This is a guest post by April Davis.

There comes a point in every professional’s life when they consider changing jobs; the reasons are varied – it could be that they want more money, that they’re not satisfied with their current job and/or the workplace environment, or that it’s more convenient to move to a new organization because of changes in their personal life.

Some people are typical job hoppers – they cannot stay at one position for more than a few months, or a year at best. The trouble with this is that it does not speak well of your loyalty towards your employer, so at some point of time, people are going to hesitate to hire you as they don’t expect you to stick around for long. Some stay on at the same job for years together even though they have opportunities and options. They’re satisfied with what they have and don’t want any change in their lives. And others choose to change jobs when they receive better offers or when they’re forced to do so because they’ve moved to another location or effected some change in their personal lives.

The thing about changing jobs is that it could backfire if the timing is not right, and you could end up in a less desirable position than you were before. Some job changes work out perfectly, but others are mistakes that could have been avoided. So before you take that final call on moving to a new company, here’s what you can do to avoid jumping from the frying pan into the fire. While there are no hard and fast rules about changing jobs and that the decision depends on each individual, in general, the following apply:

  • If your work environment is hostile and if you hate going in to work every day, it’s time for a change, no matter how good the money is and how excellent the perks are. Nothing is worth your peace of mind and general health, and the longer you stay in a stressful environment, the worse it is for your mental and physical health.
  • It’s not advisable to change jobs often because employers could perceive your behavior as lacking in loyalty and stability – they may not want to invest time and effort in training you if you’re going to leave soon after.
  • If your current organization is not paying you what you’re worth and if you have a better offer outside, you could be tempted to change jobs. However, if your boss is reasonable and if you like everything else about your work and your workplace, you could talk to your superiors and negotiate a better salary. However, your demand could be perceived as blackmail, so tread carefully, and make sure that they understand that you want to stay on, but that it’s hard to ignore a tempting offer from another organization.
  • Some people prefer to move on when they know they’ve achieved all they can at one company; they’re looking to climb up the professional ladder, and if changing jobs allows them to do this, they go ahead and take the new offer. Remember however, that you must be prepared to face the additional responsibilities and problems that come with moving up and changing jobs at the same time.
  • Don’t quit your current job without another position lined up – some people may prefer to quit and then search for a new job, but unless you have a concrete plan for the future and/or have enough money set aside to tide you over until you find a new position, it’s not wise to let go of what you have in anticipation of what you might get.
  • Don’t quit your job if the economy is bad and if the chances of a better position are low; even if you’re not too satisfied with your present position, it’s best to stick with it rather than be unemployed and desperate for a job.

Assess your situation, know what you want, and don’t act hastily when changing jobs – what matters most is the timing of the change and the satisfaction you derive from it.

About the author:

This guest post is contributed by April Davis, she writes on the topic of Accredited Degrees Online. She welcomes your questions and comments at her email id: april.davis83(@)gmail(.)com.