Dreaming of greener pastures? Count your blessings before you leap

Q: I'm considering leaving my company. I've been pretty happy here and the company has been good to me, but my expertise makes me valuable elsewhere, too. What I'm worried about is "the grass is always greener" issue. That is, my current company and job might in fact be the best thing for me. So how do I go about evaluating what I've got here?

NICK'S REPLY: You're smart to ask this question. I believe the most common underlying reason for job change is that people take the wrong jobs to begin with. Sometimes their reasons for jumping ship aren't good enough.

There's more to professional success and satisfaction than change for its own sake or a few more bucks. You must figure out how much the intangibles at your current company are worth. Here are some important benefits that your current job might provide that you should consider.

-- Your reputation and credibility are probably well-established. That is, you don't have to waste time trying to prove yourself. You can focus on being productive.

-- You understand and can work within the culture and politics. That is, you've paid your dues. In a new company, you have to learn all over again how to navigate the system.

-- You've probably got your job organized well enough that you're doing it efficiently without working any more hours than absolutely necessary. In a new company, you will learn new things, but probably at the cost of a longer work day.

-- You have established solid friendships and working relationships. Again, it's good to meet new people and learn new ways of doing things, but there's a lot to be said about being part of a solid community.

-- You have been around long enough to qualify for a retirement plan. People forget that there's often a delay of up to one year before you can participate in a new plan, and that can cost you a lot over time.

If you change companies, you'll start over again. Change can be good, but it has a price. Be ready to accept it, or enjoy what you've got.

THE HEADHUNTER TIP:

Avoid a bait-and-switch job offer.

Protect yourself before accepting a job. Ask for this information in writing:

1. A description of the work you'd be doing day one, week one, month one and through the year.

2. A job offer that says if the company reassigns you to another job, this must be negotiated. If it's a step down or very different, you want the option to leave with a defined severance package.

Check the place out:

3. Visit the work area and see the tools you'll be using. This reveals whether the job is what you were told.

4. Meet who you will work with to confirm what the work really is. If you get the runaround, reconsider the offer.

When job candidates don't know what a job is about, they often wind up job hunting again very soon. Before you accept an offer, make sure the work matches the job.

Copyright 2009. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

Nick Corcodilos is author of "Ask The Headhunter: Reinventing the Interview to Win the Job" and the host of www.asktheheadhunter.com. He can be reached by e-mail at seattle@asktheheadhunter.com or at North Bridge Group, P.O. Box 600, Lebanon, NJ 08833. Sorry, no personal replies.