Hesitating Because of Fear

Every so often I speak to a person who is in absolute fear of losing their job.  It becomes obvious when the thought of making a career change is something that they will not consider.  This notion is especially more evident in the U.S.   

As a recruiter, it is always a red flag for me when I present an opportunity to someone which is clearly an upgrade for them, yet they convince themselves that the risk is not worth taking.  I am always careful to summarize the benefits in a logical executive summary.  These benefits will often include a position upgrade in a growing company with more accountability, more salary, and would not require a change in geography.  The response is sometimes, "I don't know, I am really happy here, or I am not looking for change."

It is at this point that I usually realize that this person is not worth pursuing.  If they are not even curious to learn more about the position which is obvious to any outsider that it is worth hearing more about, they are quickly deemed as not the right type of leader for my client.

Clients want people who can make and can understand good business cases and know how to make good decisions when opportunities arrive.  There is no commitment to get into the interview process with the client, just the willingness to explore the opportunity a little further and to learn about something new and update yourself with what else is available in the market.  At the very least, the person will gain additional knowledge.

This doesn't happen very often but when it does, it allows me to quickly move on to other candidates while making a note in this persons file that this person is a possible lifer employee.

The sad part is that when this person is downsized from their position at age 55 because there is a cheaper version of them available in the market, that person will be calling an executive recruiter but by then it may be too late. The reason being that someone with a company for 25 years is simply not attractive to other firms for a handful of reasons that I will cover at another time.

Make sure you are continually learning about what else is available to you for professional development.  The world is changing and jobs are changing every day, don’t assume that you know everything already and that your company will take care of you if you are loyal.  That notion was dispelled for many during the recession.

Farewell,

Mike