■■ Do your research. If salary is the primary reason for wanting
to leave and your requests for a raise have gone unanswered,
investigate what someone in your position with similar
experience is making in your market.
■■ Network. Reach out to contacts in your industry to see what
the employment market is like for someone with your skills
and experience. If demand is low, be cautious about making
a move. If demand is high, try to learn which companies are
hiring, their corporate culture and other details that could help
in your decision.
If it’s time to move on:
■■ Exit gracefully. If you decide to accept another job offer,
schedule a private, in-person meeting with your boss to discuss
your decision to resign. Try to give at least two weeks’ notice.
Demonstrate respect and professionalism by offering to help
with the transition during your final days.
■■ Be wary of counteroffers. Now that you’ve quit, don’t look
back and renege on your agreement with your new employer
by accepting a counteroffer. It not only burns bridges, but
it likely won’t resolve the original issues you had with your
current job.
■■ Give helpful feedback. If an exit interview isn’t offered,
request one. Be honest but tactful in your feedback. Your
constructive criticism could help improve the workplace.
■■ Stay in touch. Leaving good friends and mentors is one of the
hardest aspects of changing jobs. Exchange personal contact
information, add them to your professional online network and
meet up occasionally to stay connected.
LEARNING ON THE CLOCK?
Employers want financial employees who are well informed on the
latest regulations, business trends and best practices. But they’re not
always willing to let their teams pursue continuing professional ed-ucation
(CPE) opportunities on company time, according to a new
survey from recruitment firm Robert Half Finance and Accounting.
Only 24 per cent of Canadian CFOs report their companies al-low
all employees to attend professional education courses while at
work. Another 17 per cent say it depends on the employee. More
than half of firms rarely or never let any staff take classes during
business hours.
news
Lightspring / Shutterstock.com
Don’t renege on an agreement with a
new employer – it can burn bridges
14 ❚ SEPTEMBER 2017 ❚ HR PROFESSIONAL