First of all, congratulations for coming to a dramatic decision. The hardest part is now over! Once you have mentally come to the conclusion it’s time to move, this needs to become your predominant thought for 2019. You now need to determine if you are going to work with professional executive recruiting or if you are going to go it on your own. If you elect to proceed on your own, you must plan on spending a great deal of time identifying the right opportunity. You must make all decisions regarding your intended move from where you are heading or going to, not from where you are at currently.
Now you need to make yourself very desirable to a new suitor. The way to do this is to be the best employee you can be for your current firm. In executive recruiting, firms that I represent always ask me to introduce them to specific candidates. Why is that? That candidate is usually a recognized expert in his or her field. Additionally, you need to be doing deals in the arena that is generating the most revenues for the firm. With your contribution being the main reason for that revenue. ie. if you are getting business from “State” Rotations, etc., the business might not be attributed to your efforts. If a firm cannot make a direct correlation to the revenue you represent that you brought into the firm through your own efforts and those of a “competitive rotation”, you may not get the offer and the financial package that you are hoping for.
Now that you have identified your new target firm and have started the interview process, the hardest part of making this decision is that you have to be serving two masters: your current company, and the new firm you are engaging with. The mental aspect of making the move becomes very taxing as you are trying to continue to generate current revenue, and at the same time you do not want to leave revenue on the table when you make your move. Keep in mind that every candidate goes through this stage. Also, be aware of the emotional ups and downs that will occur as you get closer to getting an offer will increase significantly. If you are mentally prepared for this gyration, the transition will be easier to manage. Executive recruiting can put your mind at ease and significantly decrease your stress levels during your transition. In conclusion, serve your current firm to the best of your ability, as you owe it to them as a loyal employee; new deals will always be waiting for you.
About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all level Public Finance Bankers, Health Care Bankers, Municipal Financial Advisors, Compliance Officers, FinOps & Bond Counsels. He can be reached at [email protected] or 760-477-1284.