Don’t ignore the blind spots when changing lanes in your career.
A career move is based on choices. Choices are at times compelled by changes in circumstances, whether internal or external. For example, a person may be driven to take on a less demanding role because of changes in the family – such as kids going to school or teens needing closer parental attention. It could also be a reverse process in which a homemaker decides to make a comeback to the workforce after more than a decade of “home leave” in raising young ones who are now more upwardly mobile and independent.
The past two decades have seen a rise in people losing jobs because of the closure of enterprises or migration of businesses to lower-cost options within their region. The “iron rice bowl” mentality has waned. The advent of contract and temporary jobs taking the place of “secure, permanent” jobs during the recession has also propelled individuals, who are knowledge migrants, to seek better fortunes outside Singapore.
Likewise, the increasing number of migrant talent into Singapore poses another challenge for local employees to stay competitive and be at the leading edge of “staying relevant and valuable” to their employers. Some workers may be forced to leave their jobs in search of growth and challenging opportunities, whether laterally or vertically, as they constantly have to reinvent, upgrade and rejuvenate their skills. As the saying goes: Innovate or vegetate.
When making a new career move, reduce your risk by considering these points:
• Failure to plan: When an individual switches career for superficial reasons such as boredom or higher salaries offered by other organisations, they are likely to act in haste, without proper planning. Because of their lack of market research and analysis of their own strengths and career values, they find a sense of disillusionment when realities set in after landing a new job. They will be just as unfulfilled and unmotivated as they were in their previous job. It is therefore important to consider the real “push” factors in your current role and the “pull” factors in propelling you to take on a new job offer.
• Lack of research on the potential new company: Insufficient background information – on hiring needs, challenges of the new role, culture and industry setting, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) – may lead to a bad decision. It is important to weigh up all factors when switching jobs, especially if you are currently gainfully employed. Also, because of the lure of a better offer, you might move in haste, which could lead to you leaving the new job within a few months because of an imbalance between the new job and your abilities – a mismatch of expectations. Research and networking are essential. Talk with people who can provide you with advice to make a well-informed decision.
• Poor risk management: When you are thinking about a career move, consider the risks involved. How versatile and resilient are you? How fast can you learn in a new industry or a new role? How long can the company wait before you achieve your key performance indicators? How would the new change affect your current family goals? If the new company has a history of high staff turnover, how may this affect your own chances of success in your new job? In other words, do you have an alternative plan if your new career choice does not work out? Always evaluate your opportunity cost in any decision-making process.
• Poor self-analysis: Have you done an audit of your own strengths, transferable skills, career values, definition of job satisfaction and career interests? Your training or performance gaps? Your life purpose? If you are trying to keep abreast of the latest career and industry trends, do you have a career/life-planning strategy that is constantly updated so that you can swing between a proactive career management strategy and a reactive one? Some new roles require a jump-start personality which might not fit someone who has a strong fear of failure. Decide if you are more comfortable in a maintenance role than an entrepreneurial, high-risk-taking and ambiguous role.
A successful career switch requires careful personal consideration, good research, proper planning and sound feedback. Be prepared to make initial sacrifices – work hard and learn to survive in a new corporate setting working with new people and adapting to a new culture. Exercise mindfulness and wisdom when making those changes … GOOD LUCK!
Christine Sim
President
Asian Association of Career Management Professionals
christinesim77@hotmail.com
