It’s no secret that the demand for finance and accounting talent is at an all-time high. While the opportunities for skilled employees have always been available, the current market has even more people evaluating the wider opportunities at-hand and whether it’s time to make a change.
While I strongly support the common belief that the best time to look for a job is when you already have one, it’s important to remember that you must respect your current employer throughout the process.
Here are five key takeaways for how you accomplish just that:
1. Clearly evaluate opportunities within your existing organization. First off, you owe it to yourself to look at any available opportunities with your current employer before you throw in the towel. Whether it’s a conversation about potential moves to another division or group, taking an honest (and creative look) at other openings is worth considering. NOTE: If you are only interviewing to get a raise at your current employer, think again. You’ll find better resolution is through honest and productive conversation versus pulling out a yellow card.
2. Don’t let your job performance suffer. After you’ve made the decision to officially begin your job search, it’s easy to get distracted and “tune out” from your current job and its day-to-day responsibilities. Don’t fall into this trap. You want your last weeks or months to be some of your best work. People have short-term memories; you’ll be remembered for your final contributions.
3. Do it on your own time. Staying dedicated to your current job performance means interviewing before work, during lunch or after hours. Take PTO if you need to, and if it’s easier, attempt phone screens if you know you’ll be interviewing a lot. Most importantly, do not use your employer’s resources such as computer, phone, printer, etc.
4. Take the high road. During interviews, be honest about why you’re looking to leave your current role, but never talk negatively about your employer.
5. Ensure a successful transition. Your reputation will only be as good as your departure. After you’ve accepted an offer, give your employer adequate notice (at least two weeks). Transition effectively by putting together a detailed plan and going above and beyond to thoughtfully train the existing internal resources who will be fulfilling your responsibilities until a replacement has been hired. You may even have the opportunity to train your replacement if they are hired or promoted before your last day.
Feedback? Best practices or stories to share? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments.
