Changing jobs? Should you stick or twist…

Changing jobs is a normal part of working life - after all, almost one in five UK workers say that they are likely to change jobs in the next 12 months.

However, although it’s very common, it’s not always easy and there are a number of important personal and professional considerations to take into account.  It’s a really big decision and not to be taken lightly, you don’t want to hop from one job to another, so here are some questions you should ask yourself before you take the leap: 

1. What am I looking for?  Where do I see myself, where would I like to progress to, what am I not getting in my current role?
2. What is making me want to leave?  Write a list of what you want and why you are looking to leave - is it career development / feeling unchallenged and/or salary related? Take your time to think about your personal values and career goals.
3. Have I exhausted all opportunities at my current firm?  Everyone falls into a slump at some point during their working life, is it just a bad day or week?  Ask yourself, if you had a good week would you even be considering leaving?  Before considering changing jobs try and see if any issues can be resolved.  Chances are there are some steps you can take to make your life at work better.
4. It is just about the money?  We appreciate that everything is getting more expensive, but don't let it be the sole deciding factor when weighing up your options. If you're only concerned about how much money you’ll be making in your new job, you could overlook some other major factors… Revisit your answers given in question 1 and also bear in mind that no amount of money will make up for an otherwise unhappy work experience.
5. Lastly, and probably one of the most important questions, do I know what I want?  When you’re deciding whether to make a job change or even accepting a role, family, friends and other people in your life may have a big influence on your decision making. Their views may be helpful to an extent, but remember yours is the most important opinion. Don’t be blindsided by others, to help with this we suggest that you revisit question 1!

If you're still unsure, have you even considered speaking to your current employer to see if there are any other opportunities available to you – this could be a good starting point?  When considering a job change ensure that you carry out some research on both the new company and the role, but the best way to know for sure if you are interested is by attending an interview, this is your opportunity to find out more in order to rule it in, or out!

Ensure you have carefully considered why you want to leave your job and what it is that you are looking for, as this will help ensure that you don’t regret the decision you make.

If you're looking to move, but still have feelings of uncertainty and need some support, Team Select.je are on hand to help, get in touch today by emailing hello@select.je.