September: the end of summer, the return to school, the last chance to get a job before the New Year?!
Amazing as it seems it is all true. If you are on three months’ notice then the autumn is your opportunity to get something in place for 2016.
This month: When do I move roles?
For most people careers are about growth. Moving firm should not be the objective, rather developing your career. If that necessitates a change of firm then so be it.
When should you make that move? As a trainee you are gathering knowledge and any firm will provide a fantastic insight for you. As an NQ you need to think carefully about the choices you make to fire your career off on the right path. It is a natural point to move firms to ensure that there is the scope that you are looking for and the potential for growth within your chosen field.
Once you are qualified the question to ask yourself is ‘am I progressing in the direction that I want?’.
Signs that you are ready to move on can be anything but some common ones are:
- Gaining qualification but not gaining the recognition or responsibility that comes with that.
- Being given the same work/ clients without being trusted with new/ interesting challenges.
- Looking at the career path that your firm provides and realising that you don’t want the ‘end goal’ that firm has in mind for you.
Career progression is all in the timing. You need there to be roles in the market in your field. You need to be looking way before you are ‘desperate to move’.
If you can see the writing on the wall at your current firm for whatever reason then now is your chance to make a change in time for 2016!
Take a step closer to where you want to be.