There are many different reasons people consider moving on from their current position including progression, salary and workload. However, for many individuals, taking a step away from what they know and starting their search can be overwhelming. Rutherford Cross Consultant, Harry Thomson breaks down this process, providing key steps and areas for consideration.
So, you are beginning to look
If you are considering making a move from your current role and you have been overwhelmed by the multitude of opportunities out there, not knowing which option is best for you, it can feel like a very daunting task.
Prior to beginning your search, it is important to get a bigger picture view from your current employer around what they have planned for you in the short, medium and long term. For some individuals, their mind might have been made up prior to this and they may have their heart set on leaving; however, for others, this may open doors around a progression path that they weren’t aware of previously.
Keys areas for consideration
When planning your next move and the options available, the following areas should be taken into consideration:
- One of the most important aspects to look at when beginning to look at changing jobs is ‘what you have a passion for’, and ‘what you find interesting’. This is important to help you narrow down the types of businesses/organisations that you want to work for. The ideal position for many people is a position that allows them to grow and develop with a good progression path
- Another very important aspect to consider is ‘what you want to get out of your next move’. This works for those looking to stay within practice or switch to industry. Without preaching to the choir too much, when looking at finance within industry specifically, the majority of roles can be broken down into two types of role. Firstly, ‘Financial Accounting’ roles predominantly look at the company’s numbers (present and past) to provide an accurate picture of the company’s current health. Secondly, ‘Management Accounting’ roles predominantly assess current and future numbers to predict the company’s future performance
- The next area to consider is ‘what you are willing to commit to workwise for the right opportunity’. This can be broken down into a host of categories such as: fully office-based roles vs hybrid, level of team management, level of support, level of development required for progression, along with various other factors unique to you and your situation
- Quite often when you start your search it can be helpful to look at job adverts to give you a feel for the market. While this gives you a good starting point, it does not give you the full picture of each role and what is truly expected, so it is worth partnering with a recruitment consultant to guide you through the next stages
On the move
Once you have a rough idea as to what you are looking for in your next role, it is time to dust off your CV and update it with all your new skills and experiences. You can then begin to tell your story and what you are looking for in your next role to recruiters who can provide a greater level of insight into available opportunities, as well as making introductions to businesses/organisations on your behalf. This also provides the chance to find out more about different opportunities with organisations that you may not have considered or even heard of previously: even if it is not the right role for you, it allows you the opportunity to make a more informed decision going forward.
Beginning to interview for new roles
This is your chance to find out a lot about a potential organisation, get insights into their ways of working and ask questions that help you feel more confident in your decision. On the flip side, the interviewer is also beginning to form a picture of your experience, so it is important to spend time preparing – there is nothing worse than realising halfway through the interview that this is something you really want and you have underprepared. To help guide you with your interview preparation, have a look at my previous blog: How to Prepare for an Interview.
Offer stage
If the business has provided you with an offer of everything you are looking for then brilliant, it should be a straightforward ‘yes’. When the offer falls short of what you are hoping for, you can negotiate rather than rejecting – just because the first offer didn’t match what you were hoping for, it doesn’t mean the second won’t.
Handing in your notice
This stage is quite often very bespoke to the individual. I would suggest that if you have a good working relationship with your direct manager then it would be worth doing it in person with them to ensure that you can maintain that relationship in the future. For those who don’t and are looking for a quick exit, you can type up your formal resignation and send it to either your line manager or HR vie email.
Key takeaways
Here are some key highlights to remember:
- While the whole process may seem daunting, most people will go through this experience at one stage or another
- Not all job postings are as they appear at first glance, so it is always worth exploring them to find out a little bit more on each role
- Ask questions and ensure you are building out a full picture of each role that you are interested in
- You can make mistakes in your career; it is how you spin them into positives and learning opportunities when presenting your case that matters
- Recruiters are here to help you in your search; we want to build a good relationship with you and help you grow in your career as much as possible
- Don’t give up if you are unsuccessful, take the feedback onboard and work on what you could have done differently for the next role
If you are looking for some support building your finance team this year, or you would like a confidential discussion about your own career, please contact [email protected].
