Are you a serial job hopper?
For love or money
Increasingly, the discussions I’ve been having with candidates and clients of late are centered around the competitiveness of the job market right now for experienced salesforce talent. As is to be expected, this means higher salaries have become the norm in this current climate too. With so much opportunity around for candidates, it’s a good time to take stock before you make a big move. If you are going to start shopping around, there are some bases you’ll need to cover to avoid wasting time for yourself and others.
Robert Half Recruitment recently published their 2021 Australian Salary Guide for technology jobs and found that 82% of CIOs are concerned about losing their top tech talent due to the impact of COVID-19. In response, 73% of those businesses plan to extend salary increases to their existing tech employees.
To this end, we’re seeing the big companies increase their salaries to retain their top talent, leaving SMEs to fall short or not even be in the running for talent because they just can’t match the remuneration. Potentially, this is creating a hiring culture that’s money first, culture second.
Look before you leap
Now, take a minute to consider your own career trajectory, where do you want it to go? If you stay in your role, can you meet those development objectives? Even if it doesn’t mean more money right now, does it put you on the path to where you want to be?
With this in mind, it’s always worthwhile thinking more than a couple of steps ahead. Reflect on what’s important for you in the short-term and long-term. Money is a temporary measure, it’s used as a carrot to lure talent so it pays to make sure there will be enough room for your salary to grow at your next review.
Job hoppers
The grass is always greener, right? Well, it depends.
Don’t underestimate the effort and time it takes to rebuild trust, relationships and credibility in a new workplace environment. If you don’t have sponsors and advocates in your current business, that could be the reason you’re being overlooked. It’s always advantageous to seek out advice from trusted senior people to get their take on how you can grow.
Of course, there are definitely upsides to changing jobs. Finding a better team, manager or promoting yourself from one organisation to another can have a positive effect on your resume and career trajectory. You can gain more skills, add to your networks, and begin new challenges.
Job security isn’t what it once was either, so this is resulting in a market full of ambitious, yet restless, opportunity seekers.
Leave no stone unturned
Before you pull the trigger, it’s a good idea to try exhausting internal opportunities in your current workplace. Don’t assume because opportunity isn’t currently knocking on your door that it doesn’t exist and there’s more you could be doing in your current company.
If you’re not hustling your way to a pay rise and want to seek out real change, a good place to start is where you already are. There’s certainly no harm in asking your manager to be exposed to more opportunities in your current role.
If after you’ve exhausted these options and the path forward is starting to fade, then get on the hunt for a new opportunity with a company who can meet your needs.
Once you’ve made a decision, stick with it. In my experience, even if a candidate decides to take a lucrative counter-offer, those unresolved issues linger and close to 75% will end up leaving their job within the space of 6 months. Money talks, but it doesn’t fix everything.
And remember, at the end of the day advice is just advice. The only person who is in charge of your career development is you.
~ Garth Kharitou
