It started out as your dream job, but now the harsh reality
is really starting to kick in. Day after day, you’re starting to find it harder
to get out of bed and make it to work with a smile on your face. In your spare
moments, you catch yourself daydreaming about a new job – or maybe even an
entirely new career.
Under ordinary circumstances, the answer to your dilemma
would be simple: you’d dust off your interview suit, rework your résumé, and
start scouring the help-wanted ads. But with the global economy in crisis, job
seekers looking to make a change are understandably cautious about making a
decision too hastily. Taking all of these factors into consideration, how can
you determine whether now is the right time to kick off a job search?
Security vs. Satisfaction
The decision to search for a new position is a deeply
personal one that only you are qualified to make for yourself. However, what it
boils down to is whether your unhappiness in your current role is more
significant than the instability that a job search (and, ultimately, a new job)
could bring with it.
According to Donald Strankowski, career coach and author of Get Hired!: 10 Simple Steps for Winning the
Job You Desire -- in Any Economy, it’s important to make this decision
rationally, setting aside strong feelings or emotional responses. With your
financial security hanging in the balance, it’s vital that you try to take a
systematic approach, assessing every option and possibility at your disposal
before you make a final decision.
Use this checklist to help determine whether you’re ready to
undertake the tough challenge of a recession-era job search – and to decide how
best to move forward from here.
Assess
your safety net.
Probably
the single most important factor in your decision should be your level of
financial stability. If you’ve got a rainy day fund available to help cover
expenses while you search for a job, the job search process will be much less
stressful. On the other hand, if you don’t have much in the way of savings, it
may be beneficial to wait six months and build up a small nest egg before you
take the plunge.
Rethink
your current job.
If
you’re fed up with your job, take a step back from the situation and try to
pinpoint the source of your frustration. Are the problems and disadvantages
insurmountable? Sometimes, looking at the situation from a different angle may
help you devise new solutions that you haven’t yet considered.
Map
out your options.
If
you’re unhappy in your current situation, you may assume that looking for a new
job is your only viable alternative. But in actuality, there are many different
avenues you can take to change or improve your job status. Sit down with a
notepad and brainstorm as many different options as you can think of. Going
back to school, asking your current boss for a raise or a change in assignment,
breaking into a new field – everything realistic should be open for
consideration. This exercise will help you decide if a job search is really
your best option.
Prepare
for an extended job search.
Experts say that recession-era job searches can last up to twice as long as
those that are undertaken in more fortuitous circumstances. If you’ve decided
that you’re going to take the plunge, commit yourself to a long-term process –
it could take six months or more for you to find the right position.
Test
the waters.
If
economic woes have left you unwilling to commit to a full-scale job search at
this time, consider taking baby steps toward a new career. Even if you have to
hang on to your day job for the time being, you could begin the process by
taking a part-time, evening, or weekend position somewhere else. If you’re
considering trying out a new field, start by taking a class, seeking out a
knowledgeable mentor, or offering to volunteer or intern. That way, you’ll have
a chance to explore your options without exposing yourself to the risk of a job
switch.
If you decide to embark on a job search during difficult
economic times, make sure you take the plunge with your eyes wide open. The
challenges you’ll face will be considerable, but the rewards may be even
greater!