The Art of Changing Jobs

So you are thinking of changing jobs? Whether you’re looking for Credit Risk jobs, roles in Analytics, Data, Modeling, SAS, Insight, Data Management or Marketing Analyst jobs, we’ve got some tips for you.

Why do you want to change roles?

First things first, before you go anywhere near updating your résumé or contacting recruiters, consider the reason you want to change jobs. If you like the one you’re in but want a pay rise or more responsibility – could you negotiate these rather than move to another company? We seriously advise you not to start your job search unless you really do intend to leave your current job.

Only when you feel there is no alternative should you start your search. Why do we say this? Simply because getting to the end of the recruitment process with a new company and then accepting a counter offer with your employer can be one of the most damaging career moves you can make for three very different but equally detrimental reasons.

Firstly, because the new company will feel you have completely wasted their time and money going through the process with you and that you have purely used them to get a pay rise, and secondly, your recruitment consultant will feel exactly the same.

Thirdly, your current employer will generally feel you have been disloyal and potentially greedy and someone they may need to watch in the future which means that future career prospects with your current company could be compromised. So this scenario can be a lose/lose for all four parties, including you!

So you're ready to change job

If your intentions are serious in moving to a new company, what should the next step be? Preparing your résumé is first and foremost – and remember to create different versions for different jobs, emphasizing different key skills you have to offer to different types of employer, (see our résumé advice for more detail).

Set objectives early on with regard to the salary you want to achieve, the location you want to work in and the minimum role requirements you will consider, and stick to them. If a consultant or potential employer tries to persuade you otherwise and make your choice of new job for you, you can stick to your guns and make sure it is you making the decision on your next career step.

Next is to plan your search and also set aside some time for interview availability. Decide on the type of role you will consider and the sort of organization you want to work for, once you’ve got a clear idea of these then approach your chosen recruitment consultants.

It is not always possible but consider booking some time off, so your consultant can work towards organizing interviews for you at convenient times. We would also always avoid searching for jobs in the run up to holidays, or if you are in the middle of any intensive or deadline critical work projects, personal commitments such as attending training courses, as good jobs may well come up and you will be unavailable for interview and miss out!

Be selective about which recruitment agencies you work with

It really is worth considering which recruitment consultancies would be best for you and your search. It is best to pick one or two you know have a good reputation and market coverage and only add to these if, after a few weeks, you are not happy with the opportunities being provided. This will also ensure you avoid loads of agencies calling you all day, everyday trying to set things up.

It can be very obvious to your current employer that you are looking for a new job if you suddenly start to receive a high volume of ‘personal’ calls and attending to these is also very time consuming.

In the world of Data and Analytics, it’s a candidate market right now but that doesn’t mean companies will wait for ever for your decision if they offer you a job. By the same token, no company that you would want to work for should demand an immediate answer on a job offer - a respectable decision time is up to 48hrs. If you experience companies wanting an immediate decision, be very dubious, sometimes it can be a sales tactic from a recruitment consultant (internal or external). Would any company worth its salt really want employees that they had coerced in to taking a job? A respectable employer will want the decision to be the right one for their new employee – and will give you the time to consider everything fully and make an informed decision.

You've got the offer - now what?

Any longer than 48 hours though and an employer may get cold feet  - if you want a job you don’t need longer than that to look through the contract and consider all the options regarding salary offered, travel, work-life balance and anything else that is important to you regarding your working day. If you are delaying, there is a reason and normally it is because the role is not what you really want, or perhaps you are waiting on another potential offer before you choose? It is also reasonable to assume that the employer normally has other strong candidates who made it to final stage interview and they don’t want to risk losing them and starting the whole recruitment process from new.

Last but by no means least, you need to make sure you don’t end up with no job at all if an offer doesn’t materialize that you thought was a sure fire certainty. Don’t hand your notice in until you have something in writing from your new employer that you have signed and sent back.