Should I stay or should I go?

This relatively unstable period in the industry is leaving many people uncertain about whether or not to follow through with the job move they have recently been considering.

You may be thinking the time is right to develop your CV but on the other hand how can you be sure that another company scenario is more or less secure than your current one. Should you move to a company that subsequently makes redundancies, perhaps it will be ‘last in, first out’?

The reality is you can never be 100% certain about the relative security of where you are moving to or from. The key is to be sure you’re moving for the right reasons, and then do as much research on potential employers as possible before you sign on the dotted line. Perhaps find someone already doing the role you are considering and call to ask for their thoughts, or search the internet for news stories and this may give an insight into a company’s future. When you are interviewed, the more questions you can prepare the better, not only will this give you information but it displays a healthy work ethic.

If you have a career agenda which is ambitious, it’s unlikely you will fulfil this in one company and consequently you will face difficult decisions in relation to your future in a company at some point.

Be clear what your agenda is and research to assess each opportunity in direct relation to this. Try to focus upon the gross agenda rather than the detail within. For example, the pull or push or individual characters can be influential in making career decisions. Ultimately you are rarely in control of all the people around you, whether their influence is positive or negative and it can change at the drop of a hat. Consequently, think carefully regarding a move due to people, try to be objective with regard to your own goals.

Once you’ve made a decision, proceed with conviction! Good luck.