Should I stay or should I go?
Finding and securing a new position takes time and effort. It can take months to research and interview with a new prospective employer before finally deciding to accept an offer. Deciding what to do when you are offered a counter offer or even multiple job offers can be an even more difficult process.
So how do you decide whether to stick with the devil you know or move on?
Weigh up all your options
First of all don’t let familiarity cloud your judgment. Change can be scary and starting a new job can cause feelings of risk, challenge, adventure, and possibly fear. It’s natural to have anxiety about leaving a comfortable position but don’t let this natural anxiety stop you taking a new job that is right for you.
Conversely don’t be afraid to ask yourself whether the new position is a positive step toward advancing your career or creating more fulfilment. Will it actually be better for you than your current position? Better means different things to different people - think about what is important to you. If your move has something to do with your finances, remember it is not just about the salary to think about look at other aspects of your compensation package. Also, consider vacation days, paid holidays and medical insurance costs. It may seem a long way away but it is also worth considering your retirement. Compare pension plans carefully as these factors can be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds over the life of a career.
Consider your career development
We are seeing more organisations come to the table with counter offers in a bid to retain talent. If you are given a counter offer is your current employer looking after your career interests or their business? Think about your reasons for wanting to leave in the first place - will this change? The research tells us that changes made as a result of a counter-offer rarely work as they tend to focus on the short term often using monetary rewards as a sticking plaster.
There are a myriad of reasons why people consider new roles; money is very rarely the only thing. Your interests and career will always be secondary to your boss’s career and way down on the totem pole compared to the company’s profit or survival. When evaluating your current role or any new job role consider the opportunities for career development and organisational structure. What commitments will your new employers make to career advancement versus your current employer? Is there room to grow or will you get stuck quickly?
Remain professional throughout
When weighing up different roles, it is also worth looking at organisational fit. How will you get on with the rest of the team and is the working culture one you will function well within. It's difficult for even a star performer to function well if they are not happy with their working environment.
Finally when you have made up your mind, remember to be professional. Offer to help during the transition time, and then follow up with your best effort. Slacking off at a time when you are needed most will not endear you to your colleagues and you never know when you might need to tap into your network in the future.
For the latest HR jobs and human resources jobs, please visit the Changeboard homepage.