that you
act quite opportunistic and chances are that I am wasting my time.
Others
will immediately inquire about the salary package, looking for a salary
increase as main driver for switching jobs. Personally, I am not convinced that
this is the best reason for exploring new horizons. Although there is nothing
wrong with wanting to improve your current compensation package, it gives me
the feeling that you are available for the highest bidder without looking at
the content of the job.
Nevertheless,
there can be some very good reasons that justify exploratory conversations
about a new job opportunity.
·
You no longer get along with your boss
The
number one reason why people decide to leave their job is the bad relationship
they have with their boss. The chemistry between you and your direct manager as
well as the team spirit is crucial to being successful in a job.
It
is important though to keep in mind that there is no need to spill your guts
when you are talking to a potential employer. A short, objective narrative of
the situation is usually more than enough.
·
You have reached the end of your learning curve
When
you start a new job, you enter into a period of fast-paced adaptation, followed
by a period in which you learn the finer details of your work. At a certain
moment, you reach a level of mastery and the pace of your learning will slow
down.
In
order to advance your career, you could be looking to develop skills that will
complete the ones you already master or you may want to expand your experience into
other industries.
·
Your current job does not challenge you
Picture-perfect
as it may seem, a job with just enough work to keep you busy, a job you can do
on auto-pilot is not ideal. Bad work habits tend to pop up (the number of times
you check your Facebook page is usually a good indicator) and may lead to
inferior work. Research suggests that in the perfect job, you spend 20% of your
time doing truly challenging, out-of-your-comfort-zone work. This provides you
with enough challenge to keep you on your toes without leaving you overwhelmed and
stressed-out.
The
above reasons for considering a job change are all negative reasons: they are
focusing on getting away from a situation. There are also positive reasons for
being interested in a new job, reasons that have more to do with the attractiveness
of the new position than with wanting to move away from your current job.
·
The opportunity is the perfect next step in your career
It
may very well happen that I approach you with a position that is exactly the
next step in your career that you have in mind. In this case, it is important
to determine up front those factors that might convince you to take the jump.
·
The opportunity offers you a better work-life balance
This
must be the reason that looks most trivial but that can play an important role
in your overall happiness. When I approach you with a position that
significantly reduces your commute time, it might be tempting to engage in the
discussion. Here as well, it is important to bear in mind the aspects of a job
and of an employer that you value and the concessions you are willing to make for
a better balance.
All
of the above reasons are perfectly legitimate reasons for considering other
options. The essential part is that you have thought it through before starting
to talk to head-hunters, recruitment agencies or future employers. After all,
you want to give us the image of candidate who is consciously managing and
building his or her career, not someone who gets bogged down in today's thinking.
As
this is my last blog before the holidays, I want to wish you all a wonderful
summer with time for family, relaxation, fun and laughter and maybe…. some time
to think whether it is time for a job change…
I hope
to welcome you again as one of my readers in September. I look forward to share
with you some technology changes that will be implemented during the summer
that should enrich your candidate and client experience.
I
look forward to hearing from you,
Isabel
Through a personalized and
tailor-made approach, Ingenium Executive Search aspires to assist you in
attracting the right talent that matches the DNA of your company
Check out our
website http://www.ingenium-search.be
Follow me on Twitter
@IngeniumSearch
