It’s been said that in life there are only two things you can count on, death and taxes. Truth is that there is actually a third: you will, at some point in your career, leave your job and join a new company. The era when people stayed with their employers for 20+ years is long gone replaced by an average stint of just four and a half years. Think about that. By the time you retire (if?), you will probably have worked at NINE different companies. Why are people moving on so frequently? Some say it’s because they don’t like their boss, others aren’t engaged because they’re not empowered, and the majority just don’t feel appreciated. Whatever your motivations are for moving on, it will happen.
Whether you’re running from something or to something, there are four key criteria that you should consider:
The Company
The People
The Job
The Money
I didn’t invent this, but if you prioritize your search in this order, you are bound to make the right choice.
The Company: Are you genuinely interested in the business or is it uninspiring? Is the firm stable and growing or is it just trying to stay afloat? Is it an industry leader or part of the rest of the pack? Regardless of anything else, if the company you are considering isn’t a place that you can get excited about, cross it off your list.
The People: They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the same is true of great employees. Are the people you met with great at what they do? Are they passionate about their work and positive about their environment? Are they smart, bright, and career minded? If so, you can be assured that you’ll benefit by being surrounded by top talent.
The Job: So you’re feeling good about the company and the people, but is this a job you can be successful in? Will it challenge you and keep you motivated? Will you be able to see the impact of the work you’re doing? A lot of people focus on whether it’s the next step, but instead you should ask yourself “is this a step in the right direction”. And don’t worry about the title; what you do is more important than what you’re called, even on your resume.
The Money: Ah, the money. Have you ever high-fived someone on a Friday saying “I got paid”? No? Then why let the money make your decision? This isn’t to suggest that you should take whatever is offered, but you should ask yourself “is this competitive and does it meet my needs?” Remember, offers aren’t about what you are worth, but are about what the job is worth in the market. So when you finally get that offer and all the other boxes are checked, don’t let the money change your view on the opportunity.
It’s easy to find examples of what will happen if you throw these out of whack. Know anyone who took an offer because it was a huge increase but now they’re miserable? Or did someone take a job because the title was a big step forward, but the people just aren’t that good? They’ll probably tell you it wasn’t worth it. So whether a Recruiter taps you on the shoulder or you’re actively looking for a new challenge, take a look at each opportunity in this order and you’ll end up at the right place.
Just One Recruiter's Opinion 