Job Change? A Time to Assess: What Do I Really Want?

Next to a health scare, the specter of being unemployed is one of the most stressful events we can experience during life.  Even for those who have tried to “prepare”, the reality of losing a job can trigger an emotional shock wave.

So once unemployed, it is natural to want to get back in the game and launch your job search quickly.  Before moving full steam ahead, however, it is critical to take some time to plan where you want to go and how you will get there.

There is value in stepping back, taking a deep breath and working through the emotional tidal wave resulting from a layoff.  In fact, leaving a job affords a unique opportunity to stop and look back, assess and plan, and this is important for a successful search campaign.

Every job we hold, every employer we work for, contributes both positive and negative experiences to our careers.  Much can be learned from each experience.  So, if you become unemployed, take a critical look backwards.  It even helps to create a list of the pros and cons of your last job experience and employer.  If you are candid with yourself, this exercise will help to reveal what was good and not so good.  Use this information to help build the framework for your job search so that you have a profile of your ideal job and work environment to guide your search.  It is only once you have assessed your past experience than you can effectively plan for a better experience next time.

Having this information can mean the difference between finding a new opportunity that is satisfying and exciting versus repeating the mistakes of the past.  The list should include: size and type of business, location and culture, compensation, work environment, and travel requirements, to name just a few important variables when it comes to identifying the ideal job.

Once armed with a clear picture of what you want (and what you do not want), you can build your marketing plan and start targeting employers and positions that will more closely meet your professional goals.  In the end, taking the time to plan and target your job search can mean the difference between  success and failure, happiness or disappointment.

What went wrong in your last job, what went right? Do you have a clear picture of what  a great job with a good employer would look like for you? How will you plan your job search? I can help you get started.    Norma Sweeny