Time to move?

[sobrique]

One of the doctrines I've operated under, for my career, is that after 2 years, you should be asking yourself 'what next?'.

2 years is - in my opinion - about the timescale you should be thinking about a new job. That cuts both ways - assumption is that I expect to be at least 2 years at a prospective employer, but at the same time, past the 2 year point I'm going to be wanting more from them - from a career perspective. (And that goes hand in hand with improving my pay).

So, has it been two years (or more) since you last took stock? I don't mean you _have_ to move on every 2 years, simply that you should be assessing - do I have more challenges? What's next in my career development. It's perfectly fine to decide that you're fine where you are. Just don't make the mistake of doing it because it's easier not to think about.
Go look. See what's available. See if you're worth more (or less!) than you think you are. And then use that, to either think about a new job, or as ammunition for negotiating with your existing employer. There's no defense against being taken advantage of quite like being ready to walk away when it gets too much.

So to that end I'd like to offer people who I know, who are willing to take up the challenge - of assisting in redrafting your CV, and thinking about what might be an option for your skills, mindset and whatnot. I'm at least fairly familiar with the IT industry, and can do - I think - a reasonably good 'private sector' CV.

CVs are a bit of a dark art, and 'advice' on them seems to change ever few years. But my most recent got me several interviews for the kind of jobs I was after, so it can't be _that_ bad, right? (And even if it is, I promise not to take offense if my suggestions don't work for you).

Comments

[syntheticbrain.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested, since I seem to be stewing where I am rather than using my company/role dislike to fuel departure...

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

It's not uncommon. There's plenty of people who get stuck where they are, and end up stressed and ... not really in a position to contemplate their options.
Far better to know where you stand - either you're desirable, and have options to move on (and use as leverage).
Or you're not, and you at least have a notion of what skills you should be looking to acquire, and how much of a 'step down' you might be facing if you really do decide that you want to move on.
So anyway. Do you have a current CV, and can email it to me?

[fishrgreat.livejournal.com]

I should take you up on this. I'll have to dig mine out though!

[linamishima.livejournal.com]

Similarly, I'm in an ideal spot to consider my opinions. I'd love to take you up on this offer :) Thank you!

...I'd better get redrafting my CV, if at the least to just add having a driving licence ;)

[syntheticbrain.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sent with some probably extraneous commentary to the gmail address on your facebook profile.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Yep. That's reached the right place. Was thinking PM on LJ was a reasonable alternative.

[kalkyrie.livejournal.com]

Joining the CV spam brigade ^^. (Having fun searching for jobs, so a doublecheck that there isn't anything *too* bad with my CV would be good.

[sebbo.livejournal.com]

Tempting.

Also, I agree on the 2 year cycle. If its early on, maybe even 1 year is appropriate if its a job that you are clearly over qualified for.

And strangely enough, its coming up on the 2 year window for me ^^

I found that internal transfers mostly result in small pay rises. Significant pay rises are more likely to be available by finding a job outside the company. But then internal transfers may make side steps easier to try and broaden your work experience to prep for the next step up.

Tbh, I remember your mantra from way back when, and its been an inspiration to me ever since :) (Earn more in '000 than your age... in the absence of clear career ambitions, as in type of job... I thought this is a good yardstick to go by. After all, not everyone can possibly loving doing what they do as much as you do!!!! ^^)

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Yes. Internal transfers are what net incremental increases. External are usually more significant - but that's partly because of the inherent risk of 'giving up' redundancy and benefits, to find the grass isn't greener.

I remember a salary survey, that made it very clear - the highest paid people out there, and the ones with a high job satisfaction were the ones that did change job every few years.

It's definitely a tradeoff - as you say, internal to a company you can often build on your reputation within the company, and use your insider knowledge of how the company works. It's very handy to be able to know exactly how that division over there works, and who you should _really_ be talking to.

It's not necessarily a bad thing either way, but I also honestly don't think it hurts to 'test the water' either - don't look when you first take a new job, and stick it out unless you utterly hate it, but after that, be aware of what's available, and looking for the next challenge.

That was a significant part of my thinking taking the current post - there were other jobs that I had as 'prospects' and one I think could have been really rather comfortable.
But at the moment, a solid stint in some hardcore IT will do a lot of good on my CV.

But so goes. Hopes your application goes well, and the offer stands to look through your CV and offer feedback. (For what it's worth, given my perspective is 'IT dude').