Are You Prepared to Cross the Mental Bridge? Things to Consider Before Deciding to Move Jobs
Throughout our careers in recruitment, we’ve placed thousands of candidates into roles that they’ve been successful in – loving their time at the company and going on to build a great career. Equally, however, we’ve also seen plenty of people for whom the move hasn’t panned out. When you’re presented with a potential opportunity, with the lure of more money, a better job title, and greater career prospects, the idea of leaving your current role can become an afterthought. It’s easy to convince yourself that that’s the simple part of the move. However, over the years we’ve seen many people who go through the whole recruitment process – screenings, interviews, offers, the works – before the weight of the decision they’re about to make hits them, and they pull out.
When a job offer is presented, things get real. The reality of actually having to hand in your notice and leave your current employer is a far bigger proposition than the initial decision to actively look for or consider a new role. Because of this, those who have the wrong mindset in approaching their job search, withdraw from the process right at the end.
There are many reasons that people start to consider their career options when they’re in a role. Perhaps they’re not being respected or listened to, perhaps they don’t see a strong career path for themselves, or maybe it’s just time to move on. All of these are valid reasons, but there’s an old saying that rings true here: be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Exploring other opportunities because you’re unhappy is all well and good, but you have to be aware of the potential consequences of doing so – the major one being that you may get a great job offer, and may actually have to resign. You have to ask yourself: when push comes to shove, are you ready to make the call?
Risk and Reward
While it may not seem like the end of the world to remain with a current employer – after all, you’ve only wasted a small bit of time on interviews – there are two major issues.
The first issue is what getting to the end of the process only to withdraw can do to your personal brand and reputation. We’ve seen many scenarios where people later choose to revisit the job market after regretting the decision described above, only to find the same doors are no longer open. You’ll leave a bad taste in the mouth of the company that was looking to hire you, and they’ll likely have little interest in considering you for future roles. We know that there are occasions where there are extenuating circumstances that cause someone to not take an offer, however, recruitment is an expensive and time-consuming exercise for employers, so these situations can be understandably frustrating for them. In a competitive market, the last thing you want is to be seen as someone who buckles under the pressure when the time comes to make a decision.
The second, and arguably more important problem, is the damage you can do to yourself by embarking on a journey you’re not prepared for. We’ve heard countless stories of candidates going to interviews, and then dealing with anxiety and stress over the job potentially being offered, and having to front up to their current employer or pull out of the process. If you feel like you’re being pulled in two directions, it’ll inevitably only lead to heartache; whether that’s leaving the company you’re currently at or the regret of giving up a new opportunity.
Because of these reasons, it is critical to ensure you have prepared yourself to cross that mental bridge before taking any action to pursue or consider new job opportunities. Otherwise you may well end up in a lose/lose scenario. Here are a few of our top tips to help you find out whether the decision you’re making is the right one.
Communicate
Talk to people you know and trust and get their opinions. At the end of the day, it’s your decision to make, but there’s no harm in seeking the advice of friends or peers to get their take on the situation. If they know you well, then they’ll understand your reasoning and help you come to the right decision.
However, it’s crucial to do this as early as possible. If you’ve received a job offer and then you start asking for advice on whether you should take it, then you’re no longer asking about whether you should leave – but rather whether you should take the offer (which is likely better than what you’re currently receiving) of a job that you’ve just gone through the whole interview process for. A loaded question, to say the least! Instead, raise your concerns as they happen. If you find yourself unhappy about work for more than a couple of weeks, talk to the people you trust and explain your misgivings to them.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, it is also really important to talk to your employer. If you have concerns, then raise them before you start looking elsewhere, and a long way before you even think about resigning. This maintains credibility with the employer, rather than looking like you’re leaving for no reason, and gives them the chance to rectify the situation. If your concerns remain unaddressed then that can be a strong sign that it’s time to move on.
Bear in mind that resignation is never a bargaining chip. Handing your resignation letter over should always be a last resort and a fait accompli, rather than a threat.
Be Certain
You can’t resign by dipping your toe in the water. You have to dive right in, with confidence and surety. Are the reasons you are looking to move on real, non-negotiable and unfixable? Make a list of the things about your current role that you’re unhappy with, and then make a list of the things you are looking for in your next role. It’s important to stay realistic when making these lists; it’s highly unlikely that you’re going to move into a new job and be met with a 40% payrise and a role with more responsibility than you’ve ever had. Remember, there’s no such thing as a dream job. Every role will come with frustrations as well as benefits.
Think about whether your list of wants can be worked out in your current place of employment; whether you can talk to management about your concerns and if they can address them. If you come to the conclusion that they can’t, then it may be time to put the feelers out.
This confidence and surety is just as important when it comes to actually resigning. Prepare yourself for making the decision by mentally picturing yourself looking your boss in the eye as you hand over your resignation, leave the company and start a new role. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic, movie-like scene, but you need to be sure that you’ll walk into that room confident of the action you’re going to take. Then, as an extra measure of certainty imagine the likely scenario of your employer presenting you with a counteroffer, which as a bare minimum probably includes a pay increase and other positive tweaks to your role. If you can’t imagine yourself following this through – or worse, you think you could be convinced to stay – then don’t start your search. Instead, you need to sit down with your boss.
Once you are at a point where you’re ready and able to hand your notice in, there are a few other considerations to think about:
Read the Small Print
Have you read the small print on your current contract? Have you properly dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s in terms of your new employment offer? If not, don’t hand your resignation letter over just yet. We often hear people who are worried about non-compete clauses and the like when moving into a new role. Our best advice is to know your contract. Neither your recruiter nor your prospective employer are legal experts, and at the end of the day, it’s your employment agreement, so it’s down to you to know what your commitments are. Once you know this and have worked out any potential kinks or anxieties, you’ll be far more confident and in a better position to cross that mental bridge.
One more thing: if you haven’t sighted and signed an employment offer, do not resign! Be careful to ensure that your new role is a sure thing before committing to leaving your current job.
Keep Your Emotions in Check
The conversation with your boss when you resign can be a difficult one. Emotions are likely running high and, dependent on the nature of your resignation, tempers can flare too. Be careful to not let your emotions get the best of you, it’s best to remain cool, calm and collected, especially if your boss doesn’t take the news well. Be ready for any potential reaction, and don’t be trapped into emotional blackmail.
Some employers will respond to your resignation by saying that it isn’t a great time for you to go, that it will “destroy the project” or “put the company in a bind” if you leave now – these are normal short-term reactions. The harsh (and ego bruising) fact is that you will be replaceable, it may just take some time for the employer to find someone suitable for the role.
In Closing
Changing employers is always difficult. It is always emotional. But it is a natural and normal part of business life. Before starting the process of looking or considering a new job, first take the time to get in the right mental space. Understand what you want, be clear of your options internally and have a clear picture of what is within your skill set. Always try to avoid dipping your toe in the water but if you do start going through the job search process, make sure you are confident in yourself and not just following something along to its natural conclusion. It is easy to be swept along with the emotion and excitement of changing roles, especially if you have been approached for a role directly. If you’ve made the mental leap and are ready to go, but still a little unsure, feel free to get in touch. We’ll be happy to provide a helping hand to get you one step closer to your career goals.