There is no good time or bad time to change jobs. This is a question that many job seekers find themselves pondering.
Deciding whether to target a period of increased job openings, waiting until bonuses are distributed, or choosing a time when work has settled down can be a challenging aspect of initiating a career change.
It all depends on where you are placed and where you wish to be placed. What is critical is to be intelligent and rationale in decision-making without permitting your emotions to drive you.
Being bored at work can make you feel demotivated and dent your confidence. If you often feel uninspired at work, a new role can help kick-start your motivation and bring new opportunities for you to sink your teeth into.
It is inevitable that, at some point in your job, you will feel stressed. If this continues for a significant amount of time, makes you feel anxious or tired, affects your productivity or has a negative impact on your health or relationships, it may be a sign to make a career move.
Do you feel you are not getting the recognition you deserve despite doing your best to meet your objectives? It’s unrealistic to be top of your game all the time, but if you are being constantly passed over for a promotion despite your best efforts, you should consider applying your skills elsewhere.
Economic downturn
Conventional wisdom says that an economic downturn is not a good time to change jobs and that employed professionals should hunker down in their current positions and try to prevent getting laid off. But staying put could potentially do more harm to your career than pursuing a new opportunity.
During times of weak economic growth, people are more likely to stay with their current employers for fear of instability or a lack of openings within their industry.
But when the job market tightens as it is now, job switching becomes more common. Those who previously felt “stuck” in less-than-ideal roles with little upward mobility; low wages, toxic cultures, or lengthy commutes now feel comfortable exploring other options.
Because it’s more difficult for employers to attract and hire qualified candidates in a healthy job market, they are more likely to seek out qualified and experienced workers directly.
When the going gets tough employers need the best workers to help the business. To almost all the issues people are the best remedy. So even if someone isn’t actively searching for a new job, they may consider switching if another employer approaches them with an attractive opportunity.
There are several reasons you might choose to pursue an opportunity with a different employer. And while competition varies between job types and industries, a stronger job market generally means you’ll have a better advantage when it comes time to negotiate an offer.
Companies hire even during very bad times, but not in abundance. Career progress takes persistence and resilience, especially in a recession. Keep an eye out for opportunities that improve your career. This is one way to get ahead of the challenge.
The same job in the same company overly depends on the macro environment. So a change can be to your advantage where your talent and capacity can successfully respond to the macro deterrent.
Keep an eye – be visible
More than keeping your eye out, be sure you are applying consistently. Not everything you apply to needs to be your dream job, it only has to help you get there. Especially during social distancing, the idea of networking can feel, well, distant.
But being on good terms with colleagues and keeping industry connections is of utmost importance, even during a recession where people often aren’t voluntarily moving around.
Even in the worst economic times, there are employers who hire and many more who plan to hire in the future. When people do not remain active in their search and within their networks, they become invisible to those employers.
Set yourself up for success by continuing to attend networking events and reaching out to colleagues, even if it feels like they aren’t much help. After all, according to Frank, you never know what opportunity lies around the corner.
A good 50% of jobs are opportunities people find on the so-called hidden job market. That is to say, the jobs aren’t posted or advertised. That means that people who find these jobs are being referred by people they know, hearing about them in professional organisations, and getting tapped to move up from volunteer or entry-level positions.
Key reasons
Better job offers with increased earnings, changing the industry to mix and match capabilities, upward mobility, easier commute and flexibility are several key reasons.
In past generations, people who otherwise would have switched jobs instead chose to stay with their current employer because they assumed too much job-hopping on a resume could make them appear fickle or disloyal.
However, as Millennials become the workforce majority and take on more leadership roles, and Gen Z enters the labour force, perceptions about job-hopping are rapidly changing.
Determining whether to stay with your current employer or pursue an outside opportunity is rarely a straightforward decision. In many cases, there are many factors you all need to weigh before you come to an informed conclusion. Bear in mind that there is no easy life and easy jobs. With this conviction you will make the right judgment.
