Taking up a new job is a big decision to take and a major life choice so if you are moving on you want to make sure that you are doing so for all the right reasons.
In my experience too many people make the really big decisions about their careers without thinking through the consequences fully.
After family and friends work is probably the most important thing in our lives so it makes perfect sense to take a rational and properly thought through approach before making any career moves.
It makes no sense to move to a new job unless you are going to be moving your career forward and you are moving on to bigger and better things.
Not everyone can get a promotion when one comes along or be the boss’s favourite and the grass is not always going to be greener at a new company or organisation.
I would suggest that if you are moving to a new post on a whim or out of a fit of pique then you will probably regret the decision further down the line.
But if you have decided to move on to pastures new then it is important to handle the situation in as professional manner as possible.
As well as dealing with the exit from your current role you also need to prepare for the new challenges ahead.
It is worth bearing in mind that you will have to work through your notice period and I would always encourage people to behave as professionally as you possibly can.
There is no point in burning any bridges so you should try and stay as committed as you possibly can until the very end but this needs to be balanced with preparing properly for your new role.
First impressions always count and you want to make sure that you hit the ground running when you start your new job.
The most important thing is to do as much research as you can about your new employers so you can know what to expect and what will be expected of you. You will want to try and find out about working practices and the ethos of your new company.
If possible talk to people who have first-hand experience of your new business or organisation so you can get a real feel of what it is you will be walking into.
Take a look at your work wardrobe and if necessary freshen it up, as well as creating a better impression it will also make you feel more confident as an individual.
Finally if you get the chance try and pop into the place where you will be working. I would suggest ringing ahead and making sure you are welcome, it could be a big mistake to turn up unannounced.
There is no harm in saying hello to your new colleagues and you will want to appear keen and eager to start in your new role as soon as possible.
Like anything in life if you want something to be a success and get the most from the experience then doing the necessary groundwork really can make all the difference.
Hamilton Bradshaw 