January 31, 2023 | Posted in Career, job search | By

Before you jump at the opportunity to land your next job, it’s important to think about how leaving your current position will impact your life. Leaving can be a scary proposition, but it can also be one of the most liberating decisions you make. Taking the leap and changing jobs is an incredible way to grow professionally and advance in your field. If you think about it in terms of new projects and new challenges, becoming a job changer can be just as exciting as landing your first new gig.

Here are some things you should do before you change jobs so that this transition doesn’t burden you with stress instead of blessings.

Conduct a job search before you change jobs

If you’re planning on changing jobs, it makes sense to conduct some type of job search before you actually make the leap. This can be a simple Google search, but you may want to consider something more professional. A LinkedIn search can bring up candidates who are looking to expand their skillset and may be interested in hiring you. You can also reach out to your current and former colleagues for leads into new opportunities.

You may even want to reach out to companies that you’ve had on your radar for some time, but haven’t had the opportunity to reach out to yet. This can be a great way to keep your skills and contacts fresh while also expanding your network.

Take some time to yourself before you leave your current job

You may be the most productive person when you’re working, but what about when you’re not? Taking some time to relax and unwind can be incredibly beneficial before you leave your job. This can be as simple as taking a vacation or scheduling a solo activity, like staying in and watching Gilmore Girls with a bowl of ice cream. It can also be as simple as scheduling a haircut or a massage. These small, but important, steps can help you decompress and re-center before you have to jump into a new chapter of your life.

Map out your next steps with a plan of action

Before you jump off of the ledge, it helps to have a plan in place. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate strategy, but having a plan in place can help you stay focused.

Decide what you want to accomplish and what steps you want to take to get there. For example, I have a job search plan that I will share with you. This is a document that helps you understand what it is that you are looking for so you can focus but also a document that you can give to your network so they understand what you are looking for.

Contains – Professional Objective, Preferred Functions, Positioning Statement, Competencies, Target Market Characteristics, Geographic Location, Size of Organization, Organizational Culture, Target List of Companies

Always start your search with a job search plan. Click here to download the template
http://b2the7.com/career-resources/

Ask yourself if this is really something you want to do

Every job change is a risk. Some may argue that it’s a risk worth taking, but it’s important to ask yourself if this is really something you want to do. There’s a lot that goes into landing a new job and it’s important to assess if this is the best way for you to do so.

While there are risks associated with changing jobs, there are also positives. Changing jobs is an opportunity to branch out and explore new projects, industries, and challenges. If you’re concerned about leaving your current job and are only planning on jumping once, you can start with something small, like changing jobs within your company. You could also start with a gig that pays less money, which is better suited for staying close to home.

Network, network, network!

If you’re looking to change jobs, networking is key. It doesn’t matter if you’ve changed jobs before or are looking to change jobs for the first time, you need to network. Networking is the fastest, easiest, and most effective way to find a job.

Start small. If you’re looking to change jobs, you can start by going to your company’s networking events and attending the hiring fair. You can also start by looking for people in your network who are looking for a new job.

Next, you can look for your company’s career page on social media. You can also search for networking groups or LinkedIn groups related to your industry and start networking. This can be as simple as sending a quick email or making a phone call to introduce yourself and let them know that you’re interested in hearing about opportunities.

Conclusion

While having the courage to change jobs is an incredible opportunity, it can also be one of the biggest challenges you’ll face. This decision requires a lot of thought and preparation, which is why it’s important to think about these things before you make the jump.

From conducting a job search and taking some time to yourself before leaving your current job to mapping out your next steps with a plan of action, you can make this transition as smooth as possible.

More about Bernie…

Senior Director, Consumer Media Group at Confluent Health – Growth marketing focus on brand awareness, interest and new patient acquisition to our 44+ partner brands and 530+ locations across the US. Accountable for driving yearly business results supported by our consumer strategy and direct-to-consumer roadmaps. The Media team is responsible for owned and paid media as it relates to performance marketing, campaign management, partnerships, website development & support, search engine optimization, relationship marketing, Yext (Google My Business) support, recruiting, email marketing and supporting our partners at the local level.

Chief Cheese – Strategy & Engagement at B2The7 – Helping brands Reach, Retain & Regain customers with Omni-Channel data-driven strategies and tactics that focus on increasing sales, transactions, comps and customer engagement.

B2The7 Photography – Sharing experiences with photography: nature, landscapes, sunsets, flowers, animals and more.

Helping job seekers & recruiters daily…Founder of Careerbarn.com – Bringing jobseekers and employers together since 2000.