Have you been paying attention to the job market lately? If you have, you may have heard job seekers and executive search consultants talk about the “great resignation era”. The phrase started when Anthony Klotz, a Texas A&M University associate management professor, coined the phrase “great resignation” during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. He states during uncertain times, employees tend to stay with their current employer. As the market becomes more stable, the pent-up urge to leave all comes out at once.
This to most may sound far-fetched. How can such a large number of people quit all of a sudden? As the top chief digital officer executive search firm, we have decided to dig a little deeper to uncover if this prediction is true and how to make the most of it.
The Great Resignation Era & How To Make The Most Of It:
As the leading executive search consultants who have spent years helping top marketing leaders secure their dream position, do we believe employees simply up and leave their jobs without a second thought? No.
Still, there is no doubt recent events have caused many marketers to reconsider their careers. Has the company adjusted to the new normal? How was the working environment? Does the job push you to become a better version of yourself? Employees today want to feel a sense of purpose in their work and the rise of 9.3 million job openings in recent months makes quitting a lot easier.
If you are someone who has considered making a change, here is what the leading chief digital officer executive search firm suggests you keep in mind while you are in the job market.
Don’t Search Alone
While a few marketing executives have landed a great position by themselves, you can almost guarantee the process had some kind of failure or struggle. You can spend five hours searching for a job or need months to find the right one. Unfortunately, you may never know. To mitigate this risk and ensure you are interviewing for the right positions, adding on additional help can make a huge difference.
A consultant’s job is to find the right candidate for the role they are working on. They have spent countless hours with their client to understand the required background, expertise, and leadership style needed to excel in the position. You will benefit greatly from a partnership with an executive search consultant because you will have inside information before interviewing with the firm. You no longer need to waste your valuable time and energy mindlessly searching and interviewing for the wrong positions.
Don’t Throw Your Resume At Everyone
Job interviewing is time-consuming and landing a new job is never easy. You need to be strategic and proactive. Throwing your resume at every open job position is never going to cut it. Narrowing what you are looking for will help you distribute your time more effectively. What kind of working environment do you prefer? Do you want to work remotely, in the office, or maybe try a hybrid workspace? What kind of industry do you want to be in? Is there something specific in marketing you would like to be a part of?
Once you have narrowed down what you are looking for, make a plan. Research top companies. Go to networking sites or events. Talk to other leading talents in that position. But don’t close yourself off to a specific job title. The reality is the job title and job description aren’t the same anymore. Companies are constantly changing and eliminating different titles and positions to better fit the market’s needs. Your dream job could have a completely different title!
At the end of the day, making a career move at an executive level should not be easy. You need to make sure the steps you are going to take are the right ones for you.
Branch Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Odds are, if you’ve been fortunate enough to have job opportunities come your way in the past, you most likely haven’t had to step out of your comfort zone in a long time. If you are planning to leave, you probably don’t have time to wait for an executive search consultant to reach out.
This is the time for you to branch out of your comfort zone. Ask yourself questions like: Where do I see myself in the next couple of years? What am I passionate about? What kind of value do I bring to the table? Listing down your accomplishments and goals will help you understand where you are and where you want to be in the future. It will also help motivate you throughout your search.
Overall, it is unclear whether or not the “great resignation” is or will happen. Knowing when you should make a change and how is crucial in today’s market. You don’t want to wake up in the morning dreading 8 hours of work. Consider reaching out to the leading chief digital officer executive search firm to learn more about the job opportunities that could be right for you.
Author: Melissa Van Rossum