When Should You Consider Making a Move?

Design Force is built under the vision that every firm should focus on retention of top talent.  It’s the focal difference between our firm and others in the staffing industry.  We built our business focused on ways for firms to acquire the best “career-focused” talent and to RETAIN them.  Many times, candidates reach out to us stating they are ready for making a move to a different employer and after getting to know them; we advise them to stay a little longer and focus on critical components to improving their work conditions.

In that same light, we decided to make a checklist for potential movers to review on whether it’s the right time.

Reasons to Consider a Career Move:

1. Stagnation in skill set development

Image Credit: Forbes.com

This is critical in the Architect, Design and Engineering sectors.  If there is any time period where you are simply not learning or developing your skill set, it could be the onset of becoming primitive.  It is imperative to continue to foster and develop your credentials.  Many people confuse this with “on the job” training.  Is your employer going above and beyond to ensure that you are continually improving your toolkit as a valuable player in the A/E/C industry.

2. Company Vision

During the recession, we saw many firms getting purchased, merged, acquired and redefined.  Is the company vision still clear?  Does your firm match where you see your career going.  A wise man once said “Are you following your dream, or someone else’s?”  Many times, employers match the employees vision for their career based on their hiring criteria.  However, we have found that firms, like design trends, evolve.   Does this evolution leave you to where you want to be down the road?

3. Technology

In no way do we endorse that the tool you use as an Architect, Designer or Engineer reflect on your skill set as a professional in our industry.  Meaning: Being an expert Revit or AutoCAD user doesn’t make you a great Architect or Engineer.  However, we have found that people who stay current or in the “state of art” technology tend to be more marketable.  There is a trade off.  We have some clients who are using Microstation for their design tool but do absolutely the best design we have seen.  Make sure your equation reflects today’s marketplace.

4. Compensation and Benefits

In a long enough timeline, your value will be appreciated and shown via compensation and benefits.  During this economic recovery, we saw that certain firms are simply not keeping up with the market rates of other employers.  Surveys that the AIA, glassdoor, Indeed, etc. are simply inaccurate.  Check with your local recruitment expert, speak with your HR department and make sure you are being compensated at market rate.  Here again is another perfect example where we are not your typical recruitment outfit.  We rarely, if ever, recommend a candidate to make a career move just for compensation.  It’s a part of the equation but not the only part.

5. Project Typology

Are you working on the types of projects you wish to be?  Do you feel stuck working on projects that are dull or redundant.  This is a slippery slope for many of you.  During a booming economy, align yourself with the right division, firm or group that you can take your career into the direction you want to.

6. Location

Are you in the car for over an hour each way?  If you are a USGBC LEED AP, is this sustainable?  We have found that geographic expansion has happened over the past few years where firms do exist and are growing in suburban areas.  Is this the best use of your time?  10 hours a week in just commuting could be re-purposed for productive time.

7. Culture

A hostile work environment that operates in silos – where the executives are not transparent and are not touching the business as much as they lead it – is difficult to trust. This type of workplace culture becomes broken and begins to impact your performance and ability to advance. For example, when your employer continues to deliver false career succession plan promises without a legitimate reason, you should be concerned about its leadership and whether or not your employer deserves your talent and capabilities.

Before deciding to make a career move, consider this checklist.  Speak about it with your leadership.  Communication is the most valuable tool you can use to ensure your career path is in alignment with your employers vision.