… is a terrible thing to say to a recruiter or a hiring manager.
What does
it mean really that you are always available? Have you never been satisfied in
a job to the point where you did not want to waste your time considering other
opportunities? Is there nothing a company can do to ensure your loyalty even
for a brief moment in time?
An ideal
job seeker is someone who is not desperately searching for a new position, yet
has a clearly defined reason why change might be appropriate - if it is. An
ideal employee is someone who is committed, passionate and loyal to his or her
employer. Someone who is “always available” is hardly an all-star performer
dedicated to the job.
If your
curiosity gets the best of you every time someone contacts you about a
potential new opportunity, ask to have the details and suggest that you
distribute them to your network should someone be potentially interested. Don’t
pretend to be available if you are not and don’t feel compelled to explore every
lead.
Constantly reviewing
your options is not likely to bring you to the heights of your professional success.
Sometimes it is best to focus on what you have and to optimize it instead of always
searching for a marginal increase.
"Constantly reviewing your options is not likely to bring you to the heights of your professional success. Sometimes it is best to focus on what you have and to optimize it instead of always searching for a marginal increase."
ReplyDeleteI'm quite surprised to see this type of article here on your blog, especially after having spoken to two (2) Client Strategists at Pronexia recently. Both came off as supporters of career changes (if there is a great fit to match a great skill with the right company). As humans, we are curious and sometimes seek out challenges when our current jobs really don't provide any anymore. I think we NEED to constantly review our options and pick and choose. I agree that we shouldn't pretend we are interested whenever we're contacted about a new opportunity. Simply put, if it doesn't interest you, it doesn't. You can ask permission to move it forward in your network if the provider is ok with that. But to close with saying that "SOMETIMES it is best to focus on what you have and optimize it" is like saying "You made your bed, now lie in it". It just comes off like a dead end option, almost like giving your Pronexia clients (eg. job seekers) the feeling that if Pronexia doesn't see any potential in someone who comes in seeking assistance, guidance, a leg up in the job search, etc., you'll politely brush them aside because you feel there is no potential to "sell" them off. You're literally telling us to stick to what we already have and make the most of it. A non-inspiring article and a disappointing projection, guys. Really.
Thank you for your comment and I apologize for the delay in responding (spam is to blame).
ReplyDeletePerhaps the message we were trying to convey did not come through as intended. We definitely do not brush off those that come to us for guidance and do not suggest that you stick in a job that is not optimizing your full potential or not rewarding you for the work you put in. (If you come to us, that means you have evaluated your situation and decided that you need to invest time and effort in exploring the job market. Fair enough!)
Rather the blog post was meant to address the professionals that say: I am in a well-paying position, my boss treats me extremely well, I work on many challenging and interesting projects, but I am always looking for something else. Whenever we hear this, the question is always the same - Why? There needs to be a reason to constantly explore other opportunities. If a company does everything to keep you happy and the work is motivating, doesn't your boss deserve your loyalty?
Would love to have your input and explore further!