Q: I am a successful, junior executive in the hospitality industry, and I have four pending job offers. All came to me by referral, and I will get a considerable bump up in compensation by taking any one of them. I am in the middle of my career and calculate having two more long-term assignments before retirement. What do you suggest as a means to evaluate these offers?
A: First, I commend you for your reputation for quality. It is quite clear your industry respects your work and that these offers are the outcome of excellence.
You are wise to want to evaluate your offers. You definitely need to distinguish between and among them to determine the most appealing for your career goals.
Start your analysis by doing a rigorous inventory of your current role. Compare it to the highest role possible in the operating hierarchy. For instance, if you are currently a VP, look at what the SVP and CEO are doing, and evaluate your current responsibilities against their roles. In that comparison, identify what skills the most powerful leaders in your organization possess. Next, trace their career paths. Then, compare their skill sets and experiences with yours, and determine where you are both in terms of skill and career alignment. This comparison should help make clear the skills and qualities you need to advance.
This first step is important because the best next job for you is probably the one that allows you to develop those skills possessed by the most senior leaders. This skills set list includes, but is not limited to: strategic planning; public speaking and serving as the public “face” of the organization; fiscal management, and networking with other senior leaders in your chosen industry. Bearing this list in mind, review each position you have been offered, and evaluate them individually against this list. Ideally, your next move will provide opportunities to expand upon your existing skills as well as to acquire and practice new ones.
In addition to using your next position to move you toward your ultimate career goals, you should also use your discretionary time for such preparation and advancement. If you deem you currently have large gaps in the aforementioned skills set list, find creative ways to obtain some of those skills. Such acquisition might take place in the form of board service, leading a major fund raising campaign for a major not-for-profit organization or seeking certification and/or professional development in very specific areas.
Beyond your self-analysis, you also might want to interview a few leaders already utilizing their skills in very senior, visible roles. Ask them to review your credentials and to make recommendations as to how and when to acquire the additional skills needed for your advancement. These conversations are valuable mentoring opportunities for you. They also give you an opportunity to work with a new set of potential reference persons who can speak to your desire to advance within your chosen field.
It is exciting and rewarding to have choices in your next career move. Take the time to scrutinize your offers against your goals so your next step moves you in the direction that best supports your aspirations.
Contact Karen Alphonse at Karena@execSearches.com or visit ExecSearches.com for more information about our career coaching services.
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Last updated on September 19th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
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