The job market is hot. In the past three months it has gone from pretty good to great. Many of our clients have multiple openings and unlike last year, have a true sense of urgency to actually hire people. Candidates we speak with are getting called by multiple recruiters, another good sign. So it is safe to say the tech job market is back? Time will tell, but it is no doubt heading in the right direction. So is it a good time for you to start looking? That’s a tough question to answer. Obviously, if you are not happy in your current situation or you don’t have a current situation, it’s a great time. There are a few simple questions to ask yourself to help you decide if it's time to clean up your resume.
1. How long have you been in your current position? If you have recently started a job (under 6 months), I would think long and hard about making a move. It is difficult to judge whether you are in the right position after such a short time. You went to this company for a reason and you should give yourself time to settle in before pulling the plug. On the other hand, if the company is running out of money, the product is not ready, the turnover is high and the future looks bleak, it probably is a good time. Why prolong the inevitable? It also depends on what your resume looks like. If you have numerous moves over the past five years, another change will most likely hurt in the long run and diminish your market value.
2. How long have you been in your current position? No, not a typo! Staying at a company for 5 years can be great, 10 years and you could be pushing it. I see many people at the same company (usually a big one) for many years. This is not necessarily bad, but if you do have aspirations to go join an early stage company, it will not be easy. Most hot startups only want to hire those with previous startup experience. They typically are concerned when people spend long periods of time at one big company. Additionally, long stints without promotions and pay increases decrease your market value. You need to show progression to add to your over all value and if this means leaving for a better title, more pay or greater responsibility, you should start looking.
3. Are you making money? Since most of the people reading this are in sales or have a sales related job, money is always a driving factor when looking at potential job moves. If you have been making the same money for a long period of time, you may have hit your earning potential at your current company. Time to look. Recently, I have seen a number of people increase their overall compensation by as much as 25%. Yes, the market is paying well for top talent. Assuming you are an “A player”, you are back in the drivers seat (or at least the front seat). Use that leverage. There is no harm in looking.
4. Are you burnt out? Let’s face it, long hours, high quotas and the constant pressure to perform gets old. It is rare to find an individual who doesn’t experience some level of burnout. It’s ever more prevalent if you have had the same job for a number of years and are not challenged anymore. It is amazing how a change can help. A new boss, new office, new products to sell, new responsibilities, etc. Most of us crave some level of change in our lives and have a need to grow and be challenged. The cost of staying at a job you no longer enjoy or at least find somewhat interesting, is high. Again, if you have been moving every couple of years to avoid this “burnout” you probably have a bigger issue to deal with. This is something you want to think about prior to making any moves.
If you are looking, let us know, we are always looking for great talent. We can be reached at info@firstound.net or call us at : 949.675.0000 ext 101
