We already know that a candidate-short market has led to candidates looking for flexibility, remote working options, and a big hike in salary desires, but has the rise in want for benefits led to a neglect of thinking about a long-term career plan?
It’s easy in a candidate-short market, where there are jobs galore and counteroffers flying left right and centre, to be persuaded to move companies because of a higher salary. If money is your main driver, then great! But for most candidates, a fulfilling work experience includes having good relationships with colleagues, being respected, and valued for their contributions and, ultimately, doing something they care about[1]. This is why it’s a great idea to have a career plan before making any changes to your career.
Why bother with a career plan?
The importance of having a career plan or general idea of what you want to achieve with your work cannot be understated. When a new job opportunity arises, comparing the opportunity to your career plan helps to identify what kind of step this opportunity is.
Developing your career plan doesn’t have to be challenging, you just need to consider some key points about where you want to be in the future.
Basics: Location, flexibility, part time/full time/temp/contract, leave and benefits
Salary: What you can live on vs what you would like vs current market rates
Sector: Are you working in the sector or industry you are passionate about?
Professional development: What do you want to learn more about/become an expert in?
Responsibility: Do you want to be a business leader, mentor, or manager?
Think about your dream role. Think big and long-term. Not something you could do tomorrow, but something 5 or 10 years from now. Will you need strategic planning skills? Then a strategic role would be a good move. Will you need leadership skills? Then a role running a small team to learn how to manage people would be a great introduction to leadership.
Once you have thought about the above, you will then have a better idea of what kind of work you are aiming for in your career, and you will be able to compare any offers that come through to those answers to see how well they match up.
What to consider when looking to move roles or considering a job offer:
Will it help move you towards your goal?
Will the skills you gain in this opportunity enable you to progress towards your next career step?
Will you learn new skills or develop yourself?
Will it help you move into a new industry?
At the end of the day, it’s a great time to assess your current situation to see if what you’re doing now is getting you closer to your career plan, and if you find yourself in the position where you have an offer on the table, remember to ask yourself: is this role a ‘careermaker’?
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2016/06/10/money-isnt-everything-five-factors-that-contribute-to-happiness-at-work/?sh=3ac57fb28a8d
Compare your salary