Switching jobs can be an exciting prospect, full of potential, opportunity and financial reward; however, it can also be a stressful proposition.
Change can be scary and venturing out of your comfort zone can be daunting. Fear of the unknown is a natural anxiety for many, making the offer of a new job a tricky decision.
To help you through the misty landscape of professional uncertainty, here are our top five tips for handling potential job opportunities.
“How Do I Know If I Should Accept a Job Offer?”
If you’ve been in the same company or a similar role for an extended period of time, your daily routine can become just that – routine.
Shaking up your working regime with a new role can be just the impetus needed to reignite the spark in your professional life. On the other hand, accepting a new role without forethought can be a regrettable decision.
Ensure your career trajectory remains in a positive direction by considering these key points before you make a decision.
Why Did You Apply?
First things first, getting well-acquainted with your motivations is extremely important in evaluating whether or not you should accept a job offer.
If you applied for the job, ask yourself “Why did I apply for the role?” Simply revisiting your reasons for throwing your name into the hat can help you to rediscover just why you wanted the job in the first place and/or why you wanted to leave your current role.
If you applied for the position because you really wanted the job and everything that comes with it, take it as a green light to move forward. You invited opportunity to your front door and it’s knocking with zeal!
Conversely, if you were head-hunted or you put your name forward for reasons other than your own, it may be worth mulling over. Entering a new job with reluctance is not a great way to start.
Quality of Life
One of the biggest factors that affect our daily lives in the 21st century is the balance between work and homelife. If one outweighs the other, it can cause upset and make one or both sides of that equation extremely taxing.
Money doesn’t buy happiness but it can make life easier and a lot more enjoyable. That being said, if there’s no time to reap the rewards of your hard work, what good is money anyway?
While living to work may be ideal for some, most of us prefer to work to live. If your new role presents a better quality of life for your circumstances, be it financially or in terms of time management, it could be a smarter choice than staying put.
Revisit the Man in the Mirror
Self-doubt and insecurity are common feelings to have when faced with a potential new role. After all, it’s unknown territory – who knows what they will expect from you, right?
“Am I the right person?”; “Do I have what it takes?”; “Can I get the job done?”; are all perfectly natural questions, but it’s important to remember one key fact: they chose YOU above everyone else for this role.
Your potential new employer believes you fit the bill, so why dispute it? Go back to the original job ad and re-read the person specification for peace of mind. If you tick all the boxes, consider your reservations cancelled.
Fake It ‘Til You Make It
Richard Branson famously once quipped: “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.”
If this is the job you’ve always wanted or the opportunity of a lifetime, letting it pass you by out of self-doubt can be an irreversible mistake you may come to regret for the rest of your life.
It’s long been said that fortune favours the brave, so be bold enough to step up and be prepared to grow into the role, if necessary. Remember, fear is temporary – regret is eternal.
Stuck in a Rut
If you’ve been in the same company or a similar role for an extended period of time, your daily routine can become just that – routine.
Clocking in for the sole purpose of clocking out can be soul destroying, yet many of us are happy to do so for the simple fact of familiarity. Better the devil you know…
However, a trip outside your comfort zone can be just the ticket to reignite your professional passion and reinvigorate your working life.
Best of all, a change of scenery can do wonders for your mental health, providing new goals, new experiences and new challenges to keep you emotionally invested in your career.
For more advice on job applications and life in the working world, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0203 225 5120 or get in touch online using the button below.
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