5 tips to consider when planning a career change

If you think the Great Resignation—the period during the pandemic which saw hundreds of thousands of people voluntarily leave their jobs—is over, think again.

5 tips to consider when planning a career change

Recent data shows that over half of UK workers are actively looking for a new job, while 36% of the remaining cohort are open to looking for a new job once the right opportunity presents itself.

One of the main reasons people move is salary. According to the Office of National Statistics, those who changed jobs in 2021 experienced an average increase of 9.5% compared to 2.9% for workers who stayed in their existing role – writes Aoibhinn Mc Bride, Content Editor, Jobbio.

And who can blame them? Despite inflation falling to 6.8% in July (October 2022’s 11.1% saw a 41-year high) the cost-of-living crisis continues to loom, with food prices 14.8% higher in July 2023 compared to July 2022 and mortgage interest rates sat at 5.71% at the end of July compared to 4.29% at the end of May.

Moving jobs might seem like a no-brainer but if you are considering a career move before the year is out, going for more money isn’t enough.

Below we’re looking at five ways you can manage your exit strategy to ensure you navigate the application process effectively and ultimately get the best job offer that aligns with your long term career goals.

1. Bide your time

While it might be tempting to quit your current role to give yourself a sabbatical of sorts before looking for your next one, having a period of unemployment on your CV can raise red flags with prospective employers.

Instead, use your final couple of months in your current role to avail of onsite learning and development (L&D) opportunities if available or why not volunteer yourself for a project that will put you in stronger standing when you do start looking for a new job.

Now is the time to capitalise on your skills and experience and craft your exit strategy.

2. Be honest with yourself

Even if you get past gruelling interview stages and bag yourself the job of your dreams, the hard part is only beginning.

Is now the right time for you to throw yourself into a new job, which will potentially involve a period of intense onboarding followed by learning new systems and processes (not to mention the names of all your new co-workers)?

Changing jobs isn’t for the fainthearted, so ensure you’re accepting a job offer for the right reasons and not because you’re desperate to leave your old one.

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3. Do your research

Recent research compiled by Glassdoor found that 83% of jobseekers will research company reviews and ratings before deciding where to apply for a job.

Similarly, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Work report uncovered that workers have become more “belief driven” post pandemic and over half (60%) would not work for a company where the values didn’t match their own.

So instead of applying for dozens of jobs in companies you aren’t familiar with or don’t believe in, take the time to research each organisation, assess if you want to work there for the foreseeable future and then tailor your application accordingly.

4. Start networking

After two years of Zoom coffee mornings, live streams and virtual events, in-person networking is back and while networking alone won’t bag you a job offer, getting to know people in your industry and hearing about potential vacancies through the grapevine can prove to be invaluable.

In fact, a recent study found that 73% of workers got their current job because someone they know made an introduction or connection

5. Be prepared to earn less

While more money is a huge motivator for those switching jobs, if you’re moving to a new area or industry you might have to take a pay cut in order to break into the field.

If this is the case, you’ll need to be realistic about how low you can afford to go and weigh up the short term pain of earning less with potential long term financial gains.

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