So you’re comfortable in your current job. Recruiters have been stalking you on a daily basis dazzling shinier opportunities to you with more money, more perks, lots of upward mobility.
You listen intently to what they’ve got to say and you’re thinking “Why not?”
You’ve been in your position for some time now, you’ve met and exceeded your job requirements, you make a good living, but you wouldn’t mind making more money, I mean who doesn’t, right?
And so you think to yourself that perhaps a change of scenery, wouldn’t be so bad after all.
So off you go interviewing , building momentum and finally a breakthrough happens and you’re flooded with offers.
Here’s 4 points from DSG to consider before you take the plunge:
The 80/20 Rule: We’ve all heard about the 80/20 rule, well it also applies to your career, in that you don’t want to be dazzled solely by the 20%, or more specifically by your immediate wants and ignore your needs. For example, although money IS important, it shouldn’t be the main motivating factor for leaving your position. You want to make sure that 80% of this golden opportunity meets the needs of what you deem as a fulfilling career. Making a decision on the 20% often gives you a temporary high and leads to dissatisfaction.
Identify your “Main thing” or your “Why”: Your main thing is your motivator for leaving your current position. This motivator is intrinsically linked to the things that you deem sacred in your life, that makes your career enjoyable, challenging and fulfilling. When examining your golden opportunity DSG recommends that you ask yourself if it fully utilizes your talents and skills to the fullest. If it meets this criteria, then it’s probably a good move.
Timing is Everything: Being approached by recruiters on a regular basis, can become quite flattering, however, you want to be very objective when making your decision. Timing is everything, we cannot stress this enough. You’ll find that some of the most successful, people in the world, will tell you that they’ve said No more to opportunities than Yes. And, the reason being is that they are so crystal, clear on the vision that they have for themselves, so they are very strategic in their decision making. If it doesn’t feel like it’s the right time, then maybe it’s not. Always remember that there will always be other opportunities.
Trust your Gut: And then of course there’s the good old “gut” feeling that you have when something feels fantastic, or it’s a total flop. For example, does the opportunity feel expansive? Or, does it feel constrictive? If it excites and invigorates you, it’s probably a good fit however, if you feel overwhelmed with anxiety and you just can’t visualize yourself thriving in this new position, then DSG suggests you’re best bet is to decline.
Review these fundamentals in the face of making career moves and you’ll become a pro at graciously, declining opportunities until the right one arrives.