Is now a really bad time to change jobs?

[Pandemicjobhunting]

Sent my CV off for a couple of jobs and have heard back about one but just for a chat, no guarantee yet.

Am I crazy to be considering changing my job right now? Current employer has been great throughout pandemic but I’m just ready for a change/to push myself etc.

Have been there over two years now so more security than I would have elsewhere.

Also, in the Indeed posting it said no for remote working but would it be really cheeky to ask to ask if they’d consider even a couple of days? I’m so used to it now and the thought of being back out the house five days a week is a tough one.

Not really but depends on industry and organisation i suppose.

Im a stockbroker and our organisation has never been busier and in September last year I moved from one firm to another.

Points i considered were that the firm i am with now is a big name and has made record profits. I wouldnt have dreamt of going to a start up.

So consider is the industry secure right now
Is the organisations you are applying for stable

It it a fixed term role etc

Good luck

R.e your remote working point a you can do is ask!

I accepted a job offer on 23rd March the day of lockdown. Can't believe it's nearly a year ago! Go for it if the industry is doing ok.

A friend was forced to change job (made redundant) and has found getting to know colleagues and systems while working remotely almost impossible. He's in touch with former colleagues (made redundant at the same time), and they are finding it equally tough - one is signed off with stress. If you think that won't be an issue for you, then go for it (especially if you'll mostly be in the office) but don't underestimate what you learn from overheard conversations and chats while making coffee in terms of how things actually happen.

The industry I’m in is definitely doing ok I suppose I’m just a cautious person generally and worried I’m being silly throwing away a completely (as far as I know) secure job.

Beaky that must have been terrifying!! Hope you’re job is going well though.

With the WFH thing I totally understand where you’re coming from Bath but I know how daunting I find those first few weeks surrounded by new people and I’m actually wondering if it would be slightly easier for me to settle into a new job at home without having to worry about the people around me. Of course there’s downsides too though.

We want to move soon and I’m so scared of making a bad decision.

I really want to move job but zoom interviews and starting off working remotely puts me off. It’s the first thing I will do post lockdown though. Move job!!

@PandoraP do you not think a zoom interview is easier than a real one?

I suppose depending on the company they might be good with starting you off remotely but you just don’t know. I think I’ll ask about that during the chat I have.

@Pandemicjobhunting,I don’t know as I haven’t tried it yet, but I prefer meeting people in person and also getting a feel for the workplace, offices etc
I am going to apply for a job this week as I am getting a bit desperate in my current job so will see where it takes me. I personally want to go back to the office as I don’t like remote working and endless zoom calls.

I would be cautious about moving now. My (large) company is already talking about restructuring certain departments to off shore some roles now that the theory of long term WFH has been validated. If that were to happen at a new place you could fall into the 'last in first out' category.

Personally if you are in a secure job I’d stay out for now, the job market isn’t great however it is dependent on industry and your experience
In any recession there has always been jobs so those highly skilled can move roles and sometimes reap the rewards but those lower down the scale especially bottom rung will struggle. Low skilled always lose out so I guess it friends what you do

I think it’s very cheeky asking for remote working when they have made a point of saying no remote working

Damn phone 🙈 depends on what you do

I handed my notice in April last year. My interview was by phone as I couldnt get Skype to work. Had to do a presentation. I think it paid in my favour. I'm not a people person so on boarding from home was perfect. I haven't met my new team yet or my assigned companies but I've found it easy. Far easier this way for me. Settling in without commuting, my own space etc.

See I think part of the reason I want to move is to meet new people and a new environment. I am not very tech savvy so worried I would never get any systems to work or figure them out sitting by myself.

I've just been offered a new job. I'm really excited to be getting out of my current place. It depends on your circumstances too. If you get a job and there are redundancies you would get very little so can you afford that? Are you likely to find another job quickly?

We’re just on boarding a new team member - we’re really busy, our industry has not been hit with Covid but through lack of good applications we’re probably giving people a chance at interviews that we normally would have turned away. I’d say it’s a great time to move because the talent is scared and staying put and there are opportunities for the brave with little competition from the masses. Also on boarding is hard atm but people are making a big effort to welcome new staff.

I am currently working my notice due to start a new job next month. For me an opportunity caught my attention and I havent looked back since. Already had a video call with my new team who are lovely. For me I was ready for a new challenge. Who knows how long the pandemic is going to last, you could be waiting some time if you base it on this to start looking at moving jobs.

Very much split opinions!
Thanks for everyone’s responses.

@Icenii I’m a bit like you I think and losing the pressure of meeting loads of new people would help me settle in a bit easier I think!

At the moment we are in the position that if I was to take a new job and it didn’t work out we could still pay the bills on my husbands income while I looked for something else.

@Yellowfiledredfilled that makes total sense!

I think it very much depends on the job and the industry you work in.

I was made redundant but managed to find a new job that I started during the very first week of the first lockdown. Starting remotely was incredibly hard (despite me being used to doing a lot of work remotely as I work with global teams) and it continues to pose a challenge. Integrating myself into my new dept has been tough and it's taken me almost a year to build trust and build some friendships. (I still don't know half the dept and couldn't even name some of them). My work is client focussed and that also makes it very hard as I have to build relationships and show fast progress with people I have never met. Everyone is judging me. There's none of this hiding away at home and enjoying being away from people (that some posters have referred to). I need to be on Skype almost all the bloody time. My job is quite stressful but lockdown has made it so much harder.

Yea it definitely depends on the job!