As a follow-on to my post the other day, Hire or No Hire, talking about managers being ready to make a decision after an interview, this one goes out to the job-seekers out there.
Now may be the time to make your move, but hasty decisions could kill your career.
For the last few years, it's been tough on you, I know. Recruiters only called you every nince months or so, and even then it was for Alaskan Fishing Boat jobs (sure the money's great, but I want to live to spend it)
Even when you got an interesting offer, you got all spiffed up for an interview, walked the walk, talked the talk, answered the barrage of carefully designed personality-cracking questions only to never, ever hear anything back from that company again.
Well, if you haven't noticed, times have changed.
The "A Players" in your field are, right now, grooming their networks for their next gig. maybe you know someone who's already made their move.
But, before you go jumping off the edge without proper safety equipment, please read this short user's guide:
- Pay attention to the weather forecast.
Just because it's sunny now doesn't mean it won't get stormy in a few minutes. Become a "weather magnet" in your industry. What's going on? What are the tresds? Who's hot, who's not? Is that company you're walking in to heating up, or fizzling out? - Curiosity Killed the Cat
In this market, you don't need to wave very long before recruiters will notice you. That doesn't mean you should be stupid about it, either. Too many people get cold feet either when an offer is given--or worse, after accepting one.
Before you spend time talking with recruiters about your career, spend some time talking to yourself about your career. What do you really want, where do you really want to go? What do you really want to accomplish? How will this next move fit into your master plan? - Be Sure Your Parachute Is Ready
Interviewing intelligently can (in my opinion) be a very healthy thing for you to do, but not all interviews produce the right job-change. Don't change your tone at work--except for being even more productive than you currently are. This will guarantee that, should something go wrong, you've got a cushy place to land--your office chair. - Perform A Final Gut Check
Breathe. Walk around the building. Take a lunch break that's actually away from your desk (gasp!). Getting your gut to talk to you means clearing distractions, reviewing what your concerns are, and being real about the facts.
Then, you gotta just go with it. - Have Fun
Don't forget that your career is supposed to support the other parts of your life (including your future). Many people have it the other way around. Keeping this paramount in your next career move will help you have what eludes far too many: A smile on Monday Morning.
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