3 golden rules when making a career move
24 Jun 2022
Unless you’ve been vacationing on Mars for the past 18 months, it’s highly likely you’re aware that Tax is generally very resource constrained at this point in time and we are experiencing what is known as a “candidate led” market.
You may well be inundated with calls from recruiters who have multiple opportunities that could be of interest to you. The tax industry is booming; you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Whilst it is delightful to be presented with numerous exciting career choices, it’s easy to be tempted into something for the wrong reasons and end up regretting it further down the line.
However, as long as you follow a few golden rules when making your decision, all should turn out well.
Know your ‘why’
There are any number of reasons why you might want to make a career move: progression, development of new skills, greater flexibility, remuneration, location, to name but a few. This is a very personal thing.
If you know what it is you want to achieve, you can assess how far making this move will deliver on that.
It’s a good idea to split your career into short, medium and long term goals. Where would the new role fit within your timeframe?
Fulfilling a short term goal is no bad thing, but an opportunity that has the potential to offer more in the medium to longer term as well might be the better choice.
Main thing is, have a plan. Question your actions. Ask yourself ‘why’? If you’re happy with your answers, then all good; if you’re not, then perhaps it’s time for a rethink.
Do your due diligence
As far as you’re realistically able to determine, ensure you know what you’re getting into – warts and all. Ask lots of questions during the interview process so you understand the challenges of the role upfront and know you’re happy to take them on.
Is the firm financially robust? What does their existing and upcoming pipeline of work look like? Who are their clients, what industries are they in? Is there a decent spread of risk in the event of economic turbulence? What’s their staff retention rate? Etc.
Does the company embrace values that are important to you? How do existing employees describe the culture? (Ask them!) Does behaviour appear to align with the values promoted on the company website? Does it feel like the right environment for you?
Meet as many people as you can. Do you think you can work well with them? ‘Fit’ is important for a happy working life.
Trust your intuition
To all intents and purposes it might look like a great move, however if, for some reason, there’s something at the back of your mind that you just can’t put your finger on, don’t ignore it.
You would be wise to pay as much attention to your gut instinct as your logic. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s a reason for that, whether or not that reason is immediately apparent. Perhaps revisit your due diligence, cross check, dig deeper. If, after all that, you still feel the same niggle, perhaps the best decision is to just walk away.
A career move is never something to be undertaken lightly or indeed blindly. Think about how the move will serve you and bring you closer to what you ultimately want to achieve and where you really want to be. Then you know you’re on the right track.