IBSAF WORLD - August 2008

Ramesh is going places. It has been hardly two years that he completed his MBA course and he has already changed more than three jobs. Each change in job is offering him a pay packet that not many could command. So appraisals are a passé for him who is always open to talk to any recruiter as long as the hike suits him. But why is he on job-hopping? He simply says, “I want to make money and make it quickly. Staying in the same job will not guarantee that!” However, right now Ramesh is facing a strange problem. He has more than two offers in hand (thanks to the talent-drought the industry is facing!!) and he is not too sure which one is going to be a bigger bite. Both the offers are equally appealing and taking a decision really became tough.

There are many who face such dilemmas. And that takes us to the important level….what is it that makes people switch jobs so often now days?

Career Moves

People have far more choices today than they had ever before.
Demand for talent has exceeded the supply.
People with relevant skill sets and required experience are scarce.
Everyone is looking for faster salary hikes and better designations.
The notion of loyalty to the employer doesn’t exist any more. Everyone is looking out for a deal and switching a job is as acceptable as continuing in a job.

But should one change job just like that? Just at the drop of a hat or whenever the fancy takes hold? Definitely not!! What are things then to be considered before a job change? The table will give a fair idea about the pH factors to reflect on before taking the final plunge:

The p-factors:
Purpose (p1) – Think through the reason you want to change this job? If you are unhappy with your present job, then perhaps you already have an answer to this. But if that is not the case and then this question needs to be addressed with all sincerity.

People (p2) - What do you know about your colleagues-to-be? Now this can be tricky as it will never be possible for you to find out sufficient information about people who you are going to work with. There will always be some unknown elements in terms of your boss, peers and subordinates.

Priority (p3) - Before taking the final decision to change the job, make a list on a priority basis to check the areas in your life that will be affected by this decision.

Now, let’s look at the H factor.
Hike (H1) - What kind of hike are you expecting in your future offer? Have a very clear answer in your mind about this aspect as hike should not be limited only to your take home salary but should also extend to your learning, your responsibilities and value add to your overall progress.

Head Start (H2) - You also need to take a decision whether the job you want to take up will give you a head start or not, where head start would mean that your future lateral choices should not get limited.

Happiness (H3) -- Make sure that this would make you happy? Don’t take a decision just because it would give you the needed hike, when you know you are not going to enjoy it.

So whenever you plan the next move, take a pH test to see if you are ready for the decision yet. ◊

Mr. Vineet Tandon, IBS Gurgaon (’04), is working with Oracle as Senior Corporate Communications Analyst. He is also the Founder Director of URI, an NGO in Bangalore, dedicated to the education of underprivileged children.

You can get in touch with Vineet at vineet.tandon@gmail.com.

Note: This is the abridged version of the cover story of Mr. Vineet’s article that appeared in the magazine Global CEO. You can read the complete article by clicking this link: http://www.iupindia.org/907/mba.asp

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