Job hopping has become the norm post-pandemic, especially for those in the tech field, where companies are faced with high attrition and professionals with a plethora of new opportunities with great earning potential. Before changing jobs, it is important to evaluate whether there is any scope for growth or better opportunity in the current company. If one can negotiate a better position, then one must consider it before moving on to a new offer. 

Introspecting gives the chance to understand what is lacking in the current position and have a concrete understanding of expectations in a new job. 

Triggers fuelling the search for a new job

The most common triggers that breed discontent with one’s current position are – 

• Pay scale
• Unsatisfactory appraisal and pay raise
• Types of projects
• Job titles
• Team members
• Office culture
• The bosses

Even without the trigger factors, it is good to stay updated on the job market trends in one’s field. One must regularly check what kinds of opportunities are available, the salaries that are being offered, and the growth potential in one’s field. 

Planning a job change

It can take up to a year to adjust to a new company’s culture and as a threshold, one must plan their career progression for at least the next three to five years. If one does not see growth potential with the company in this period, then it is better to pass up the offer. Many roles may appear to have limited potential in the short term but hold long-term promise. If one feels that the new role can pay rich dividends, then one can gamble on themselves and try for the opportunity. 

One must consider the following issues before seriously acting upon the job change plan – 

The job expectation checklist

How many boxes from the job expectations checklist are ticked? If it is more than 70%, then it may be an opportunity worth considering. It is only worthwhile to leap if the new job has more to offer now, with a promise of growth in the future.

Workplace culture

Check the reviews and ratings by current and former employees to get a real picture of the work environment. You can understand the management’s role and involvement, the space and freedom given to employees for innovation and execution, and the focus on team building.

Workplace infrastructure

A swanky office, with a clean and well-stocked cafeteria, round-the-clock security, and a nice work desk is the least one can expect from their office as one spends over 8 hours for 5-6 days a week in this space. You may be in a client-facing role, or you might be working with teams from different locations. You want to present a good façade to them at meetings. If the role is largely a desk job, then an ergonomic workspace is important. 

Work/life balance

As we all shake out of work-from-home comfort, the company must accommodate this search for better work/life balance among employees. Understand the expectations they have from the role – does one have to be on call even on weekends? What are the typical working hours? Are there expectations that emails and messages must be responded to even after work hours?

Location

The job may be paying high salaries, but if the cost of living rises, then the benefit gets negated. Also, if the office location is far from one’s residence, then one must factor in the commute time and the lifestyle changes that come with it. If the job is in a different city, one must consider the relocation's impact on the family and whether the move is worthwhile.

Salary and benefits

To be considered, the salary must be more than what one is drawing in their current role unless other factors are driving you towards a job change. Other benefits include insurance limits, retirement plans, and options for flexi-hours, maternity/paternity leaves, annual leaves etc. 

Freelancing for success

Modern professional has the choice to go beyond working with another company and work for themselves as a freelancer. They can pick projects from freelance job sites such as Upwork, ZoopUp, TrueLancer, or Freelancer.com to name a few. the freelance market has given professionals a modicum of security and an alternate source of income to use their maximum earning potential. 

Many professionals achieved the pinnacle of success working at the same company from the start of their career till the day they retired. Some professionals frequently change jobs, always in search of greener pastures. Freelancing offers protection to professionals from job market uncertainties. It helps them to stay relevant and in cases where they are laid off or want to quit their job, they can do so without fear of losing on regular monthly income. 

In either case, the important thing is to create opportunities for one’s personal and professional growth, building a reputation in professional circles, while adding value to the company they are working for.