It’s hard to believe that not so long ago it would be more common than not for people to work for one company their entire careers – from the day they left school, to the day they retired. Today, that is almost unheard of and whilst some of those job moves may be beyond our control due to redundancy, termination or other circumstances, it is likely that at some point in our careers we will be the ones to decide the grass is greener and to say “sayonara” to our employer.
BUT that doesn’t mean you should accept every job that is offered to you, after all, if you’re good at what you do and your profile is visible in the right places, job offers or at least approaches about possible job offers, will become part of your everyday.
There are many factors to consider before accepting a new job, so before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself the following questions:
Will I learn something new?
The pace of change in Treasury today is dramatic and to ensure long term career success the focus most definitely needs to be on continuously expanding your knowledge and developing your skills. Will the new role enable you to broaden your knowledge in different areas of treasury? Will you get exposure to different projects or systems? Will you gain international exposure? Whatever it is, make sure the new role offers you the opportunity to build on your skills and expand your knowledge base.
Are there opportunities for development?
For any would-be employer, a key characteristic they look for in potential candidates is a proven track record of career progression and this is by no means different in the world of treasury. When considering a new role, it is essential for you to understand what opportunities are available for career development. A great way to research this is to check out the backgrounds of existing employees in the business on LinkedIn. Have they been with the business for a while? If so, have they changed roles or been promoted during their tenure?
Will I be able to achieve my long-term career goals?
As the famous saying goes “fail to plan, plan to fail” and this can never be more true than in the world of treasury. If you don’t have a clearly defined career path, and ultimately don’t know where you want to get to, how can you expect to get there? A great way to approach this is to start with the end in mind. Think about where you ultimately want to be and then break it down into realistic career steps. If the new job you are being offered does not fit into this bigger picture, then you need to seriously consider whether it is the right role for you long term.
Does the package meet my expectations?
Your decision on whether to accept your next treasury job offer should certainly not be just about financial gain, but let’s face it, none of us really do this out of the goodness of our hearts so securing a good salary and benefits package really does help. If the package doesn’t quite hit the mark for you at offer stage, don’t be afraid to negotiate, but tread carefully and do be realistic with your expectations. If movement on pay is not possible at this stage, discuss how things may look moving forward in terms of your compensation trajectory. For more assistance on salary benchmarking and understanding market rates take part in our salary survey here: https://treasuryrecruitment.com/salarysurvey/
Do I know enough?
Are you confident you know everything there is to know about the company and the role? Do you have a full and complete picture of what will be expected of you? Have you met the team? Have you been shown around the office? Do you have a feel for the culture and working environment? Do you have clarity on the financial position of the business? If you can’t answer “yes” to all these questions, you have not done enough due diligence and you cannot make an informed decision on whether to accept the role or not. Research news articles, read reviews and identify key employees for a big-picture view. Look for community involvement, legal issues and overall reputation. Move at your pace and make sure you know what you’re letting yourself in for.
Does the job fit in with my personal life?
We all know the hours are long in treasury and often requires late nights, time away from home and periods of high stress. So as this will be your home away from home for the foreseeable future, you need to be sure it fits in with your commitments and lifestyle choices. Do you know what is expected of you in terms of working hours? Are you confident the commute is doable? Is the job going to burn you out fast or will it enable you to achieve the work/life balance you desire?
Finally, if after answering these six key questions you still feel in a pickle about whether to sign on the dotted line, feel free to get in touch we’d be glad to offer you some impartial careers advice and help you down the right path.
