My father worked for the same company from the time he was 17 until the day he died. My grandfather retired from the company he worked for after 32 years. Back then, people stayed with the same company for most of their lives. If they changed jobs, it was mainly because they were laid-off, fired or were forced to move.
When I first entered the adult job market, it was common for people to “job hop” fairly frequently. Often, the reason for the change was to make more money or for new opportunities. If you were successful at your job, there were often other companies willing to give you more money for doing the same job. Also, employers seemed to dislike promoting internally and changing jobs was often the best way to get a promotion.
But these days, with the job market in shambles, the idea of risking the job you have in order to find another is scary. It isn't something that you should do unless you have a compelling reason. The risk is that you may find yourself working in a job you dislike even more than the one you currently have, and there aren't hundreds of jobs to choose from anymore. So, before you consider a “job hop”, make sure that you don't make some of these mistakes:
- Accepting a job or promotion you aren't experienced enough for- If your current employer offers you a promotion, it is hard not to jump at the chance. But, take a little time to think about this new position and the new responsibilities. If you don't think that you are up to the challenge, it is better for you to turn it down than risk being fired for not doing an adequate job. Just because an HR manager or a supervisor is willing to take a chance on you doesn't mean you will succeed.
- Doing it for the money- If another company offers you more money for working in virtually the same position, investigate it thoroughly. Just because you will be earning more money doesn't mean that you will be happier. Sometimes, companies that pay more do so because they have a hard time keeping employees otherwise. It is much worse to work at a job you hate than to make less money.
- Company stability- When thinking about exchanging your job for a different one, be sure to investigate the industry and the company. In many fields, companies come and go. You don't want to take the chance that a year from now you will be unemployed because the company you worked for went bust.
- A lack of a clear personal brand- If you are looking to trade your job in for a better position, you need to develop your personal brand. In this very connected world, employers are looking for applicants that have a clear message and brand. The job market has changed so much over the past few years. If you haven't taken the time to research and create your brand, you should do so before you get started job hunting.
- Lack of social contacts- In this new job market, having a professional and social networking is crucial. Employers expect applicants to have an online presence, social networking accounts like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Before you even start applying for jobs, you need to build a strong network. Set up your accounts (if you haven't already) and start asking everyone you know. Be careful though, you don't want to announce your plans to look for a new job online, because odds are good that your current employer will find out and you will find yourself forced to look for a new job.
Making a job change can be scary, but it can also be rewarding. Don't let the tight job market stop you from pursuing your career goals, just keep in mind that there isn't much room for error. Be careful and discrete and hopefully you will find the new job of your dreams.
Are you looking for a job in Business? Be sure to visit BusinessWorkForce.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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