Great Jobs Don’t Wait for Perfect Timing
There’s no perfect time to make a job change. There's always going to be something looming out there - You're selling your house. You're starting a family. You have a planned vacation. You have a big bonus coming.
I've heard them all.
To me, the better question is not so much about the timing but about the job itself. If you wait until you are absolutely miserable and MUST make a change, you’ll be at the mercy of whatever’s available at the time.
In my opinion, the better approach is to always be having conversations, making connections and letting people know who you are, what you do and why you're great. That way you are top of mind when a position opens up. A willingness to have conversations will increase the chances that the perfect job might just fall in your lap.
Will it be perfect timing? Likely not. But would you rather have great timing and a crappy job, or less than ideal timing and your dream position?
If I were looking at making a change, I'd first ask myself what's prompting it:
Am I feeling tapped out in my current position with nowhere to go?
Do I hate the direction my company is taking?
Do I dislike my manager?
Are my clients making me crazy?
Do I just feel like I need a whole different kind of job all together?
Asking yourself these questions will help you identify the kinds of jobs you should be looking for and with that in mind, you'll have a better idea of the sense of urgency with which you need to move.
When to Wait and When to Jump
In-Demand Positions.
Commercial Account Managers, for example, are super in demand right now, so there's no huge sense of urgency. Odds are there will be plenty of opportunities when you are ready to make the change. So go ahead and wait until you feel ready.
Positions that are more scarce.
For example, a carrier field rep position. Those jobs are few and far between because you’re limited to those you can do from the territory in which you live. That might mean there are only 3 - 5 companies that would even be a viable option. These tend to be sought after positions, and ones people often retire from, so turnover is often lower. If that's a job you have your eye on, I would jump if one comes along.
Hard-to-make jumps.
Your first job in management for example. Every management job wants prior management experience – but since no one wants to be the first to give it, how do you get it? If you have your eye on management and have an opportunity to gain that experience, jump! That may not be your forever home but gaining that experience will make your next move far easier.Sales roles.
What if you’re a producer looking to make a change? There's never a great time. Non-competes are a pain and having spent years preaching why your current agency's Kool-Aid is the best makes it hard to rebrand yourself. For these reasons, a good producer is not going to make a bunch of changes – they’ll vet out the agency as best they can going into it in hopes that it’s a long-term option. But if you find yourself in a situation, perhaps due to leadership changes or M&A activity and you decide it’s no longer the place for you, making a change might be inevitable. Ask yourself what your priorities are, and take your time finding a place that checks all or most of the boxes. What are the commission splits? Is there equity potential? Are the markets they represent aligned with the types of accounts you focus on? How aggressive are the new biz goals? Is there an extra kicker if you exceed them? Are there resources to help you sell? What’s mentorship like?
When you see a “dream job” but your qualifications are a stretch.
You see a job posting that requires 7 - 10 years of experience and you've only got six. I can't tell you how often a candidate will say, “I don't feel quite qualified”. I ask them why they’re talking themselves out of it before they’re even in the mix to be considered. I suggest you go for it! Apply and keep an open mind and be very transparent about what you know and what you still have to learn and let the employer be the judge of whether or not you are qualified. As long as you're not misrepresenting yourself, a desire to learn and grow can go a long way in making up for a year or two of experience or a specific missing credential.
Bonus payout time is coming.
Bonuses are generally not a great reason to pass up an awesome opportunity. I mean – if it’s huge and it’s right around the corner and you can delay your start date to get it, sure. But I see people miss out on great positions where they’d have earned more and likely have spent the next 5-10 years of their career just to wait around for a bonus. Funny enough, by the time they get it, they’re often 4 months into the new year and they’ll say “I’m having a great start to the year, next year’s bonus will be awesome”. And so the cycle continues.
“Smart insurance professionals network. They have conversations. They keep their options open. They’re friendly with their competitors knowing that those foes might one day be colleagues. They keep their ear to the ground knowing that often the best opportunities find them.
Taking care of kids or elderly parents, kids, sports activities, trying to run a household and have a personal life, hobbies, stay healthy, it’s all...A LOT! Just know going into it that no matter what situation you’re leaving and going into, life is messy and there’s never a perfect time. If the job feels like the right move for you, I say go for it – the rest will work itself out. ”
