when you're thinking about a new job

The last time I was in the job market, I had been with my company for just over 5 years. There had been a change in ownership about a year prior, and with it, some of the processes had changed. While the process change hadn't bothered me much (once I got used to it), the management change (particularly the change in management style) really bugged me. First, I was definitely at a point where I was burned out, and being the only recruiter for the shop, there was a lot of pressure to perform. Especially since I was supporting 3 sales folks on my own. I asked for help, but my requests were downplayed with suggestions that there wasn't enough work to justify the cost of another recruiter. Said the person who had never recruited and really had no idea what was on my plate. I didn't have a team. And beyond some new positions on occasion, I was doing the same thing day after day, and I wasn't challenged by my job. I was stressed out by my job, but not challenged. The environment changed from a place where I had a voice and felt like I was making an impact to somewhere where my opinion didn't matter and I wasn't being listened to. And when I seriously think about it, if my manager had really listened to me and got me the help I needed, there's a fair chance I'd still be there.

All of those reasons added up to why I was open to exploring new positions with different firms. And gave me a good idea as to what was really important to me for my next job. I needed a team, but I also needed to feel like I had ownership of what I was working on - which meant I could control and influence parts of the business, but have people to support me when I needed some ideas, to help when I was overwhelmed, or could take over when I needed a vacation. I needed a supervisor who would trust my judgement, and who I thought was actually listening to my ideas. I needed a challenge in my daily work. Knowing that I'd need all of this to feel motivated, energized, and ultimately happy in my job, it actually made it a lot easier to pinpoint the positions that I would apply for, or the people I'd respond to when they reached out to me.


If you're thinking about making a job shift, really start to think about why you're making that shift.
- Are the issues you're encountering today impacting your long-term happiness and job satisfaction, or are they just an inconvenience for today? (As a hiring manager told me yesterday, not every day is rainbows and unicorns.)
- Has something changed that has affected your morale, your motivation, or even your performance? Do you love where you work enough to fix it, or is it really time for a change of scenery?
- What's missing that you've had before and would like again? Or what haven't you done but you'd like to be able to do? Can you get that from your current employer? Have you asked for the responsibility?
- What's going to make it really easy for you to say yes to someone if they offer you a new job? (And it can't be all about the money. Well, it can be, but salaries will always be subject to the market and the supply/demand of your skills. Folks who are really happy with their jobs rarely tell you it has to do with the money.)

I have two questions that I ask every single candidate I interview:
1. Why are you looking for a new position?
2. What do you want from your next position?

If you've actually thought about your career, you should be able to answer these without hesitating. Realize, as well, that you should be able to tell me why you think my company, and the job we're discussing in particular, align with what you're seeking. I won't hire you if you're seeing this role as a stepping stone, or if you flat out tell me that you'd rather be doing something else. Apply for the roles that make sense for you in your career, and ultimately, I think you'll find an easy, happy match in a new company.

the power of the thank you note

I think the art of saying thank you has gone by the wayside, and it's really disheartening. As a newlywed, I just waded through a slog of thank you notes, and though my husband complained about his hand cramp, nearly everyone commented on the fact that they had received a personalized, heartfelt thank you. It's more likely that they commented because they got the notes less than a week after the wedding, but that's neither here nor there.

I've been working with a candidate over the last couple weeks who is the king of saying thanks. To the point that he's probably overdoing it. Seriously - I get an email after almost every interaction with him. Just to be clear, though, he's not pandering; he's just the kind of guy who is genuinely thankful for every chance he gets.

A thank you note isn't just a great way to express your gratitude. When it comes to saying thanks after an interview, it can convey a lot about you to a recruiter and a hiring manager, and can help you clarify any concerns or questions about your background that maybe weren't covered in the discussion.While saying thank you after every phone call isn't necessary, Mr. Candidate does have a really good system that has certainly kept him top of mind around here.

- He thanks us for spending time with him, acknowledging the time the managers take for him out of their busy schedule.
- He reiterates his level of interest in the position and the company (hint: we love it when you seem eager to work here).
- He reiterates his background to make sure we know what he brings to the table and how he matches our requirements.
- He asks questions! About the next step, about the company, about the team - he makes his thank you something that requires action.
- He sends personalized emails to each person. I noticed during one round of his interviews that he walked away with some sticky notes. I was curious about that - the folks he had met with didn't have business cards with them, so he asked for their email addresses on a pad of stickies he found in the conference room. (What do I love about this? He ASKED for their contact information, and found a creative way to get it when they didn't have cards. Always ask for a card.)

A thank you note from a candidate can totally change someone's day. It takes 5 minutes of your time, and if you send an actual card via snail mail, it'll cost you $0.46. So if you really want a job, take the time to say thank you when someone spends time with you talking about it. Who knows - it could be the whole reason you get a shot.