Elevate Your Career in Finance, Risk, Audit, Compliance & SAP | Germany's Top Executive Recruiter for Global Consulting & Audit Firms | Informal & Confidential Career Consultation
Should You Test Drive a New Job Like Picking the Perfect Paint Color? Ever felt indecisive when choosing paint for a DIY project? All those pink pots look the same on the shelf, right? Someone recently asked me, "Aren't all management companies the same, Ellen?" At the surface level, maybe. But, just like with paint, a closer look reveals differences... Before deciding on a color for my bedroom, I ordered test samples. Against a white wall, those pinks looked very different from how they appeared on the shelf. That’s the magic of due diligence! 📌 Should You Do the Same with a New Job? Imagine being able to "try out" a new job before fully committing. Wait. Isn't that what a probation period is for? Yes, absolutely! But, how would your CV look if you "test-drove" a role every six months? Nice idea, but not practical in the real world. ➡️ What’s the alternative? I'll share my perspective in the comments, but I’m curious to hear your thoughts. #probationperiod #managementconsulting #audit #duediligence #financialduediligence #fdd #transactionservices #steuerberater #steuerberaterin #mergersandacquisitions #germany
📌 How does one find out about Work-Life Balance before joining a consulting/audit firm? Life’s too short to spend all your evenings stuck in traffic or on endless Zoom calls. ➡️ Ask specific questions during the recruitment process, especially about flexible working hours and remote work policies directly to the Hiring Manager/Partner. Yes, consulting sometimes requires working long hours a week. But isn't that true with any job?
I don't advise people to go job hopping until they find their "perfect fit". If you are unsure what to do, try temporary jobs, freelance consulting projects, or even volunteering if you can. Leaving a job within the first 6 months is totally fine, and it won't necessarily harm your CV, but leaving multiple jobs will.
Instead of "test driving" roles and ending up with a collection of mini-professional experiences, do your due diligence during the recruitment process 😉 📌 What would be important to you in your next step? Don't be afraid to ask questions.
📌 How can you be sure that you will get the Management Style you like in a new job? ➡️ Observe how managers interact during interviews and informal meetings to ensure their leadership style suits you. Nobody wants a boss who thinks they’re auditioning for “The Devil Wears Prada.”
I love this analogy, Ellen! Sometimes, we think colors are similar until we paint a wall, and wait for it to dry to realize it's quite different from what we thought. Not all companies are the same. Not all work environments are negative. If you don't do your research and try it out for yourself, you'll never know how good it can be.
Elevate Your Career in Finance, Risk, Audit, Compliance & SAP | Germany's Top Executive Recruiter for Global Consulting & Audit Firms | Informal & Confidential Career Consultation
2mo📌 How can you be sure if you are going to get Job Satisfaction before accepting a New Job? Not sure if one can ever be sure, but here's tip number ONE: Don’t wait until it’s too late to discover that your “dream job” feels more like an episode of “The Office.” How? Have honest conversations with past employees to get the real story, not just the HR spiel. Take the feedback with a pinch of salt though.