It sounds great, doesn’t it, being head-hunted? Being able to say “I’ve been head-hunted” indicates that you are held in respect for your professional skills. Whether you’re looking for an opportunity at the time or simply open to offers, it’s good to know that your skills and abilities are in demand.
What happens though when the head-hunter offers you a new role and you’re happy in your current role? How do you decide whether to accept it or refuse it? Is it as simple as choosing the role that pays the most or is there more to your decision than that?
A colleague of mine, Ajay, recently accepted an invitation to speak to a potential employer about a new project management role. Two days later he had a choice to make between his current role and the new role. Both roles played to his strengths. Both roles offered him opportunity to grow his career. Flattered by the approach and the quick job offer, he found himself unsure about his decision and called his mentor (me) for advice.
Ajay and I discussed his options and how they fit into his plans for his career and his family. The new leadership role was in a ‘hot’ sector of his industry and would allow him to broaden his technical skills. His current role was in a major transformation initiative with room to grow and develop his business knowledge. On the personal front, although the work was similar, the new job was better paid which was good for his family.
During our discussion, we touched on the pros and cons of
- Working in a 'hot' industry sector
- Adjusting to a new environment
- Being comfortable in a role
- Managing expectations after being head-hunted
- Leaving a project mid-stream
Ajay was doing the heavy lifting in the conversation. My role was to be his sounding board. As such, I prompted him to tell me his thoughts and played them back to him so he could consider what he said. By the end of our discussion, Ajay realised he was in the position of having two good career choices in front of him. He had considered a range of factors including the reaction of his current employer and project team if he chose to leave, his fall-back position if the new job did not work out, the opportunities that both roles offered him and the challenges that he faced in each. All that was left for him to do was to choose.
The next day Ajay shared his decision to take the new job with me. The smile on his face as he told me the news demonstrated his confidence in his choice. I am already looking forward to hearing about his first 90 days in his new role.
Have you been head-hunted? I’d love to hear what happened. Please leave a comment telling me how it worked out for you.
