From time to time, jobs can get stale. The good news is that’s often a…
John Borrowman, CPC
Borrowman Baker, LLC
Gallatin, TN
Just like that tickle in the back of your throat can signal an illness is coming, that tickle in the back of your brain can signal a job change is coming. Before you look at job postings, though, do some homework.
One of the best places to start is Job Moves: 9 Steps For Making Progress In Your Career, by Ethan Bernstein, Michael B. Horn, and Bob Moesta. The authors use clear language and specific examples to take you through an unconventional job-moves discovery process.
They point out that switching jobs isn’t random or independent from experiences you’ve had in the past. The typical switching timeline starts with a first thought that something about the present situation isn’t as good as it could be and that you need to make progress for some reason. You move into a passive-looking phase where you’re not putting real energy into searching for something new but notice options you didn’t see previously. “Fluke” conversations happen when someone mentions a job opening.
Then something happens that makes you say, “It’s time to take action,” and you shift into active-looking mode. Previously, you simply had your antennae up, but now you spend energy and time finding something new. You might update your LinkedIn profile, quietly let friends know you’re on the market, network with former colleagues, search for job openings (or even talk to a recruiter).
The transition between passive and active looking can be fluid and fuzzy. Sometimes, you can move back and forth several times. Eventually, though, you begin interviewing and take a new job. Of course, you won’t necessarily be happier after making a change. According to a survey by The Muse of workers who quit to take a new job during the Great Resignation, nearly half said they would try to regain their old job.
So, how can you make the most of a job change? Job Moves will help you …
- Identify pushes and pulls that accompanied your job changes in the past (and are part of every job change).
- Consider assets and liabilities rather than strengths and weaknesses, and create a personal career balance sheet.
- Compare what drives or drains your energy so you build “prototypes” of what you might want to do next.
Finally, Job Moves includes practical advice for networking and interviewing. The authors have built a website of resources to help you work through the exercises involved.
Does the entire process take time? Of course. Isn’t it worth it to make an intelligent career move?
