So, why would anyone want to leave their job in this market? Better compensation, better career opportunities, and dissatisfaction with one's current position.
So, how can you make sure you make a good choice? It all starts with the interview. Follow the six steps below to help you in your decision.
1. If You Don't Get Along with Your Boss on the Interview, You Never Will
Clicking with your boss is essential for a good work life. If you notice on the interview that your boss doesn’t get you or that you don’t get him or her, this will not change once you start working there. Use the interview to find out if your boss is interested in what you have to say and understands what's important to you in your career before you accept a job offer.
2. If You Don't Get Along with Your Co-workers, You Never Will
If you sense that there’s a problem with someone you’ll be working with, listen to what your inner voice is telling you. Working relationships with people you already don’t like during the interview will only get harder as the time you spend with them increases. If you prefer team-oriented environments and your future co-worker says that she/he and others prefer to work alone, recognize that the environment is not a match for you.
Wanting to be selected by an employer sometimes makes us talk ourselves into a situation we might not have gotten into if we were thinking more clearly. The purpose of an interview is for both parties to interview each other to see if there’s a fit. Don't try to talk yourself into believing a job is for you when you know in your heart that it’s not. This is a recipe for disaster.
4. Decide What You Want First
Make a list of what's important to you in a job before going into the interview. Is your workspace a priority? Then ask to see it before you make a decision. Do you want to work 9 am to 5 pm? Then ask your future boss and colleagues what their typical hours are. If they tell you that they arrive at the office by 7 am and leave around 8 pm, you should expect the same. (Don't kid yourself into thinking otherwise.) Deciding what you want ahead of time will give you the opportunity to ask questions to assess whether you really want the job.
5. Don't Sell Out
It’s okay to take a job because you need the money. But, if it's not the right job for you, then give yourself a time frame for moving on and then stick to it. I work with many clients who agreed to less-than-perfect positions believing that they would stay for just one year. But that one year frequently became two, and then more, even though the jobs were not satisfying. An interim position, though, should be just that. Don't sell out.
6. Be Yourself
There really is no other way to find out if you will be accepted for who you are or not. You may fool the people with whom you interview to get the job, but you will only be fooling yourself once you get there and you have to be someone else.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
About the Author
Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, noted career coach, and best-selling author of several career and business books, works with senior executives, vice presidents, and managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seek to become more productive in their current roles. Do you dread going to work on Monday mornings? Visit http://www.surpassyourdreams.com to receive Deborah's complimentary weekly action tips for making Monday the best day of the week.
