Bob Van Rossum — May 30, 2018 — May 30, 2018
After months of looking, your journey on the quest for a new job has finally come to a successful end. You’ve just been offered a new position.
Your accomplishment in landing a new job is surely something to celebrate. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for – so why would you hesitate to accept it?
It’s easy to jump at your new opportunity without giving it any more thought. However, the excitement of a new job offer may overcloud your clear judgment, which is important when considering all of the things at stake. As a marketing executive search firm, we often see professionals who are quick to take a job that puts them in a place where they regret doing so.
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As executive recruiters, we’ve found that the best talent isn’t motivated primarily by money, but rather new challenges and interesting opportunities. While compensation is important, there’s more to think about than salary when it comes to a new job, especially with an executive position.
There are certain precautions you should take along the job search journey to ensure any opportunity you seek is truly what you want. It’s critical to take a holistic approach when you’re approaching a new opportunity and to do your due diligence in carefully thinking it through.
Here are some things we believe every marketer, regardless of seniority, needs to recognize and carefully consider before accepting a job:
What type of workplace do you flourish in?
If you are not an entry-level marketer, you probably have a good understanding of the type of workplace you thrive in and the key things you’re looking to take out of any role. Whether it’s the size of the company, leadership style, team structure, or organizational culture – it’s critical to keep these factors in mind when considering your next job.
Does the atmosphere of casualness or professionalism reflect your own personality? Even if your marketing skill set and experience are perfect matches for the job itself, you’ll almost certainly fail in a position at a company where you just don’t fit in.
It’s important to be comfortable with the people and environment you’ll be working with day in and day out. Your team and counterparts are critical factors that impact your success – don’t place yourself in an environment that sets you up for failure.
Do you understand the role in its entirety?
You should have a solid understanding of the expectations and what success looks like in the new role. Everything from the job title, specific goals, metrics you have to perform by, and compensation package should all be laid out and understood by both you and the employer.
Whether you’re unsure of your responsibilities or terms of employment, do yourself a favor and ensure understanding of the details of your potential job thoroughly. Doing so early on will save you the headache of dealing with a job you regret taking down the road.
Always ask necessary questions during the interview process to understand the role better. Make sure you have a well-rounded interviewing panel with people from different levels of the organization to get various perspectives.
If there are some things that are unclear, call your hiring manager or recruitment agency to make sure you don’t miss out on anything that could possibly be a major deal breaker.
How will this role direct you toward your ultimate goals?
Marketers must be methodical about their jobs. For instance, in order to become a CMO for a multi-national company, it’s valuable to have global experience. Looking for positions that will allow you to gain experience managing marketing departments on a global scale will open up more opportunities in becoming a CMO.
Understand your career path and where you’re trying to go in the long run. Considering how the job aligns with your long-term personal and professional goals will help you make a smarter decision.
Evaluate what your responsibilities and daily tasks would be. There’s no such thing as too much learning, especially in a position of a digital marketer. Thus, any role you take on should broaden your skill set to lead you in the right direction of your ultimate career goals.
Evaluate whether the job you’re considering will be a meaningful vertical move toward those goals; not just a horizontal (or worse, a backwards) detour.
Are you willing to make lifestyle changes?
Are you okay with driving an hour or more to get to work every day, if it’s a requirement? Are you willing to relocate your family, if you have one, for a job?
Whether you’re willing to relocate your whole life or take a pay cut for a new job, these are few of the biggest factors to take into consideration. A job that is a major disruption to your lifestyle can erode your job satisfaction and have an impact on your well-being and mental health.
Make a checklist that covers all must-haves when it comes to your personal lifestyle. Having a clear understanding of this will help you see the new opportunity clearer, leading you to make a better decision without wasting time.
Be proactive in considering these lifestyle factors that could affect your choice of a job early on. There’s nothing worse than going through an interview process, being offered a job, and deciding that it’s not the best choice because you failed to acknowledge important considerations in advance.
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How will your boss help you grow?
Whether you’re seeking your first executive-level role or trying to move on to a more senior-level position, the person you’ll directly report to in the role should be a major factor in your consideration.
Regardless of your career position, there’s always room for personal development and professional growth. It’s important to work with managers who will continue to challenge you and help develop your education.
Don’t hesitate to ask your potential boss questions during an interview to understand their background, achievements, and how that person has added value to the organization as a whole.
Does their management style align with yours? This is your chance to see the type of value and relationship you can build with him or her. From this, you should have confidence that they’ll empower you to improve as a marketer.
Parting Words
As an experienced marketing executive search firm, we know there is no perfect job or perfect company to work for. However, it’s important to make sure any opportunity you take is one that will help develop your career in the right direction.
Starting a new position isn’t very valuable if you end up walking out the door months – or even weeks – later. It’s better to take the time to find a job that you’re truly happy about rather than finding yourself unhappy and looking for a new opportunity before you had a chance to add value.
Make sure you’re not just excited about the offer details, but about the job as a whole. Being mindful of these key considerations will help you make the best decision possible for your long-term professional growth.
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