“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” – Peter Drucker.
Change, as we know, is inevitable. Few are comfortable with change. From the time we’re born we crave security and consistency.
Maybe your parents and mentors modeled a positive way of responding to change – whether at work, home, or income status. Maybe you learned by observing that change was something to steel yourself against and that all changes create fear and risks that you have to fight.
Personally, I crave security and even predictability, yet I’ve found myself in a constant whirl of change from a very young age. Because I believe that growth happens when we move forward into the unknown, I look back and see how the 35 plus moves I’ve made in my lifetime along with abrupt changes in my education and career have helped me become a kinder and hopefully more gentle human. Not that I liked any of it while I was caught up in the maelstrom.
No matter the changes you’ve faced in your life, career change seems to catch everyone off guard. Whether your company is bought, your mentor leaves for new horizons, or you wake up and realize you just don’t like what you’re doing for a living – it happens and often at the least convenient time.
So how do you reduce the stress and curate your career to be open to change?
If you’ve followed TYGES for any length of time, you know we do things differently. It comes down to our core values: Integrity, Respect, Accountability, Determination, and Courage. They play into everything we do and that’s the reason we bring our full selves to work.
A recruiter focusing on values like these knows that there’s more to the job than simply putting a body in a seat to get a commission. Instead, the goal is to help the candidate recognize their core values and needs when it comes to their ideal next job. If I had a dollar for every time a candidate replied, “Wow, I’ve never thought of that!” when asked about their ideals for work, I wouldn’t need my commission. (Okay, I’m lying, I still like commissions).
The point is, the bar can be low when it comes to working with a “headhunter” to navigate career change, and we want to raise the bar and show you how it can be done.
That’s why we take time to learn about each candidate’s experience AND goals. From where you want to live to how you see your job fitting into the life you dream about, our goal is to get you closer to the dream.
That means we will help you navigate change.
While the help we provide is specific to your situation you can always expect us to ask questions to learn about:
- Your ideal salary range. We advocate for you when it comes to finding the ideal role for you. Even if you think a job listing sounds great, if we know you aren’t in the range a hiring authority will pay, we’ll need to manage your expectations. Every budget is personal and there’s no right or wrong answer – except NO answer. Let your recruiter help you navigate your job change by providing a realistic range for your desired salary.
- Your ideal work-life balance. We work hard to intimately understand as much about an opening as possible. If we know there will be unpredictable hours to meet production goals, we’ll tell you the truth. (No recruiter wants you to take a job only to leave a few weeks after you start!) Spend time thinking about what the ideal work-life balance is for you – as well as what you’re willing to accept and what you consider a deal breaker.
- Your ideal geographic location. I talk to candidates each day who tell me, “I’m open to move anywhere for the right role.” Baloney! If you are really focused on defining the right role, you’ll include your desired locations in the definition! I may have a role that checks off your goals for growth, colleagues, and industry but it’s located in a climate that your spouse hates. And while we’re talking about relocation – talk to your partner and any affected family members now – before you’re in the final offer stage. If they’re not going to move, odds are you’re not taking the job. Then we’re all back to square one.
In other words, navigating change can be scary, so find a recruiter who is willing to be your guide to your next role.
Written by: PEGGIE ARVIDSON, Account Executive
Peggie Arvidson started recruiting in junior high school when she convinced her classmates to join her in creating a ski club. Since then, she’s held many positions from sales to recruiting to non-profit leadership and quality assurance. Her focus in her life and career is helping people to find their right work for the right pay because she believes that when people are happy at work, they are secure in life, and happy people change the world for the better.
Peggie has moved more than 30 times across 5 states and three time zones, and is not a military brat. Before COVID, she spent her free time traveling with her friends and husband and now you can find her making beautiful things out of yarn, found objects, and her imagination.
“We’re here to make good things happen for other people.“
