Question #16
“I think I’m ready for a new job, or a new step in my career. How will I know if I’m really ready?”
Dear R,
Here’s the thing: you will never actually know if you’re ready. Life rarely hands us a sign from the heavens telling us to move on. But thinking about making a transition is already a sign that you might be ready to move.
The key is to do it before you feel ready. Chances are, you’re underestimating yourself, and you’re more ready than you think. But if you wait until you feel completely ready, you might never move, and that includes moving to a new role at the same organization.
These are some signs that you might be ready for a new step in your career:
You can do your current job in your sleep
Your position has a defined end date, and it’s approaching
You spend a lot of time looking at job postings
You don’t look forward to going to work at all anymore
Your LinkedIn inbox is filled with recruiters
You’re excited (though terrified) about the prospect of something new
You haven’t learned any new skills at work in the past year, and you like learning new skills
