Making the jump

Moving jobs is scary.

• Will the next job be as good?
• Am I leaving for the right reasons?
• Am I risking financial stability?
• Will I be happy?

These are just some of the many questions that go through your head when considering moving jobs. And it's right that you question important life changing decisions. You have to answer those questions. And then you have to be comfortable enough with the answers to make a decision. But really, when you break it all down it comes down to that last question...

will I be happy?

Only you can know what your happiness looks and feels like. So before doing anything, make sure you know what your happiness is. Once you've made peace with what happiness is for you, life becomes so much simpler and all other questions become obsolete (or at least they lead back to the happiness question). I'll write an article about happiness one day, for now if you need some direction just google it ;)

I've moved jobs quite a bit in my career (I say career like I had a plan or something, let's be honest most of us are winging it). I've moved roles internally, externally, laterally, working my way up ladders and jumping back down again. And each time I've been lucky* enough to land on my feet and life has worked out for the best. So I like to think I'm fairly qualified when it comes to advising people on moving job roles... so here's how I approach it.

I recently moved from a perfectly good job. The company was good, my position was good, I was getting involved in lots of exciting projects, it was a fun role. But I was getting itchy. It was starting to get a bit too BAU and I was becoming too familiar with the role. And that scares me. I like being excited, having things to aim for, kicking off initiatives, changing things... it's what keeps me driven and energised to get into work in the morning (that and having a young family). So that was my first decision made...

look for something new

Not wanting to state the obvious but in order to move you need something to move to. I'm not one of those daring people that just quits before finding something else, I need an income. You can't just find anything though, you have to find something that's right. Hopefully by this point in the process you already know what you want from a new role (or what's missing in your current role), if not, go over those niggling questions in our head about why you are thinking of moving on, then you'll soon have the answer.

if you can, wait

The last thing you want to do is make a brash decision and apply for the first job you see. This could lead to you being in the wrong job and being unhappy. I spent months casually looking on job sites. As I said, my job was perfectly fine, so I had no need to frantically search the country for a job, using a scatter gun approach with my CV. Instead I spent time learning what jobs were out there, where they were, what the possibilities were. And I could be picky.

pick the right role in the right place

So I found a good job. It looked like it ticked most of the boxes (that I had already created on the tick list in my head). But I was not sold, not yet. You have to remember when working at a company you are going into a business deal, and they work both ways. Both parties have to get something out of it and both have to align in their values. So one of the biggest tips when making the jump...

look where you're jumping

You'll be spending a good part of your life at this place so you have to like it. You have to know that it fits you personally; your values, beliefs, ethos, work ethic, are they 'your kind of people'? I learnt about the company through the people I know that already work there and their online presence (check social media as well as the company website, what are their customers saying about them?). But the most telling is when you go for the interview. Once you are in the building you can see the people that work there, chat to reception and of course have a good chat with those that you'll be working with in the interview itself.

Once you know it is your type of place, don't hesitate. Opportunities are missed all too often by thinking 'I might wait for the next one' or 'what if it doesn't work out?'. Just say yes to life and take chances. As long as the chances you take are thought out and considered they will usually pay off. Mine have.

So when it's time to move on, don't be scared...

make the jump.

*we make our own luck - I'm 'lucky' because I work hard, consider my decisions and I say yes to things.