I spoke to someone today who had been approached by someone she had previously worked for about a job. She felt conflicted because she’d only be in her job for 4 months…things were crazy, and they really needed her. Plus, she really liked who she worked with. But it sounded great. Here was my advice:
1. You can always have a conversation, but you really need to love the new role and the new people….because there’s a chance you won’t be able to come back. People don’t usually want to hold people back, but if you’re leaving them in a lurch, they won’t want to be played twice.
2. As you progress in your career, what you say no to because more important than ever. When you’re just starting out, there are no real bad moves-you’re learning and adding to your skill set. As you get more senior, you have more to lose, so really think about it and don’t be afraid to say no. (“I’m really flattered, but I don’t think it’s the right move for me now” is one way.
3. Live with the decision for the day. You need to get past the adrenaline rush of someone wanting to hire you, the allure of something new and sparkly, and temptation of escaping whatever is driving you crazy right now. Once that clears, you should have a good sense of whether or not it’s right for you.
