Today’s worker has an average of 12.5 jobs in their lifetime. Twenty-six percent of these jobs last less than one year. Whether you’ve just started a new job or have been at your current job for a few years, statistics tell us that looking for your next job should begin, well, now.

1. Keep Your Options Open

The economy, your lifestyle, your financial situation, your employer, and any number of events can ignite your fancy for a new job. But nothing sends you firing off resumes like when you’re feeling stuck in your current position. Do any of these situations hit home?

• Your employer has you working long hours for low pay!
• Your co-workers aren’t pulling their weight!
• Your friends with similar education and experience are making more money than you!

Getting the short shift can leave you feeling resentful, indignant, and justified in making the case for why you deserve better. Unfortunately, by this time, you’ve likely given up your power position and are desperate to move on – to anywhere but where you’re stuck!

To avoid hitting the panic button that will eject you from your current job and into another hotseat, set yourself up for moving up long before giving up.

The best time to spruce up your resume and get it in front of your future employer is all the time. Prepare yourself for the advancement you deserve by:

• Growing your professional network by attending industry events and participating in industry-related causes. Whether virtual or in-person, meeting others on similar career paths will allow you to see what and meet who is out there to guide you forward.
• Increasing your education by taking courses, attending seminars, and reading journals to be aware of the latest industry and technology trends and innovations. Being informed sets you up to inform and that’s an asset to your next employer.
• Document your achievements in your current role. It’s easy to forget all your successes when you’re fed up with your job. Having them in writing allows you to easily add them to your resume.

2. Assume Success

It can be intimidating looking through job postings. In addition to the education and experience required, the list of expectations for one person in one role can be daunting. Several pages of bullet points itemizing all the responsibilities can make it appear that, unless you’re the needle in the haystack they’re looking for, you may as well pass on applying.

Rather than juxtaposing your current qualifications against their optimal list of qualifications, compare yourself to others who will also be looking at the opening. It’s very likely that no one has all the requested skills, education or experiences. Given multiple candidates with equal backgrounds, employers will often select individuals who are confident (but not overly confident), have a positive (“can do”) attitude, and demonstrate that they can quickly get up to speed and close any gaps they may have.

Remember, recruiters are looking to narrow the pool of candidates to the few they’ll actually interview. Your goal is to get in front of the decision-makers along the hiring process – not to kill or seal the deal before you meet face-to-face.

3. Don’t Take Shortcuts

If you’re not happy in your current role, be careful about taking a new job just because it’s offered to you. Depending on your industry, experience, and the economy, It can take anywhere from a few weeks to many months to find a suitable job. The higher up the ladder you go, the longer your job search can be.

Waiting for the right position, pay, and employer opportunity to be available can be the hardest part about looking for your next role. Suitable openings can be far and few. Interviews can wear you down. Be patient. Be persistent. Stay positive.

When you do get to the altar of job offers, be sure to thoroughly research the company and weene out any that give you angst. Trust your gut, but also trust your network. Reach out to peers who may be able to help you sort through the pros and cons of an offer. If possible, talk with current or past employees of the company. If you really want the scoop, ask if you can meet with some of the individuals you’ll be working with in your new role. Get a feel for whether they enjoy working at the company.

Beyond the health and wealth benefits, find out if the employer:

• Treats their employees with respect
• Has a diversity and inclusion policy
• Promotes from within
• Has a mission statement you can get behind
• Provide a product or service you believe in
• Has a good reputation

This Won’t Last Forever

Just as the job search process won’t last forever, neither will the job itself. Maybe not on day one, but soon after, remember to keep your eyes and ears out for where you see yourself next.

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” Zig Ziglar

In addition to supporting the latest healthcare trends that can be of benefit to your employees, W3ll provides insight on how to support during the shifting workplace dynamic.