Looking To Change Jobs? Consider More Than Salary Offer

By Perminus Wainaina

According to a survey that we conducted in 2014 where we polled over 2,000 professionals, Kenyan are motivated by two major reasons when it comes to looking for a new job. The first being job security at 35% followed closely by the need for a better pay at 30%. In summary, we learnt that Kenyan professionals want to be paid well in secure jobs!

In this article, I’ll discuss why it is important to consider other factors beyond salary when it comes to contemplating a job change.

But first, what salary increment should you accept in order to change jobs? If your pay is market rate i.e. not too low or too high then an increment ranging from 10% to 30% is okay. You might be wondering why 10% to 30%. The higher percentage is for those who are able to negotiate for better terms. It could also be that the candidate has superior skills or expertise compared to others.

But salaries are not cast in stone and I know of candidates who’ve negotiated for double their salaries and the new employer obliged.

So, what other factors should you consider beyond salary?

1. Job Content.
A simple definition of job content is the duties and responsibilities of the job holder. This is what is listed on the job description and should be availed to you before you join a company. The way I see it, a new job should not only afford you a better life but also a chance to grow in your career. As such, only consider a new job if it will offer you a challenge or teach you something new as that’s the only way to grow and be attractive to a another employer. You don’t want to be that employee who keeps changing jobs but has nothing to show apart from the salary increase.
Think twice if the new job is something you can do with your eyes closed.

If you have been following my articles then you know employer s rate experience and skills more highly than education. Always remember that skills and expertise are your top bargaining tools. Can you take a job of a cleaner (and I am not looking down upon cleaners) if it paid half a million bob? You’d probably give it a careful thought before saying yes.

2. Who is Hiring?
I find it strange that most candidates don’t bother to do an in depth background check on a potential employer and especially when the package on offer is very attractive. You should be cautious when an employer wants to double your salary. During negotiations, think twice when everything seems to be going your way. I know of instances where a candidate joins a reputable firm only to realize that salaries are never paid on time and that the benefits negotiated exist only on paper.

Truth be told, potential employers will always strive to paint a better picture to attract candidates and sometimes the situation on the ground is different. Employment affects your life and should not be taken casually. Conduct a due diligence on a potential employer and don’t be swayed by money. After all, what is the point of doubling your salary only to earn the same in only 3 months and then find yourself in the cold? Be cautious when you are coming on board as part of a new strategy, when you are being hired by new management and when a company ‘desperately’ wants you.

3. What Are Your long Term Career Goals?
You want to be a chief accountant in the next three years. You have worked hard rising from a data entry clerk to an accounts assistant and now you a senior accountant. The pay is not that good but you have learnt a lot and there’s potential to learn more since you report to the chief accountant and occasionally deputize him. However, you now have this new employer wanting you to join them as an accounts receivable head and they are promising to pay you double! Problem is, the accounts receivable job is a very specialized role that limits you to only one aspect of accounting.

If you consider your goal and you are not blinded by money then you’d stick where you are or continue looking for another job that offers you more than a specialized role. If you are not wise and take the accounts receivable job you risk not ever moving as I am yet to hear of an accounts receivable who has been promoted to a chief accountant. In short, only take those assignments that are in line with your career goals.

They are many more factors to consider when it comes to changing jobs but to me the three above are an absolute must. I know how important money is and trust me you should always be paid your worth and much more but if you only consider the pay, that would be a very bad strategy. Always make an informed choice by considering all variables.

Perminus Wainaina is the Managing Partner & Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services Ltd. 

22 Comments

  1. Hello Sylvia,

    No, you do not have to come personally. Email us a copy of your CV to cvwriting@corporatestaffing.co.ke for further assistance.For a CV review, that is free, but if you want it done professionally then you have to pay a fee. You will be advised more through email.

  2. Woow.This is super.I love it.now let me go back to the drawing board. For the cv…should I come personally and is there a fee to pay?

  3. Thanks for the insightful advice.I am currently a Head of Finance with an aspiration of becoming either Finance Director or CFO but most of positions i keep seeing as open are mostly Finance Manager’s at times with higher pay,please advice

  4. Career development is a long term plan and should be taken seriously.The article is indeed a step forward in highlighting some of the under looked issues.The bait interviews carried out by potential employers to attract the interviewee sometimes turn to be fake.The interviewer panelists some of which do not have experience on the process may give a false impression of the organization making the interviewee a victim of circumstance.This calls for a well thought plan for career development.Kudos Perminus,this article summarizes it all for me.

  5. Thx alot dear corporate staffing. May God help you with more and more knowlege to help the nation

  6. Great commentary and insight to job seekers.
    Kindly share common interview questions and the interviewed expectations.Thank you.

  7. Great article Mr.Perminus, as always, you have posted very informative content.Thank you!

  8. A Positive Opinion.

    If you may allow, i propose that you perhaps put some social media tabs on your website. Such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+. Through these platforms, it would be much easier to share your informative information (Like the one above, apart from job posting related) to the rest of the world. This way, more potential individuals can reach your website, hence increase in clientele.

    Just a proposal.
    Thanks

  9. I have worked in material handling where we load and unload goods
    parking and arranging goods in the warehouse
    year of birth 04/05/1986
    as material handler

  10. Hi. I have tried sending my CV but somehow my app is not supported. Can I bring it in person?

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