Career and Job Search Advice

It’s natural to always look toward the next greatest opportunity and to strive for change and advancement in your career. When the job market is flat and the economy is unsteady, it may not be the right time to change employers or even jobs within the same company. It’s important to identify opportunities you may already have before you in your current role to create your own satisfaction and grow as an employee. A few questions you may want to ask yourself are:

•  What have you done to stand out? Did you identify areas to cut costs? Did you simplify a process that saves your company money? These are important accomplishments employers look for when promoting, hiring or increasing employee compensation. You will not only build your resume with these undertakings, you will also build your case when asking for a well-deserved promotion! In addition, you’ll gain confidence and knowledge making your daily work a little more interesting.
• Are there duties outside of your regular responsibilities that you may be able to train on or assume? Your supervisor is looking for you to be aggressive and seek out opportunities for growth. Times like these are the perfect opportunity to display your abilities and put them to work.
•  Have you researched how other companies compensate their workforce? Everyone assumes the grass is always greener on the other side. You know what they say about assumptions though. Spend some time finding out how other employers pay their employees, including benefits, and evaluate what’s important to you in your compensation package. You may find that your current gig isn’t so bad after all. It’s a lot easier for companies to bring new employees on with smaller hiring packages than it is to scale back an existing workforce.
•  How much time have you devoted to your current post? You’ve probably accumulated tenure in your time on the job. Starting a new one means moving to the back of the line. Healthcare coverage, retirement benefits, vacation time and sick time accumulate over time and may also have a probationary period prior to becoming available to you in a new position. Is this the right time to walk away from benefits you’ve already accumulated in your existing job?

Get involved in committees, volunteer for leadership roles, assist less tenured employees and challenge yourself with new responsibilities. Be realistic in your expectations and honest with yourself when considering your options. You may find that you truly were meant to be in the role you currently hold. If not, when the time is right, you will be well positioned to take the leap.