8 Questions You Should Answer Before You Resign
It is almost about time that we close the book on 2020! (Cue the applause). The positivity of 2021 awaits us all!
2021 will also be a year where many people will start new jobs so I would like to take this time to help some of those people avoid making career mistakes. Unfortunately, a lack of due diligence on a new company and/or a new opportunity is still a common occurrence. Good intentions can still lead to disappointment and I see this at ALL levels of an organization. There are both internal and external questions that anyone who is about to change jobs, should be asking before they accept a job offer.
Internal Questions
How does this new job opportunity fit into your life’s work?
There is a big difference between a job and your life’s work. You can take a job simply to pay the bills, check a box on your resume or to attain a certain job title, but your life’s work is bigger than that.
Your life’s work is your unique contribution to making the world a better place. It may relate to your professional field or industry, but it might be tied to your family life, your community, or something else entirely.
· Is this new job a step toward the position that is your higher purpose?
· Does this new position align with your desired goal posts that you have set for yourself at 5 years out and 10 years out?
Really ask yourself how this new job fits into your life’s work which will also bring clarity to where you are where you are trying to go. If you are unsure, perhaps you need to further define your end game.
If you find that the job is not a clear move towards your objective, then it is probably worth reconsidering making the move.
How do you expect to feel at the end of your workdays?
Every industry and company has their own unique environment and within that there can also be different expectations placed on employees. Some industries have unique peak activity periods, and some companies have different sets of challenges which may require additional work hours from employees. There might also be an added commute that is required in order for someone to truly be effective in delivering their new mandate.
· Is your new company paying you a little more money to now own a lot more responsibility?
· Are you now expected to deliver similar results but with less resources?
· Will your previous success within an entrepreneurial company now translate with a Fortune 100 company?
· Are you sacrificing any important personal/lifestyle goals with an added workload?
How will YOU measure success?
If you don’t decide from the very outset how success in this job will be measured, you will have no way of knowing if the job is meeting your most important needs.
· Set your own KPI’s for the position
This is in addition to how the company will measure your progress. In the case that market or other conditions may prevent you from meeting your yearly corporate KPI’s, it is important to understand why you and your career are still moving in your desired direction.
· Will this new position help you grow?
· Can you expand your skills and experience?
If you were banking on immediate success that would lead to a quick promotion, a poor performing company may stop you in your tracks.
I tell candidates that they should always plan to be gaining something immediately in their new job that will help them in the long term. Otherwise, they may be accepting too much risk by accepting a new job.
Can you truly see yourself working for the company?
I sometimes see people that have made a move where they placed too much emphasis on salary. They quickly realize that there is more to happiness than dollars. I see this most often when someone leaves a professional working environment for an environment that has loose aspirations to improve but, change also might never occur.
I have countless stories of candidates who regret their decisions which can vary from “I’m embarrassed to bring customers into my office”, to “I don’t have enough in common with any of my colleagues”, to “I relied too much on the vision of my hiring manager who has since left the company.”
Are you truly excited about the job?
· Don’t be blinded by the money. Listen to your gut.
· Create a T chart if necessary and list the pros and cons of the new opportunity. The pros should be twice the number of the cons.
If you feel anxious about the decision and are having trouble sleeping, you may want to reconsider.
· Does this job truly make you happier?
· Will this job enhance your life?
External Questions
Do you clearly understand the job mandate and what is expected?
You need to be sure that you can accomplish these tasks to the company’s satisfaction. Can you do these tasks every day without losing your passion? Some employers have been known to downplay expectations when courting a candidate, but after a couple of months on the job, their demands/expectations will suddenly change. Do you clearly understand the mandate for the first year as well as the state of the business?
If you have any questions or issues with what is expected of you, make sure to clear those up before you accept the job!
Will the benefits and total package suit your requirements?
This relates to variable compensation, RRSP programs and total benefits for you and your family.
This is certainly becoming more of a consideration as the benefit programs between companies has never been more diverse. Many companies continually reduce the benefits that they offer their employees in an attempt to reduce the company’s overall costs.
For instance, some companies have RRSP plans that do not activate until a 2-year anniversary date. Some companies have 100% dental coverage while many others have 0% coverage. You might find that you are suddenly paying $10,000 orthodontics bills for each of your children’s braces which is now coming entirely out of your own pocket.
Typically, there is negotiation room, so be sure to review the total package with a fine-tooth comb before signing the contract.
Are you sure about the career progression?
Did you explicitly talk about career growth and progression? I tell candidates to try to find a position where there could be at least three different potential growth paths at the new company that could still allow them to meet their overall career objective.
Relying solely on a manager to be promoted or exited is a dangerous proposition. Again, companies can often overstate the growth opportunities when they are courting a strong candidate.
Other areas to fully understand before accepting a job offer
Who is able to support you and your mandate?
What are the biggest challenges the company is facing?
What are the human capital issues?
With whom are you expected to partner or collaborate?
Who will be your direct manager?
Do you have limitations related to your team?
What are the strengths of your department?
What is the biggest challenge facing the department?
What is the performance review process?
How much work from home flexibility exists for you and your team?
What is the company’s vision for the next five years?
What is the plan and timetable for new products or services?
Will you own any area for the company, and be able to represent the company in this area nationally or globally?
Why did the incumbent fail in the position or why did they leave the position?
Does the company have any reservation about your ability to be successful in this position?
Good luck!
Farewell,
Mike