Your first instinct may be to look for something new but, according to the latest survey from specialist financial recruiters Sharp Consultancy, you should think twice about leaving as it can present problems as well as solve them.
If you have decided to go, when and how you do it are very important. Almost a third of respondents to the survey said that they had left a job under a cloud before. This obviously doesn’t bode well for a reference and could seriously affect the leaver’s position if, like 12% of people in this survey, they eventually want or need to go back to their previous employer.
Mark Wilson, Sharp’s managing director believes you should only consider leaving after looking at the other options, especially if you haven’t been with the company very long. “Sometimes it seems you can only progress in your career by leaving your current employer for a position that is a step up with another firm. But a lot of people are much too quick to go for this option, its worth remembering that even in a very fast paced industry you don’t really prove anything in six months; you can have an initial impact in first quarter of course, but can you consistently deliver? You will only really be able to prove this and show an employer you’re ready for recognition towards the end of your first and into the second year, when your on-going good work will really start to make a significant difference.
“One problem is that often opportunities to develop within the current work situation are missed. For example, if there is someone in the role above yours who is likely to stay there for some time, it’s easy to presume that there’s no way for you to advance. But that’s not necessarily the case and depending on what you want there may actually be more than one route to get there.
Mark advises, “In certain cases you may be able to increase your status, knowledge and wage packet by taking on a new responsibility or specialising in a particular area and becoming the company’s expert in it. It is certainly worth exploring your options with your employer; you could use your review meeting for this or ask for a specific time to discuss your future. Employers should be impressed with your initiative and be keen to invest in someone who wants to commit to the organisation in the longer term, and you would have the head start of not needing to familiarise yourself with an entirely new work situation while still enjoying the possible benefits of additional training and/or pay for your new and improved role.”
“Of course sometimes leaving is the best option, but it’s wise to remember that it’s not necessarily the only one and you definitely owe it to yourself to investigate the possibilities first.”
