When Opportunity Knocks...

It's not when opportunity knocks, its when readiness meets opportunity that matters. I like the image of a handshake that truly embodies this. Considering new opportunities should be as such...

Cause with the ease of your profiles being reached by recruiters and employers alike, opportunities can knock at your door several times... But is there a need to open that door?

My take is use the peephole to see who is coming but you may not necessarily open the door. This is akin to listening to the recruiters pitch on the role. If it sounds like a great opportunity then open up the door and shake hands.

The question is what is then deemed as a great opportunity? Many a time the idea of money trumps all the other much more important factors.

I am not alluding that money is not important but what needs to be defined 1st is what exactly is a great opportunity... My opinion is that it is a reflective process on the following factors:

In my current company am I equitably paid?

True the next job can pay a X% percentage higher, before you make that leap for more money... Your time in your present company is deemed as an investment.. And over time like any investment you gain in terms of equity.

The equity here is not so much of dollar stock but the goodwill you have built based on your work produced, interactions that grew in to trusted relationships, and a team that you fit in to and you are connected to the goals and vision...

Once you evaluate and reflect on all these points you will then ask if the new offer of is really worth the money. If you have gained all this in your time spent at one company and you are equitably paid then maybe staying and building on the equity will be a better option.

However, If your present company sees you as just a warm body, your contributions are seen as meaningless and your office colleagues makes you look at the clock for the time to call it a day then maybe taking the new offer and re-investing your time in the new company will be wiser.

Am I learning and developing new skills?

This is important if you are presently feeling like a workhorse... That's only bad if you're not being trained and developed to be better than the foal you once was.

At the end we are all indeed horses, energy use to be generated by horsepower hence manpower is deemed necessary to move an organisation.

So just as long if your learning and growing then you need not look for another stable, even though the hay from the other end of town may seemingly taste better.

Am I working for a caring person or a team of people, not necessarily the whole company?

Many a times companies talk about caring for employees with great flexibility, policies and etc.. In the end, the ones that has most impact to your day to day is your direct supervisor and your colleagues...

Reflect back on the times you had to take emergency leaves due to unforeseen circumstances or was on MC, did the WhatsApp and call continue to come in? Or you had the teams support and line managers understanding to let you sort yourself out medically or the emergency you're handling, with little or no further disturbance... If you have this then it is indeed something you should really think of before applying for another role. Cause at this point though the offer is at or above 30% having the trust that your colleagues and employer working relationship trust, can certainly bring you greater joy then money... And you may ask what this is... Its actually priceless... Peace of mind and the benefits of that is having a work environment that you're contented with and you will naturally want to produce more discretionary effort for the company because you feel well regarded and valued based on mutual trust.

With this... When opptunities knock... Stop and reflect if its really a door you want to open and enter.

If you're looking for another door... Do consider knocking on our doors

Or ring the doorbells of any our Talent Acquisition Specialist to explore your next career move.

Certainly hope to shake your hands and potentially lead you to a new and better career prospect.