Are you actively thinking about finding a new role?

I’ve been reading a fair number of articles stating that many people are thinking about a job or career move. Over the last year I personally know a handful of people who have changed employers by choice. Some were contacted by recruiters or people they used to work with, and some sought out the opportunities. Are you thinking about a move? If so, we’ll explore a few steps you’ll want to think on ahead of getting an interview or job offer.

Mindset

This is the time to believe in your abilities, skills, and talents. Doubting ourselves can happen especially when the workplace environment we’re in is negative. If you the only feedback you receive is “constructive criticism” and you never get told what you’ve done right, it’s easy to think you’re not enough.

If this sounds like you, allow yourself to take a few minutes to “brag.” What have you done that you have felt particularly proud of (even if it wasn’t recognized)? Reflect on your time at work. Have you built trusting relationships? Have you had technical success? Did you make work or your product better in some way? Set humility aside for a few moments and make your list. When you think you’ve listed them all, think of 5 or 10 more. Small or large, all of these count!

You have unique skills, talents and experience and much to boast about!

Inventory

Take a deeper dive into your skills, talents, and knowledge. I’m using ‘skills’ as things you’ve been taught to do, ‘talents’ as things you are naturally good at, and ‘knowledge’ as what you’ve learned. Think about work. What skills, talents, and knowledge do you use? What about at home? You likely employ skills, talents, and knowledge at home that you don’t use at work. Think about your hobbies and interests. What skills, talents, and knowledge to you use? And when you are working in service of another – what skills, talents, and knowledge do you use? Make notes of your answers to all of these questions.

Energy

Now that you have a list of the things you are proud of and your skills, talents and knowledge, it’s time to figure out what activities give you energy. Just because you are good at something or have learned to do it well does not automatically mean you like doing it. Start by making a list of activities you do at work and at home. Next to each, note whether you find the activity energizing or draining.

Planted

Think about what you want from an employer. Where do you want to work? In an office, in the field, or at home? Are you open to relocating? How much flexibility do you need both during the day and throughout the year? Do you want to work with a team or by yourself? Do you want to lead others? Take some time to picture what you want in your next employer.

Articulate

By reflecting on these questions and jotting down your answers, you’re creating the basis for making a sound decision about your next role. Make three columns – Can’t Have, Must Have, and Nice-to-Have. Look through your answers from previous questions to spark the characteristics you’ll add to these columns.

Start with Can’t Have. What characteristics of a role would make you firmly say “No”? Maybe it’s 100% travel…or 0% travel. Maybe it’s the inclusion of a task that drains you or a type of work that you dread. When you have an offer in hand, this is the list that will make it easy for you to say ‘no’ with confidence because if something about the role is on the Can’t Have list, you know the role is not for you.

Move on to the Must Have and Nice-to-Have lists. Are there characteristics of a role that must be there for you to consider it? A Must Have might be partial remote work, or a short commute, or 100% remote.  A Nice-to-Have is something that would sway you towards a ‘yes’ but isn’t 100% necessary. Perhaps having a formal mentor program is a nice-to-have but if it wasn’t there you wouldn’t say ‘no’.

Look through your lists. Any surprises? Did you uncover patterns? Did you discover you may be happier in another role because you get to do more of what energizes you? Or did you realize you have it pretty good where you are?

Whatever the answers are for you, reflecting on what is and what could be is a great way to clarify where you want to go. It’s also great when a new opportunity presents itself. In those moments emotions run high and it’s nice to have a well-thought-out list of Can’t Haves and Must-Haves to lean on.

Best to you on your journey! Let me know how it goes.