The Decision

The first step of the job search process is to decide to look for a new opportunity or not. A decision is defined as a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration. The key words here are “after consideration.”

We are all driven to change jobs for various reasons: money, responsibility, location, culture, etc. We look forward to the potential opportunity on the horizon. However, in our quest to move forward we rarely look back and reflect on what we have and sometimes this oversight puts us in a worse situation than the one we left behind. The grass is not always greener on the other side…cliché, yes, but very, very true.

Deciding to leave a job is very similar to deciding to break up a relationship with someone. We feel we need a change and in order to justify that to ourselves we tend to focus on the negatives and fail to consider the positives. I’m not suggesting that one should remain in a bad relationship. Rather I’m suggesting that you carefully review the Pros and the Cons of your current job.

For example, your decision to leave your present role may be driven by the fact that you feel underpaid for what you do. But what are the pros of your current role? Maybe you are well-respected and well-known throughout the company. Maybe you have a seat at the table and your opinions are valued. Maybe you have a great partnership with your manager.

We all tend to underrate or ignore the pros and assume that we can have the same pros in a new job. Based on my personal experience I would say the odds are not good. Why? Because we underrated the pros and we assumed that we can just carry them over to the new role. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

An interview process can never provide you with the full insight into your potential new manager. So much of our satisfaction in a position is directly tied to our relationship with our manager. I’ve had my share of working for poor managers, narcissistic megalomaniacs, who have made every day a living hell. I have had fewer great managers; those who made every day a pleasure.

So, before you make that big decision, look before you leap.

TC