QI'm a mid level manager in a
large consumer goods company. I've been with the same company since
I graduated from Uni five years ago and I've advanced quite
quickly. I still like the company but I'm beginning to feel a bit
restless. I think it's because all my friends have now moved on
from their first jobs and many have gone overseas.
I'm not quite sure what to do and thought I'd write in to
get some ideas. Hope you can help me.
AWe're really glad you've contacted us
with your question. It sounds like you're somewhat apprehensive
about your next step. This is understandable.
When you leave University and start your first job as a
graduate, it brings such a sense of achievement. The recruiting
process is behind you. Applying for your first professional job was
probably a bit scary but at least you knew the people you were
competing with were all in the same boat as you.
The next move can be that much harder. You are now potentially
being measured against people with a lot more experience than you.
You're also going to undergo a very different selection process.
For a start, this is one you probably need to be more discreet
about. Welcome to the world of private phone calls and "medical
appointments".
As you outlined, you have two broad options, to stay put or to
start actively searching for your next move. For the convenience of
our readers we've summarized the advantages and disadvantages of
each option below. To read the complete answer, click here.
Staying Put:
Benefits
- The obvious one is that staying is much less risky and
unsettling than moving on. As my father would say, why would you
change if things are going so well?
- You�re a known quantity at your current firm and you seem to
have the potential to keep advancing to senior levels. The speed of
advancement could be faster in a company where you�re known.
- In a large company you can always take a sideways move and
learn new skills without having to go through the
new-company-adjustment period.
Disadvantages
- From our experience, the longer you stay in one company the
more difficult it becomes to make the next move.
- Many employers now look for variety in CV�s. They want to see
that you have the ability to change and adjust well to change.
- If you don�t respond to that restless feeling, it may not leave
you. Sometimes you just need a change!
Moving on:
Benefits
- Going through the exercise of searching for a new role can help
you focus and perhaps re-direct your career, regardless of the
outcome. It�s hard to take the time to think strategically about
your career � this will force you to do it.
- You will learn new things and new skills through the
exercise.
- It�s always good to get outside your comfort zone every now and
again! Change can be a great thing; it can teach us a lot about
ourselves and help us grow professionally and personally.
Disadvantages
- It can be very time consuming.
- You�ll need to be very careful in how you conduct yourself so
that your current employer doesn�t come to see you as
�disloyal�.
- If you�re rejected, this can potentially undermine your
confidence.
Staying Put:
It is not uncommon for graduates to stay in the same company for
a large number of years. This is particularly true in large New
Zealand companies that offer a variety of exciting career
opportunities.
In making your decision you might want to ask yourself the
following questions:
- Can you see yourself in this company in the next 5 years? 10
years?
- Are there solid career opportunities in this company?
- Is your company one where women can reach senior
positions?
- Is your company good at providing learning and development
opportunities? When you start your career everything you do is a
learning and development opportunity, but after a while you might
want some more structured opportunities to help expand your skill
set.
- And perhaps the most important question of all: does your
company have a great culture with lots of highly capable people
from whom you can keep learning?
If the answer to most of these questions is a resounding YES, we
want to know where you work and we�ll probably apply for a job
there ourselves�
More seriously, some companies are good on some of the aspects
outlined above but weak on others. If your company is one of those,
then you need to figure out for yourself which of these aspects is
most important to you. Once you�ve done that, the decision will
become a lot easier.
Moving On:
We�re almost tempted to say it can�t hurt! But the truth is it
can. If you decide to look for new options, do keep in mind that
you might be rejected a few times. It�s never easy for our
self-esteem to be rejected. At the time, the thought that it�s all
been a really good learning and growing experience can seem cold
comfort.
If you decide to look for new options, you can always try the
wanted ads in the newspaper or one of the online jobs sites (see
below). A different route is to begin with identifying a
recruitment company that specialises in your area of expertise or
industry. Seek advice and direction from them.
If you decide to apply directly, there are a few things you need
to consider:
Writing your CV and cover letter
Sounds obvious, doesn�t it? But unfortunately, in our
experience, some people who have many more years of experience than
you get this part wrong. I�ve come across CVs that were far too
lengthy and so hard to read that I was tempted to put them aside
without giving them the time of day!
Whatever you do, spend time on getting your CV right and
tailoring your cover letter. Hiring firms really can tell if you�ve
just topped and tailed your last letter! If you choose to identify
a recruiting company to help you, they should have examples and
tips on writing a good CV and a cover letter. If you choose to do
it yourself, Work and Income have a good little document on the
basics on:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/brochures/writing-your-cv.pdf
Waikato University also has a very useful guide on: www.waikato.ac.nz/sasd/careers/articles/cv.shtml
Preparing for an interview
The last time you had a formal job interview you were a
graduate. That first interview is very different to subsequent
ones, simply because most graduates don�t have any relevant
experience to speak of when they first start out.
Now, however, you do. Many recruiters focus in their interviews
on getting candidates to give actual examples of how they dealt
with certain work situations in their past. It makes sense of
course; the way you behaved in the past is a good predictor of how
you will behave in the future.
In order to prepare for an interview, you can think about actual
situations in your work life where you had to overcome obstacles.
You might want to think of times when you felt proud of how you
handled a difficult situation. And times when, looking back, you
wish you�ve done things differently. Try and think how you�d go
about it now. It pays to be well prepared, and to have thought
about the tone you want to take in the interview with these
different vignettes.
What about the rest of you out there? What advice would you
offer? We would love to hear your thoughts. Please e-mail us on: feedback@professionelle.co.nz
Online job sites
Check out these:
www.seek.co.nz
www.nzjobs.govt.nz (govt jobs only)
http://jobs.nzherald.co.nz/js.php
www.finda.co.nz
© Professionelle Ltd 2007