Is This Role the Right One for You?

One of the problems with getting disillusioned when searching for a job is that you could end up taking whatever’s offered to you. Sometimes it may work out perfectly but there is a risk it won’t, with the only upside being that you’re getting paid to be there.

Here are a few tips and questions to ask yourself:

Here are a few tips and questions to ask yourself:

• Look at your CV – do you have a history of job-hopping? Unless you’ve spent a few years as a contractor, regularly moving jobs might indicate to you – as well as to potential future employers – that you either move on too quickly, or you don’t take the right role in the first place.
• Ask yourself if the job can help your career progression –job seekers tend to move on from their current role because they’ve got as far as they can both in the position itself and in the company. However, if an interview panel make vague promises about advancement and acquiring new skills without outlining not just your but their expectation of how you might grow through the role, warning bells should be ringing.
• Did you get a good feeling during the recruitment process? – if you got the impression that you’d have that Friday feeling even on a Monday morning, then that’s a fair indication this is the right move. Always remember that the interview stage is as much for you to assess the panel as for the panel to assess you. If any aspect of the interview leaves you in two minds about the role, then that’s the time to ask questions; there and then, and to the panel, and not to yourself the day before you start your new job.
• Is it really time to move on? – this should be a question you ask yourself before you even update your CV, let alone get as far as an interview. However, staying in a position which clearly offers you no opportunities for progression any longer can look as bad on your CV as staying in a job too briefly. Even if you have moved through different positions and departments within the same company, you could find yourself becoming stuck in the culture.
• Consider the practicalities. For example, how long will the commute be – unless your current commute is a short stroll to the office, consider very carefully adding more time to your working day, especially if your only options are notorious rail operators who might add another hour or two on top on a regular basis. If you have family commitments, or outside interests that make you the kind of rounded employee a new boss is looking for, think very hard about adding time or cost to your travel if you’re not prepared to uproot and move closer to work.

Summary

In short, if the job gives you a spring in your step and a tingle of excitement as you get up every morning, you’re probably making the right decision in moving on. Make sure your CV reflects your job moves accurately, and don’t be afraid to interview the panel as much as they interview you.