Whether you're a new grad or mid-career professional, eagerness to advance becomes palpable when you see a new, exciting job posted in your current company or at an external organization.
But wait - before you leap, take a closer look at both the job and yourself. Is this role really a fit, right now? Here are three things to consider before abandoning ship at your current role when you are hypnotized by opportunity:
1. Are you truly qualified for the dream job? While dreaming is necessary to keep your career-ambition engine well oiled, acting on the next phase of your dream should be well timed. Fueling your job search solely on emotion may lead to entering a new job door unprepared.
While the world may be challenging you to, "fake it until you make it," figuring out how to do the new job "on-the-job" can have its downsides if you don't at least have a strong foundation equipping you for this new role. Consider whether the learning curve you are getting ready to mount is one that you are ready for. Which leads to …
2. Have you mastered your current role? In other words, assume when you were brought into your current position you met with new tasks and projects that you had not experienced in your past. And assume that your intellectual muscles were flexed in new and strengthening ways. Now, take a moment to consider whether you have mastered those exercises.
In other words, akin to a weightlifter learning and mastering correct form for each exercise in order to properly grow their muscles, careerists should take the time and energy required to properly build their career muscles before attempting to seek out the next weight level.
Moreover, by knowing how to do your current job well before departing for your next role, you will be better equipped to train your replacement, smoothing your transition and ensuring the overall health of your organization.
3. Are you impatient despite signs that your best-fit opportunity awaits at a later date? While it may be human nature to allow impatience – and perhaps even a bit of fear – to drive decisions to leap over the in-between jobs in order to grab that brass-ring role today, be careful. It may just be that your current boss is grooming you for that great role but needs you first to fortify skills in people management, negotiation, sales or customer service (or whatever the skill is) before they recommend you.
While determination to advance your career is admirable, don't let over-confidence and impatience drive you off a career cliff. It may just be that taking your foot off the gas and navigating a bit more thoughtfully could lead you to the destination of your dreams.
By Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, MRW | Glassdoor Blog
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