Think Twice Before You Change Jobs

You've got the itch to change jobs. This might be a good time to make the move.

The Wall Street Journal has just reported, "Job-seekers from rank-and-file workers to senior executives are preparing their resumes for what may be the strongest fall hiring season in years."

"Before you jump to a new job, be certain you have good, sound reasons for wanting to make a change," advises Ramon Greenwood, senior career counselor at Common SenseAtWork.com. "You may believe you can accelerate your career with a new job. You may be bored or running away from personal problems."

First, ask yourself, "Are there things I can do to make my present situation more acceptable?"

Don't be lulled into believing that the grass will necessarily be greener in another pasture. Or that a new pasture will be a great deal different from the one you are grazing in now.

Except in the most extreme reasons, do not leave your present job until you have another one firmly in hand. If it was ever true that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, it is when a job is concerned. Remember, it is always easier to get a job when you have one.

What Do You Want?

Take the time to figure out what you really want to do.

What will it take to make you happier? It is not enough to know what you want to change from; you need to know what you want to change to.

Be specific in answering these questions. Don't allow yourself to be driven by a sense of vague malaise to make a change just for the sake of change. If you can't spell out in writing the valid reasons you want to move to a new job and be equally specific about what you want that job to be, don't set the process in motion.

Recognize that you are contemplating a serious and difficult undertaking, even under the best of circumstances. There is always some risk to your present situation when you start looking around. What will your present employer think if the word gets around that you are "looking"? At best, the whole process is usually disruptive and can be traumatic for you and your loved ones. Determine that you have the courage to live with the dangers and uncertainties of making a change.

Survey the situation. Be sure there is a market for the skills you have to offer where you want to live.

If You Go, Go Full Speed Ahead

If, after giving the matter careful thought, you are convinced you would be better off in a new situation, go for it full speed ahead. The search for a new job is not a time for half-measures. To vacillate between courting new employers and sitting back in a coy mode, hoping to be courted, will surely breed frustration. Mount a campaign and invest whatever time and energy are required to reach your objective.

If you have something to offer that the market wants, you will find a new job. However, it will take time. There may come a point when you decide that by comparison your present situation looks quite attractive. So you may decide to stay put, at least for the time being. So don't burn bridges behind you.

And don't worry about there being a stigma attached to changing jobs. A lot of other people are shopping for new jobs at any given time. It has been estimated that today's college graduates can expect that on average they will have held eight different jobs by the time they are 40.

In fact, some personnel recruiters argue that your resume will be stronger if it shows some changes in jobs, so long as the reasons for changing are positive.

Ramon Greenwood is former senior vice president of American Express; a professional director for various businesses; a consultant; a published author of career related books and a syndicated column. Senior career counselor for http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com.

Visit http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com, to sign up for his f#ee semimonthly newsletter or contact him at ramon@CommonSenseAtWork.com

---

How To Prepare For A Telephone Interview

It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin... Read More

Yesterdays Hero

Wonder Woman makes it looks so easy. She gets up... Read More

Make em READ Your Cover Letter Using This Killer Secret!

Got your attention? Great. That was my intention. Who wouldn't... Read More

How to Become a Successful Freelance Translator

After completing their translation training programmes at higher professional education... Read More

Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves

Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves1.Do I have the... Read More

How to Work Effectively With Recruiters

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T / find out what it means to me" is... Read More

Kick-In-The-Pants Job Search

Believe it: three obstacles will hold you back from your... Read More

Interview Quicksand

How will you respond when you're asked the following two... Read More

How To Find Writing Work

Are you looking for new writing work? It can be... Read More

Phone Interviews: Prepare to Ace Them!

More companies are saving time and effort by doing initial... Read More

Are You Tired of Hiring Other Peoples Rejects? - 12 Mistakes Recruiters Make and How To Avoid Them

When John applied for a job at Oakland Company, his... Read More

Five Mistakes That Can Derail Your Job Search

No matter how much time and energy you invest in... Read More

Continuing Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD) is promoted by the CIPD to... Read More

Multiple Skills for the 21st Century

(excerpted from The Weekend Seminar - Skills for the 21st... Read More

Unlimit Your Life!

Do you have a tendency to think in absolutes?Is everything... Read More

The 10 Biggest Career Change Mistakes - And How to Avoid Them

Career change is no walk in the park.If it was... Read More

Simple Tips to Move Forward on the Job, Part II

After establishing a trusting relationship with the safety officer, it... Read More

Change Your Career, Change Your Life!

Lots of times I see and talk to people who... Read More

Salary, Raises, & Perks: Negotiate to Get Paid What Youre Worth!

Salary negotiation requires preparation and good timing. It's important to... Read More

Job Lead Websites To Use in Your Telecommuting Search

Let me ask you a question: are you tired of... Read More

Five Facts You Must Know When Changing Careers

Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because... Read More

Have Some PASTA with Your Interview

When cyclists prepare for a big race, they always make... Read More

How to Prepare for A Performance Appraisal

Performance appraisal should be treated as an ongoing developmental process... Read More

How to Reach Outside Yourself to Advance Your Career

When flipping the channels of your TV, you are bound... Read More

How To Receive Payment as a Freelance Translator?

A problem most freelance translators are facing with is how... Read More

Doing What You Love

What do you want to be when you grow up?... Read More

Successful Job Search: 10 Steps To Quickly Acquire Your Dream Job And Put More Money In Your Pocket

Do you want to continue your costly, time-consuming and exhausting... Read More

How Can You Find Freelance Writing Jobs?

Do you think that there is a big sign that... Read More

When The Going Gets Tough -- The Tough Keep Going

If you've been in a job search for more than... Read More

Resume Writing - Tips and Advice

Job-hunting is not the most exciting thing in the world... Read More

Brainteasers: Or, How Many Crazy Interview Questions Does It Take to Get Hired?

You've looked at all the job interview tips and techniques.... Read More

Ten Things About Your Career Development

There are some tactics you can action whatever you wish... Read More

10 Things to Do to Get the Job

10. Understand all of the opportunities available to you. Don't... Read More