Change
IS NOT A Dirty Word
Volume
I, Issue V
After
two months of interviewing, you are offered the position.
What began as a curious whim to give a recruiter five minutes
of your time is now about to change our life. Initially, you
are excited. However, reality begins to sink in and you find
yourself becoming nervous about making the change - even though
you know it is a great career move.
Successfully
managing change in our careers is a big step - and often a
stressful one that involves many emotions. Feelings of insecurity
and self-doubt begin to erase the positive thoughts about
making the change. You wonder if you can handle the additional
responsibilities that coincide with the new title and generous
compensation package. You are saddened to leave the friends
you've made and more than a little anxious about how you will
fit in with your new peers. You realize that even the voice
mail system will be new and remember the tumultuous experience
of learning all the ins and outs.
Recognizing
and discussing your concerns with your Sanford Rose Associates
consultant can help minimize anxiety - reinforcing the positives
that initially interested you in the new opportunity (for
example, supportive management team, more prestigious position
with greater responsibilities, higher compensation package,
opportunities for advancement within a really great company
or the chance to live closer to elderly parents).
To help
you reach a rational decision, your Sanford Rose Consultant
may suggest that you prepare a list of pluses and minuses
for both your current position and the new opportunity. This
will help clear the cloud of emotion and give you a more objective
perspective from which to make a sound decision. Usually,
the pluses outweigh the minuses. After all, you probably never
would have pursued the opportunity if you weren't at least
a little dissatisfied in your current position - ready for
a change.
Once
you made a commitment to advance your career, your Sanford
Rose Associates consultant will assist you with a resignation
letter (see Volume I, Issue IV for a detailed discussion on
Resigning Without Regrets), advise you of the perils of counter-offers
(see Volume I, Issue III on The Dangerous Allure of Counter-offers)
and counsel you through the transition period. New challenges
await you, as do new opportunities. Celebrate!
John
F. Kennedy once said, "Change is the law of life. And
those who look only to the past or present are certain to
miss the future."
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