As part of the financial planning process, I discuss income with my clients. Income is important when assessing the lifestyle they want. It determines how much they can afford.
When clients want a lifestyle beyond what they can afford, we discuss ways to achieve it. One way to achieve it is to increase income.
Are you satisfied with your income?
Many times to achieve more income, you need a new job. That new job can be with your current employer or with a new employer.
During my career, I had the opportunity to work for an executive search firm. I’ve also held management roles where I was responsible for hiring new talent. Having these experiences allow me to provide valuable information to help my clients.
Job searching is not easy. I always encourage anyone going through a job search to stay PEF – positive, enthused, and focused.
Read “Stay PEF When Job Searching”
Job searching is even more difficult when you already have a job. There never seems to be enough time in the day to dedicate.
Here are three key things to keep in mind while looking for a new job:
1- Honor your job responsibilities with your current employer during your job search – your reputation is at stake. Even if you decide to leave your employer, you don’t want to burn bridges. It’s fascinating how small the world can be. Your current manager may know someone at your future employer. Or your current manager may move to a different employer and want to recruit you. Keep your options open by staying professional during your job search.
2- Don’t dabble in your job search. Dedicate a certain amount of hours per day on productive job search activities – even if it’s only for one hour. Productive job search activities include reaching out to your connections. While it’s easy to apply to opportunities online, you’ll have more impact with your connections – you’ve heard the old saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
Read “How to Define Your Ideal Job”
3- When updating your profile on LinkedIn, turn off your activity broadcast. When people see you updating your LinkedIn profile, it’s a clear sign you’re looking for a new opportunity. While you may want your connections to know, you do not want your current employer to know. And, you never know if someone from your Human Resources department is watching.
It’s easier to stay in a job than to look for a new one. But if your goal is to improve your lifestyle with more income, stay focused on that objective. You need it to stay motivated, especially during the long and sometimes difficult job search.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Niv Persaud, CFP®, CDFA™, CRPC®, is the Founder of Transition Planning & Guidance, LLC. Life is more than money. It’s about living the lifestyle you want and can afford. For that reason, Niv consults with clients on money, life and work. Her approach capitalizes on techniques she learned throughout her career, including as a management consultant, executive recruiter and financial advisor. Her services include spending plan, financial plan, divorce financial review, life strategy and professional progression. Niv actively gives back to her community through her volunteer efforts. She believes in living life to the fullest by cherishing friendships, enjoying the beauty of nature and laughing often — even at herself. Her favorite quote is by Erma Bombeck, “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say ‘I used everything you gave me’.”