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It may seem counterintuitive to say that the best time to leave your job is when you are super happy in it, but in our experience, that may well be the case. We know that our brain doesn’t always react well under stress and yet, we often don’t think about moving jobs until there is a “stressor” forcing us to make the move.

It is this scenario that sees many people feel as though changing jobs is a highly stressful and emotional process when in truth, it doesn’t have to be.

Put the shoe on the other foot and think about how much easier it is to make good decisions when you’re relaxed and happy. Doesn’t seem so counterintuitive does it?

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Forced vs. Voluntary

Most people don’t consider a job move until there is a reason to. With the reason for the change often negative, they’re generally what we’d consider a “forced” move, rather than a “voluntary” one.

“Forced” reasons for moving could include unhappiness, lack of projects, redundancy, work culture issues, a need for more money, you don’t like your colleagues, you feel like you’re being overlooked and the list goes on.

Whilst in this situation, you’re obviously going to be looking for a new role anyway, you’re doing so from a state of heightened emotion. This can sometimes lead to choosing the wrong option out of desperation, which in turn may see you back on the job market quite quickly.

A voluntary move however contains none of the emotion a forced move produces. You have a good role, you’re just curious if there is a better role out there. Any decisions you make in this situation are from a secure place. There is no panic, heightened emotion or desperation.

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A More Relaxed Process

With emotion and necessity out of the picture for a job move, the process to finding a better role is generally a far more relaxed one. You have all the time in the world and know that since you’re happy anyway, you won’t be moving unless the new option is only going to increase this happiness.

We come across many candidates that have this mentality. They contact us not because they NEED to move, but because they WANT to when the right option appears.  

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You’ll Know It’s Right

Changing roles at this point makes sense. Sure you’re happy now and there will always be an element of uncertainty in the unknown, but having just “kept an eye out” for the perfect next step from a place of security, when you make the move, you will 100% know that you’re doing it for the right reasons and it’s the right next move for your career.

You’ll know that it’s right.