I have previously written about helping lawyers determine whether or not to start looking for a new job. But once you have your offers on the table, how do you decide whether the new role is the right one for you?
Career moves are a big deal – you’re making the decision to uproot the familiar day-to-day life and leap into the unknown. And when every decision has the potential to change the course of your career, the stakes are high. It’s critical to view each opportunity in the context of your broader career goals.
Here are four things I recommend lawyers consider before accepting a new job:
1. Is the new job sufficiently different from your current role?
Once you’ve decided you’re ready to make a move, it can suddenly feel very urgent to make it happen as soon as possible. Remember that you aren’t moving for the sake of moving, but because you want something that your current role isn’t offering. If the new job isn’t significantly different from your current one, it’s not the right role for you.
2. Is it tangibly and identifiably better than your current role?
Everyone has a list of boxes they want ticked in their job – whether they’ve written it out or not. Really consider if the new role actually ticks more boxes than your current one.
3. Does the new role ‘make sense’ for your career?
This is more than whether the firm will look good on your CV – although a CV that shows consistent progress is also important. Is this role going to give you access to the clients you want? Will it put you on a direct path to reaching your long-term career goals? Will it ultimately lead you on to bigger and better things?
4. Is it the best you can do?
Lawyers who are eager to move can fall into the trap of taking any role they consider to be better. The problem is that lots of roles out there will fall into this category. Maybe you’ll get a pay rise but have to go in as an Associate rather than a Senior Associate. Maybe you’ll get the title but have to give up on the best work. If there are better roles out there for you, and you can afford to be patient, you should be.
What not to consider
Put simply – Timing.
I find that lawyers can become preoccupied with trying to get the timing of each move exactly right. They consider the “when” (e.g., ‘when I get to Senior Associate’ or ‘when I get to four years PQE’) to be as important as the “what” and the “where”.
But the four points above make the issue of timing irrelevant.
If you answer ‘no’ to any of them, you shouldn’t make the move.
If you answer ‘yes’ to all of them, then you’ve found the perfect role to put you on the right path, and if it’s available now, why wait?