Talent Hub’s 2017 ANZ Salesforce Market Survey showed us that 42% of candidates expect to leave their current role in the next 6 months.
Evidently, without this appetite for change -Talent Hub wouldn’t be in business. So although that statistic interests and encourages us, we do feel that it’s important that candidates are 100% sure they are ready to leave their existing role before they engage in the interview process with new companies.
If you are an experienced Salesforce professional – you really couldn’t wish for a better market to be working in. Opportunities are plentiful and candidates are scarce, so the best Salesforce professionals will always comfortably secure employment offers – In fact one candidate we know got an incredible 6 job offers in one week in 2016!
Before you start to receive these job offers and face the time-consuming and awkward task of turning down these roles and disappointing hiring managers who have their hopes set on you joining their business, shouldn’t you first be 100% sure you are ready to leave your current role before you enter the recruitment process?
Turning down a role because you have been offered a different opportunity that suits your career objectives better is completely understandable but turning down a role to stay where you are can be a little more than frustrating for the new companies you are rejecting.
At Talent Hub – our advice is, before you start to look for a new challenge – is to make sure you sit down and ask yourself:
– Why am I unhappy in my current role and why am I looking to move?
– What could my current company do to keep me?
– Do I have a clear understanding of the pipeline of work that I can expect if I stay?
– What could they change to make me feel happier/more motivated?
– How would I feel about my role if my manager offered me X, Y or Z?
After honestly answering these questions you will then know if you are ready and need to look for a new role – or if it’s simply a case of having the confidence to speak to your manager about the concerns you have that they could help resolve. In our experience you are almost certain to receive a counter offer if you hand your notice in, but resigning isn’t the only way to negotiate a better package and it definitely isn’t the best way.
Well qualified Salesforce professionals know that they are going to receive job interview invites and job offers as soon as they make the market aware of their interest in new opportunities – so if you still aren’t sure that you are ready to actually change company/role but feel frustrated, the first manager you should be speaking to is your own, not one at another company.
But how do you approach these sometimes hard to have conversations with your manager? Well everyone’s personal situation will be different but we would hope that you have regular catchups and reviews with your manager to discuss your performance, next steps in your career and development etc anyway – so this is naturally a perfect time to raise your concerns.
Ultimately it’s all about being honest with yourself and with your manager.
If it’s down to your pay cheque and a few extra thousand per year would keep you happy and motivated in your current role then go to your manager with the facts and figures around why you deserve an increase, what you have achieved in the time since your salary was last reviewed and what you plan to continue contributing to the team!
If it is more flexibility you are after then take a plan of action to your meeting which explains the flexibility you desire, how you can guarantee productivity levels and the reasons that the flexibility is needed.
And finally, regularly speak to specialist Salesforce recruitment companies like Talent Hub who will be more than willing to provide insights into the salary ranges and flexibility currently on offer in the market, the best ones recruitment partners are always willing to offer advice without the expectation that you are ready to move roles immediately.
You can then use this information to put a case together to present to your manager and if you don’t get the response / support you are hoping for then at least you know that you have tried and that then maybe it is time to start your job search.