By Cathy Francois
Contributor, Career Services
Have you ever left a position for another job and regretted it? I certainly have, and it came at a great cost. I was working for a major publication and had been recently promoted from a sales assistant to an account executive when a start-up publication approached me with a sales opportunity that offered a larger base salary than my current position. I was just beginning to make some great successes in my current position and was excited about my earning potential for this new one. Blinded by the dollars signs, I took a leap that almost paralyzed my career.
To make a long story short, I accepted the offer only to be fired two months later, be without work for four months, and later accept an unfulfilling position just to pay the bills. It took a couple years to recover from my career detour, but I learned so much.
Before you accept your next position, here are some things to consider, especially if you are a passive job seeker like I was at the time. If you are generally happy with your current position, DO NOT leave if any of the following applies.
You are still gaining new experience. I was about five months into my new job promotion. This was my first outside sales position ever. I certainly had a lot I could have learned from my successful senior sales colleagues.
You have not established a strong network. Are you just beginning to cultivate relationships in your current workplace? If you believe you can get a strong employment reference and have reached a level where you can nurture relationships established within the organization from the outside, then you have done well.
You have professional development opportunities you have not tapped into. If you have an opportunity to get training or education through your employer that would increase your marketability, consider taking advantage of it before leaping onto the next job. Professional development may also come in the form of various project opportunities offered through your employer that can broaden and sharpen your skill set. If you have not made any resume-worthy accomplishments and there are future opportunities to do so, it might be worth sticking around a little longer.
It is important to consider both the short- and long-term effects before making any career move. Carefully consider the untapped opportunities with your currently employer before jumping on board to what might be a sinking ship.
Comments are closed.