Monday Musings: On Switching Jobs and Handling Interviews

My husband and I were discussing past job interviews and things we wished we knew before falling for some employer tricks. We laughed about it and realized how we had been played a couple of times.

Thank heavens for knowledge and understanding, we’re definitely not where we used to be and I can comfortably share a thing or two about handling interviews.

In the past 5 years, I’ve changed jobs quite a number of times and for good reasons. Some of the times were because I didn’t see myself growing beyond what I already was within an organization or the culture was not suitable for the future I pictured myself in. I may have been wrong but … we’ll never know now. Will we?

Interviews become crucial at this point in moving to a new organization because they determine first impressions, company offers and how the individual will be treated in the first few days or weeks of resumption.

Nigeria is a tough place when it comes to employment.

1. Nigerian wages are a far cry from foreign wages. If you’ve ever compared your salary to that of your counterparts abroad, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
2. Most of the companies that are easy to get into in the country are SMEs that try to cut corners and may end up cheating their employees in the process. I mean, when last did you check your pension account statement?
3. The working conditions in some organizations can be appalling. Today is not the day we talk about how overtime payment is still not a thing in these parts because we don’t count hours worked.
4. Being a woman makes it even harder because you may be cheated in coins and ranks and may do more work than your male colleagues if you do not have anyone interceding on your behalf at management meetings.

But you see the problem is that we forget these things when we are desperate to move and end up jumping on the next boat as quickly as possible because the grass always looks greener on the other side.

Moving, in this case, is purely an art of negotiation. You first have to be aware of the weight and value that you bring to the table before approaching a company that is in search of what you have.

Think of it as a formula:

It’s important not to get emotional about moving and face the facts. Ask yourself why you want to move, if it is the right time and if you’ve got the right offer. I’ll advise you have a discussion with your line manager to convey your worries or challenges before opting to move. This conversation will give you closure on whether you’re doing the right thing.

If you’re sure it’s the right move, go for it but be smart about it. Here is a few valuable advice I’ve gotten on my way.

1. Give your current employer adequate notice (as stipulated in your existing contract).
2. Never burn bridges. You don’t know when you’ll need them.
3. Always leave with a smile and on a high note in terms of performance.
4. Calculate your expenses at a potential new job before accepting an offer. Ensure you collect a good sum more than your expenses.
5. Turn interviews into conversations. You don’t want to move to an organization without clarifying their principles or work culture so ask relevant questions.
6. You don’t have to ace every interview. Some are learning curves.
7. Learn about the employer before the interview.
8. Speak to qualified headhunters if you’re looking to make power moves.
9. When applying for jobs, contact someone in the organization to put in a good word for you. Also, speak to past employees of the company across departments to be sure your new bosses aren’t migraine suppliers.
10. Embrace your intuition when you feel weary. Some jobs are not meant to be taken.

However, it is important that I note that changing jobs too often has its cons. If you’ve developed routines and budgets around your current workplace, switching to a new job might mess things all up and you’re back at ground zero.

Whatever the case, do the needful and aim to work at an organization that offers stability and long term growth.

Good luck with your next move.

If you have more to add to this post or want to share your experience, please leave a comment.