Before you start afresh

If you find yourself wanting to quit your present job in search of greener pastures, there are a couple of things you'll need to bear in mind one makes a transition because one is looking for better avenues. We bring you a list of considerations that'll help you narrow down your choices.

*u00a0Be aware of your growth pattern within the organisation. You must find out the growth plan that a company offers its employees. How soon can you climb the corporate ladder? You should find out if internal candidates have been considered for this job. If not, you can ask why and what that will mean to you in the future.

*u00a0The typical questions would be about the minimum period of time you need to spend in a position in order to become eligible for the next level.

*u00a0Enquire about the appraisal system of the organisation you are applying to. Is it half-yearly or annual? What are the ways of redressing an unfavourable appraisal?

*u00a0It may also be a good idea to acquire information about the company's human resource policies, maternity benefits, health perks, etc.

*u00a0Through friends or friends of colleagues, you should also enquire about the work environment; the ambience makes a difference. The place might be formal and stern in manner, or it might have a youthful energy about it. You'll have to see how it works for you.

*u00a0Find out about the job profile you wish to apply for. Organisations differ in the exact nature of responsibilities even while the designation and profile appears to be similar. You need to have done your research on that front.

*u00a0Does the company/industry provide products or services that you would want to be associated with? Research news articles to determine if the industry is healthy and growing or if companies within the industry are going through mergers, acquisitions or frequent restructurings.

*u00a0How employees and their managers get along is one of the strongest employee
retention drivers. Keep in mind that you'll need to ask your prospective manager during the interview process how s/he makes decisions and how s/he evaluates talent or superior performance. Can you work with the answers s/he gives?

*u00a0Will having a job that requires frequent overnight travel be an issue for you? Where will you draw the line? Are you willing to travel 20, 30 or 50 per cent of the time? You'll need to find out how much travel is required and if it is spread out evenly or concentrated during certain seasons or business cycles.

*u00a0Try to determine if the culture in the organisation is one where there is frequent overtime. Excessive overtime could mean insufficient resources and poor human resource planning.