So you’re feeling like it’s time for a career move but with a slowing economy and a daunting unemployment rate, now seems like the worst possible time to leave a secure job? As it turns out, deciding to stay put in your current position to wait for it all to blow over may be the riskiest move of them all. By staying put while everything’s falling down around you and not even exploring your options, you run the risk of ending up with no position or prospects if your company has to resort to downsizing, regardless of your position or performance. So seize the moment and set your sights on your next move! Use this simple professional development plan to make your next career move.
Your Current Position
In the midst of an uncertain economy, knowing your worth is more important than ever. What`s the going rate for an Engineering professional in Brisbane versus the same position in Melbourne, Perth or Sydney? Has the going rate for a professional of your calibre gone up or down since the recent shakeup in the economy?
Everyone defines success differently. For some, success means having achieved financial security or career pinnacles. Some people judge their success by the positive impact they have made on others whether these are clients, students, associates, or family. Other successful people have acquired a level of expertise that is recognised and respected by peers.
Where do you think you are at in your career? Have you achieved what you had planned or is your current role or current employer holding you back? Have you been dreading the thought of Monday mornings for some time now?
If so, then you may be ready to address what you dislike about your current role and look for a new job. Without exploring the market, you may never find out what you are missing out on and you may settle for a job you are miserable in and put your career on hold while the perfect opportunity is out there waiting for you.
Determine Why You Are Unhappy in Your Current Job:
Do you dislike the work you do day-to-day on the job or, are there other problems that affect how you feel about your job?
Are you feeling stuck in your current position with no hope of promotion? Do you look around your organisation and not see any job you’d like to do next?
Do you feel unappreciated in your current job and despite working hard every day you don’t feel your boss or your workplace recognise your efforts? Do you find it difficult to recall the last time anyone thanked you for your contributions?
Most people die from the neck up at 25 because they stop dreaming. Some people achieve their dreams after 25 because they worked hard to make their dreams their reality.
Know Your Drivers
Before you can achieve the job of your dreams, it is vital to know what that job is and to have a story that will get you there. Your story is the framework for your career offering. The best way to get someone engaged is to tell your story and tell it in a deep and compelling way, which is easy when you know it is the truth because you will naturally show how passionate you are about it. Stories are meaningful, and they are unforgettable. Résumés are extraordinarily forgettable. They end up in the trash.
You may like to consider some of the points below as they can help you identify exactly what you are looking for in your next job:
Passion – What do you care about? Where do you naturally excel? Whether your passion involves an issue, a concept, or a job function, it can unlock a secret door to the career that you love.
Priorities – Where are you at this stage of your career development? What do you need? Make a list of your most important job considerations: location, kind of company, travel opportunities, benefits and compensation.
Planning – The cornerstone of the planning stage is to identify yourself as a solution. Once you can describe your abilities, experiences, and strengths as career offerings, or marketable products, you will be ready to sell yourself to the market.
How To Start A New Job Search
Most successful job seekers land their dream jobs through contacts that they’ve previously made in the industry or the recruitment contacts they have made the effort to stay in touch with. I got my last few jobs through contacts and I don’t understand why any wouldn’t go the extra mile to stay in touch with important connections who may be able to help them in the future – even when they’re not looking for a job.
Network before you need to and build your network well in advance, not when you are backed into a corner. Talk to your connections on LinkedIn or other networking sites. Join Groups on Twitter and Facebook, post and join the discussion. Be engaged and proactive in your communications. By building a network in advance, you won’t have to scramble if you unexpectedly lose your job or decide it’s time to move on.
While the market is improving, things may still be moving a little slowly, depending on your industry, which means fewer roles advertised. There are still opportunities out there however; you just have to work a little bit harder to find them. One of the best ways to do this is to network. Essentially, networking is getting to know people who can help you develop your career prospects.
Your Strategy
In these tight times, any company that is willing to spend money to hire someone must need something pretty badly. The question for you as the job seeker is to say “What is their problem and how can I demonstrate that I’m the one to solve it?” Look for ways to present solutions every time you have contact with the organisation, from your cover letter, to their initial phone call to you, right through to the interview itself.
After a meeting with a potential employer, if you felt it went well, it’s time for you to strengthen the positive vibes by following up with them. This is an excellent chance for you to stand out against the other candidates vying for the same job. Start by contacting all the people you’ve spoken with at the company, whether they interviewed you or not. Send thank-you notes to everyone and highlight things you made a note of in the meeting. Be sure to include the Human Resources (HR) team, even if you got your interview via your own networks. You need to get HR on your side and turn them into your allies as they can jeopardise your chances of landing the role.
Leaving Your Employer
The most important job search rule to remember when resigning from any job is that you want to avoid leaving on bad terms, if possible. Courtesy, etiquette, and professionalism go a long way and you should never burn any bridges. It is also wise not to brag to co-workers about your great new opportunity. Job-hunting is a funny process, and you never know when you’ll run smack bang into your former supervisor or a former colleague, through a merger, company networking event etc.
So, once you are ready to announce your resignation, how can you make a smooth transition from your current employer to your new one?
You need to consider:
Timing – Give enough notice. The standard notice is typically four weeks, depending on your length of service, but you should consult your employee handbook in case your employer expects more (or less) warning.
Negotiating – Be sure to get a fair settlement for any outstanding salary, holiday (and sick and personal) pay and commission/bonus payments or any other compensation due to you.
Hiring – Offer to help your current employer find your replacement.
Training – Volunteer to train or work with your replacement to do a full handover before you go.
Working – Don’t disappear during your last weeks or days on the job. Stay an active member of the team. Avoid taking a short-timer’s attitude or aligning yourself with any discontented co-workers.
Completing – Be sure to do your best to complete all open assignments and leave detailed progress reports for your supervisor and co-workers.
Leaving – Before walking out the door for the last time, be sure you have the contact details of key supervisors and co-workers that you want to keep as part of your network and be sure to thank them again for their support. They will be valuable connections and potential referees in the future.
Here are some other issues you need to be prepared for once you announce your resignation:
Being escorted out of the building – Depending on your industry and profession, once you resign, your employer may ask you to leave the premises immediately. Be prepared for this scenario before you resign by clearing personal files and removing personal software from your computer. Also remove personal effects from your desk and get your workspace organised.
Guilt from co-workers or your boss – It’s only natural; especially if you are leaving an unpleasant work environment that your co-workers may be a bit envious and try to make you feel guilty. No matter how great your boss may be, he or she may also make you feel a little guilty for “deserting” the team. Try not to let these things bother you; instead, concentrate on making the final weeks/days as pleasant and professional as possible.
A counter-offer to entice you to stay – Be very wary of counter offers. No matter how good it makes your ego feel to have your current employer respond with a counter offer, most career experts advise against taking it because studies show that the vast majority of employees who accept counter offers from current employers aren’t in those jobs for very long. Whether the employer admits it or not, your dedication will be questioned, and once that happens, your time on the job is limited. It’s better to tactfully decline the offer and focus on your new job with your new employer.
An exit interview – Some employers like to have all departing employees meet with someone from the Human Resources department for an exit interview. Be wary but be professional. Some employers want to know the “real” reason you are leaving. Again, remember not to burn any bridges by saying anything negative or petty.
Writing a Professional Resignation Letter
What should you do once you’ve made the decision to take a job with another employer? You should take the time to write a letter of resignation to your current employer. It’s best to have written documentation of your resignation and planned last day of work.
The most important thing to remember when writing your letter of resignation is to be professional; there is no sense in making enemies. Regardless of whether you loved or hated your job or your employer, the outcome should be the same: a short, polite, and professional letter stating your intention to leave.
People leave their jobs for all sorts of reasons, and you certainly do not need to provide any details on why you are leaving the company. Resignation letters are a courtesy to your employer, so you simply need to state that you are leaving your current position to pursue other opportunities.
As you are composing your letter, again remember that your job history follows you around, and we are frequently reminded that the world is much smaller than we think. You never ever want to leave on bad terms with any employer if you can help it, mainly because doing so could come back to haunt you later in your career.
Your First 90 Days
Congratulations, you’ve got the job! Now make sure you keep it. If you don’t make yourself a critical part of the organisation within the first 90 days, you could be vulnerable if your industry’s market landscape turns. It’s important that you adapt to the job and that the job adapts to your strengths.
Ask yourself: Who am I and what am I doing here? How can I contribute and what can I take on as my own little project? It’s important to affirm yourself during your probationary period rather than depend on your work to speak for itself. Building credibility and securing some early wins will lay a firm foundation for longer-term success.
Don’t forget, the probationary period is a two-way street. You are better to raise any issues you might have early to prevent any problems arising from a lack of communication. Feel free to talk to the HR Professional within your company or the Recruitment Agent that secured the role for you. At the end of the term, if it doesn’t work out you can walk away without any guilt or bad feeling saying you tried, but it’s just not for you. It would be helpful, if you’re not intending to stay, to allow your employer an appropriate time frame to make the necessary arrangements before the probation period is up.
