They say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. The implication of the old saying is that we idealize what we don’t have, and tend to undervalue what we do. If your current dissatisfaction has to do with something inside you, you’ll take it with you right over the fence and discover that side’s grass isn’t that green after all. But maybe you are standing on a dry, brown patch of old ground – and a quick leap over a garden fence might result in your feet landing in the kind of Technicolor green grass you’ve been dreaming of. Just make sure you look before you leap, and then avail yourself of these tips for getting on track for a healthy transition.
1. Know thyself– This process starts inside you, with the thought that your life could be better if you made some changes. But nobody knows you better than you, so its up to (guess who?) you to examine your reasoning for wanting a new job. Is it simple dissatisfaction with routine, or is there something about the job you have that really makes you unhappy? Is it this particular job? Your coworkers? The whole industry? Since you’re potentially making this move for your own well-being, it’s best to determine first what it is you are trying to get away from.
2. Look around your company first– Unless you’re being chased out of your old job by a pack of wild dogs, chances are your company would rather hang onto you than let you go if what you’re really looking for is a simple change of pace. There’s a good chance they’ll let you know about any other positions that are available internally and give you a real shot at them. It may be the case that it’s the coworkers and surroundings that need to change for you, but if it’s a matter of being tired of your position, see if the home team can help you out before you go looking to break into a whole new company.
3. Revisit your resume– It goes without saying that since the last time you were out looking for work, the expectations of what a resume should look like have once again changed. So you’ll have to adjust to conform to what hiring managers are looking for. But this also gives you a chance to reshape and redefine who your resume presents you to be. Remember, this document is the very first thing your potential new boss will read about you, so don’t be afraid to really jazz it up.
4. Talk to friends and friends of friends– Networking may not be the most effective method to get an interview considering the modern dependence on online applications, but it surely is a way for you to figure out what potential new job most fits your vision of where you want to be. So talk to your friends, and have them talk to their friends, and take a few of these friends-of-friends out for a coffee in exchange for a quick education in their industry. One of them may know just the job for you, and they may even know of an opening.
5. Do a survey of the marketplace– Know what you’re getting into, and see compensation figures for other people working in the position you’re interested in by using the data available on Comparably.com. Especially if you’re moving into a new job or a new industry, compensation factors can be bewildering, so don’t skip our resources.
6. Target jobs rather than sending mass applications– Knowing that online application is the most common way people land a new job interview may encourage you to wallpaper the industry (or industries) of your choice with resumes. After all, often all you need to do to submit these days is to click a button. But it can be quite dispiriting to send out 45 resumes in a day and get no responses, which may very well happen when submission is that easy and everyone is doing it. It’s better to be strategic, finding jobs you’re especially interested in, and crafting a cover letter and adjusted resume to fit the job description to a T.
