So You Want to Change Jobs...But Where Do You Begin?

Many people have the urge to leave their current job and find a new one, but in today’s economy changing jobs can be extremely difficult and often financially risky. So how can you improve your odds of landing a financially secure job while remaining employed?

First and foremost figure out why you want to leave your current position. If you find that you are in general happy with the company you work for but are unsatisfied with the work you’re doing consider searching for job openings in other departments or at higher levels that you may be qualified for with a minimal amount of additional training. Your manager may be helpful in helping you to ascertain this training and this will allow you to continue to work at the same company. This may help you with your retirement plan and will allow you to stay close with your fellow co-workers while taking on a new challenge. Don’t just assume that you’re going to have to switch employers to find happiness in your career.

If you instead conclude that your unhappiness has to do with your employer or find that there is no where for you to move to within your current company you’re going to have to start testing the waters. Reach out to companies you may be interested in working for by talking to your personal and professional contacts. Don’t just assume that because there are no open positions posted there aren’t any available, often job posts go up with somebody in mind. If a company knows you may be available for hire they may find space for you. Obviously be sure to keep your inquiries relatively private as you don’t want your current boss or co-workers to catch you looking.

When you’re already employed it is especially important that you do your research when considering different potential job prospects. Make sure you are gaining as much from them as they are gaining from you. You need to make sure that this new place of work makes up for all of the things you are unhappy with at your current work. You will also want to look into the company’s financial background in order to make sure that they are stable and will not be facing foreseeable financial difficulties in the near future. You don’t want to leave your current job only to be met with a pink slip a few weeks later.

Even when you receive an offer be careful how you quit your job, your boss may be able to compensate for things that have been making you unhappy. Another offer may put you in a position of leverage with your current company so be sure to enter the situation with a positive and constructive attitude. If you decide to leave be sure to be gracious and don’t burn any bridges.