19/05/2025
Making Your Next Career Move with Confidence, Even Under Pressure
Deciding on your next career step, especially when you feel the clock is ticking or your current situation isn’t ideal, requires careful thought.
Perhaps you’re eager for a fresh start or actively looking for a new opportunity.
This article is here to offer a guiding hand.
We’ll explore how to approach these important decisions calmly, consider the benefits of looking beyond a quick fix, and provide practical advice, including a helpful checklist, to help you choose a path that truly aligns with your long-term goals.
Let’s work towards making your next move a positive and well-considered one.
It’s very common for clients to tell me about the pressure they feel to secure a new role, sometimes quite urgently.
This is completely natural.
When you’re considering your income or your day-to-day job satisfaction, it’s easy to feel you need to act fast.
In a busy job market, the idea of making a compromise to get a new role quickly can seem like a sensible option.
But it’s always worth asking: could this compromise lead to unforeseen challenges later on?
Before you decide that a compromise is necessary, taking a moment to consider all the angles can be incredibly beneficial.
A choice made with careful thought now can help avoid more complex situations in the months and years to come.
Let’s think about a couple of illustrative situations.
Consider Sarah, a marketing manager with good experience, who found herself unexpectedly looking for a new role.
Naturally, she felt the need to secure a new position promptly.
She noticed a junior marketing executive role available.
While it was a step down in responsibility and pay, its immediate availability was tempting.
The consideration here is whether taking such a role might lead to her valuable skills being underused, potentially causing frustration or making it seem like a step back in her career journey when she looks for her next role.
Then there’s Mark, who was finding his sales job increasingly stressful and was keen for a change.
He thought about a temporary administrative role in a completely different field – logistics.
While a break from his current stress was appealing, it was worth him considering how this might affect his main career path in sales.
Taking a role in a very different area could mean his recent experience isn’t directly applicable when he wants to return to sales, and he might miss opportunities to develop within his chosen field.
What he might find is that a career in sales but for a different organisation could be better suited.
These examples simply highlight that while quick solutions can be appealing, it’s useful to weigh them against your longer-term career aspirations and ensure they won’t create new challenges, such as a feeling of stagnation or being off-course.
Thinking It Through: Your Decision-Making Checklist
So, how can you approach these decisions with clarity?
How do you find a balance between immediate needs and your future career satisfaction?
Here’s a checklist to help you think things through before accepting a role that feels like a compromise:
- Understanding Your Financial Picture:
How long can you comfortably manage with your current financial resources?
A clear budget can be very helpful here.
What’s a realistic minimum income you need to cover your essential commitments?
Are there any flexible or short-term ways to earn (e.g., freelance projects related to your skills) that could give you a bit more breathing space? - Assessing Your Current Work Situation:
If you’re currently employed, how much longer do you feel you can manage in your role before it impacts your wellbeing?
Are there any small adjustments you could make in your current job to make things more manageable while you search (e.g., focusing on tasks you enjoy more, clarifying expectations)? - Looking Closely at the “Compromise”:
The Role Itself: How different is this role from what you ideally want?
Will you have a chance to use your key skills?
Are there any learning or development opportunities, even if the role isn’t a perfect fit?
Salary and Benefits: Does the offered package reasonably reflect your skills and experience, even if it’s not your target figure?
Are there other benefits that add value (e.g., better work-life balance, training opportunities)?
Your Career Journey: How might this role fit into your career story in the coming years?
Company Environment: Does the organisation’s culture and values feel like a good match for you?
Industry and Sector: If it’s a move to a new industry, have you had a chance to research it?
Do you see how your skills can transfer and what the prospects look like? - Your Key Priorities:
What are the most important things for you in a role?
These could be salary, location, work-life balance, the nature of the work, or the company’s mission.
It’s helpful to be clear on these. - Exploring All Your Options:
Have you fully explored opportunities in your preferred field and at your target level?
Have you considered getting some feedback on your CV or interview approach?
Is your professional network aware you’re looking?
Could developing a new skill or updating existing ones make you an even stronger candidate for the roles you’re most interested in?
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
The process of finding a new role, especially when you feel under pressure, can sometimes feel a bit much, and it’s easy to second-guess yourself.
Making decisions that affect your career, finances, and overall happiness is important, and it’s best done with a clear head.
If you’re working through these kinds of decisions, feeling a bit unsure about your next move, or just want to make sure you’re not settling for less than you deserve, I’m here to offer support.
Sometimes, talking through your situation with someone who understands the career landscape can bring a fresh perspective and help you identify the best way forward, a way that addresses your immediate needs while also keeping your long-term ambitions in sight.
If you’d like to chat through your circumstances and seek some advice, please feel free to get in touch.
Together, we can explore the options and help you make career choices you feel good about.