When is the right time to leave your employer?
Dear Sam:
When do you know it’s the right time to move on? I have been struggling with the decision to go to a bigger company where I would have more opportunities for advancement. I enjoy working at my company and love what I do, but I feel guilty about leaving after only nine months. What should I consider before accepting this new job?
Dear Kate:
While the allure of more opportunities can be tempting, quitting your job can be a scary prospect. There are many factors to consider, and the decision requires you to do some honest self-examination. Before jumping ship, take time to make a list of pros and cons to see if the reasons to stay outweigh the reasons to go.
Consider not only the salary, but the work environment, flexibility and benefits, in addition to the job responsibilities. Remember that any new opportunity worth considering should add value to your life in multiple areas — improving your ability to be creative, grow personally and professionally and to enhance your network. Even though there are benefits to working for a larger company, also consider the following:
Are you certain there are no opportunities for advancement within your company? If you’re feeling unfulfilled or underutilized, perhaps you could have a conversation with your supervisor to see if you could take on additional responsibility or if you could participate in professional development training to grow your skill set. With some additional creative freedom, you may be able to increase your sense of achievement, and your added skills may open some doors to a promotion.
If your salary is your main pain point, it could be worth trying to renegotiate your pay. Before discussing a pay increase, research salary levels for your position in similar size companies in the same region to determine if your salary is in line with your industry, job and experience.
Salary comparison websites such as payscale.com and salary.com list pay ranges for job titles or duties based on geographic region. To compare salaries for titles at a specific company, explore Glassdoor.com, and you can also look at job listings on your company’s website for clues as to what someone hired in your role would make.
If your employer is unable to offer you more money, you could try to renegotiate additional benefits, such as vacation, paid parental leave, sick leave, flexible work time and telecommuting.
If you decide it is in your best interest to move on, it is important to leave on a good note so that you can maintain positive relationships with your colleagues and supervisors. When resigning, do so professionally by giving adequate notice (typically two weeks), by writing a formal resignation letter and by offering to help during the transition.
While leaving after nine months isn’t ideal, it should not affect your career trajectory in the long run. It is best not to have months listed on your resume (only years), so formatting your resume should not be an issue. As long as you are comfortable talking about your reasons for leaving your position in future interviews, I would not let your length of tenure impact your decision.
Even if you love your job, it’s normal to question if you’d be better off somewhere else. Ultimately, the decision is a personal one based on your values, priorities and circumstances. Samantha Nolan is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and owner of Nolan Branding. Reach her at dearsam@nolanbranding.com, visit nolanbranding. com or call 614-570-3442 or 1-888-952-3928. Meet her on Facebook, live on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. EDT, for an extended discussion of this week’s Dear Sam topic.