Considering a job move? Have you worked out your push & pull factors?
I spend my days talking to people who potentially want a new job or career challenge.
In my last article I outlined three questions you should ask yourself before committing to a new employer. However, before you even attend an interview or decide to proactively enter the job market, have you considered your push and pull factors?
Many candidates I speak with haven't. This means that communication in terms of what they want next and their ability to articulate why they are looking to move on isn't as clear as it could be.
Below is what I mean by push and pull factors.
Push factors-
These are things that are pushing you away from your current place of work. Examples can include: poor leadership from your line manager, lack of career development, no pay rise for three years, lack of recognition, company performance, office politics or your daily commute.
Pull factors-
These are elements that will pull you towards a job with a new employer. Examples can include: an inspirational boss, great pay & benefits package, clear career development plan, fun co-workers, an office location or an opportunity to work in a new sector.
I advise you to write down what elements are pushing you to consider a new job. I also suggest making a list of what pull factors are going to be important if you do make a job move. Creating these lists will really help you answer some fundamental questions about your current job role, what is important to you in your career and what you want and need next. For example, is there anything you can do to eliminate some of your push factors? Also, when a new opportunity is presented to you, how does it stack up vs your list of pull factors?
I've been a recruiter for twenty plus years and without a doubt I can safely say that the best person to look after your career is you.
Getting your push and pull factors clear in your mind and down onto paper is a great first step towards managing your career and taking control.
I hope you find this of use, thanks for reading.
Do you know of any articles covering more on the same subject? I'm certainly interested in reading about the pitfalls of listing the push/pull factors, like how do you factor in the motivation, the sense of obligation or loyalty towards the current team or employer, weighing the career opportunity or on the contrary the effect on your career evolution when declining a position. The answers are obvious when applying in another company, but more subtle and complex when head-hunted internally.
Chartered Certified Accountant & Registered Auditor
6 年Could have done with this last summer lol.
Public Practice specialist, passionate about recruiting accountancy and tax professionals across the North East of England
6 年Excellent, summarised nicely, know what you want!
Director of Employability and Internationalisation at Universidad Nebrija
6 年Great article, Steve!
Manufacturing Cluster Director - UK, South Africa, Norway at Firmenich
6 年Great article from the best recruiter I have ever worked with