Public Finance Blog

There was a song done in the early 90’s by the First Edition, then remade by the great Kenny Rogers, called “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”.  This song makes me think of how mentally prepared we have to be for any major move in our lives, not just a new job. In the song (which is also a cult hit from the movie The Great Lebowski), self-evaluation was the key.

Self-Evaluating Questions To Start

We must take self-evaluation into consideration every time we get to do something.  How does this make me feel?  Does this new position that I’m considering make me feel better about myself?  Is the culture one that I can truly embrace?  What about my future co-workers?  Any new position you’re considering cannot be taken in a vacuum. For example, how much more money am I going to make?  Because at the end of the day, anyone from my experience who moves solely for financial gains very rarely, if ever, truly get ahead.  They’re the people, young or old, who stay for a couple of years and move on.  They are never really establishing themselves or roots in the industry.

Proving Yourself

One of the first questions a hiring manager asks of me is: how long has the candidate been at their current position?  If the answer is less than five years, most managers pass on a candidate.  The reason is that they have not given themselves enough time to prove what they can do for their existing employer. This turns into hiring managers thinking, “Why should we take on someone like that?”  On the other hand, if a candidate has been there for over five years, they have proven themselves, and hiring managers will take a chance on them. So, what does this tell us about the importance of self-evaluation? 

The Importance Of True Self-Evaluation

Within your current situation, stability at your present employment and your mentality geared toward making a move are such important factors for moving on to a new position.  After self-evaluation, if you have determined that all the pieces make sense for you to make a move, and you’re making the change for the right reason, then it is time to talk.  However, if you find that the desire to move on is due to a knee-jerk, emotional reason, re-evaluate your current condition.  And like the song says, “You just dropped in to see what condition your condition is in.”

Conclusion

You don’t need a resume to chat with us! If you would like to discuss your options, please reach out for a confidential conversation at 760-477-1284 or email at harlan@hfriedmansearch.com. He can also be reached on LinkedIn. Harlan publishes a blog every Thursday here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, which is a compilation of our weekly blogs, so you never miss one. We have also been mentioned in this year’s Forbes, click HERE to read more.  

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 levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.