Recently, and understandably, people are placing a bigger emphasis on their happiness. A large portion of our time and life is spent working. So ensuring that we are doing something that we enjoy is seeming to be more and more important. You may have used the ‘5 why’s’ technique I discuss in my previous blog to come to the conclusion that it was time for a job change. Regardless of what self-reflection tool you used, you got to the realization that a job change is necessary. Congratulations! That is truly an accomplishment in itself.
Here is another tough question
WHAT do you want to do?
What type of job change or role are you seeking? If you know exactly what you want to do, then the remaining steps will be a piece of cake. You’re determined with a goal in sight and you will achieve it. If you are struggling with figuring out what you want to do, that’s ok too. You can still achieve the dream role, you just have to find it. Even after entering a career field, being a grown adult, I still say “I don’t’ know what I want to be when I grow up”. It’s a hard question that we are expected to answer as children. So your answer very well may be – I have no clue. And that’s fine, it’s just a matter of what you would like to start exploring now. Identify areas of interest and go for it.
And now we are facing the ‘what’s next?’
How do I even go about doing this?
You idetified a general idea of what you would like to do and are ready to start.
Of course, there are the basic steps, such as:
Update your resume.
You may want to seriously spruce up that resume you made fresh out of high school. It’s even ok to scratch that original all together and start fresh. When doing your resume, keep in mind the job you are aiming to get. Previous points may no longer make the cut. Keep it relevant to the job you want.
Start applying to jobs.
Keep your mind open. Don’t nix one just because you can’t check off every ‘requirement’ or ‘preferred’ item. Seriously, just give it a shot. You never know. If it seems interesting, apply.
Go on interviews.
Prepare for these interviews. Know about the company you are interviewing for. Gather as much detail you can about the role you are going for, especially if you don’t meet all of the listed requirements/recommendations. Be prepared to speak on why you would be a benefit to hire. Stay confident. Put thought into your appearance.
Follow Up.
Keep track of the jobs you applied to and when. After a couple of weeks, circle back and follow up with them. This can be as simple as thanking them for their time and letting them know you are available to answer any additional questions. Just because you’ve heard crickets since the Interview, it DOES NOT necessarily mean they are not interested. The people in charge of hiring have other jobs too, and could very well just be busy. Put in the effort to help them make the right decision, and hire you. This step will show you are organized, determined and have great communication skills.
You can handle all of that, right. Not too hard. But what about when you start to get offers. That leads to additional questions and steps to take. For me, this was a bit more stressful.
Here are some additional decisions you may face:
When do I tell my current job I’m leaving?
- You are going to need to evaluate several factors to decide on this. Check your written job description or HR policy to see what is clearly states in black in white. Whether it’s 2 weeks or 4 weeks, this will be the minimum notice you need to provide to maintain good standing with the company. Once you determine that, you can decide if you would want to provide any additional time. If you do want to give more notice, be prepared for those consequences. Depending on your position, your company may decide to not have you work out your notice and ask that you leave immediately or sooner than you anticipated. In my last role, I provided extra notice and was able to assist in orienting my replacement. But I only did this because I trusted my CEO and was prepared to leave earlier if needed as I was aware they would at least pay me out the required 4 weeks notice.
I’m blessed and I actually have more than one opportunity, now what?
- List out all of the pro’s for each position on the table. Include cost of health benefits, types of health benefits, vacation time, commute, responsibility level, room for growth etc. Gain this information by asking human resources to send the benefit packet, reach out to any contacts you may already have at the company and/or anyone else doing similar roles to get their perspective. After you did your research and gave it some good thought, go with your gut. This isn’t permanent, just make the best decision you can at that time.
I want to ask for more $, should I?
- Short answer – YES! If the employer is making an offer, it means they selected you as the person most qualified to fill this role. They want you part of their team. You have the leverage here. Also, this is a business. They generate money. They have money. You are not asking for something they don’t have. Be prepared to discuss your value and worth and start communicating. I’ve done this type of communication via phone and email. Both methods were successful. Also let me add, that I have now asked for more money several times when proposed with a job offer – and was NEVER denied it. I always got more money, I simply had to ask.
I’m going to have a gap of no insurance, what can I do?
- Your employer that you are leaving may offer COBRA coverage, which is typically expensive, but an option. If you have children and are planning ahead, you could get them on a state program (yes, even if you don’t financially qualify. You would just pay the top tier price, which may still be a better option). If you are married, check into your partner’s company’s benefits. Most allow you to make changes outside of the enrollment period for life changing events, which includes job changes.
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into a job change. So plan accordingly, take it one step at a time and go for it. The effort now will be worth your increased happiness in the long run. I hope this helps you reflect, feel confident and competent to take on your next job change.