Five things that are just as important to consider as salary when moving job

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Annabel Jones, HR Director at ADP UK

It’s easy to think that a new role and salary bump is automatically a good thing, and most of the time this is probably true.

However it’s also important to consider other aspects of your job and career when thinking about your next role. Will you have the same opportunities to progress? Will the workplace culture bring out the best in you? Money is important but so are a role you enjoy and a team that suits you. When thinking about the next steps, I would recommend considering all of these things as well as a few others:

The job itself

A new job, pay-check and increased seniority is attractive, but will your new role involve enough of the job that you enjoy the most? A step up often means more responsibility and team management, which may be what you’re after, but it could also mean getting further away from the day-to-day of the job you love to do. Consider the elements you enjoy and those that are less appealing in your current role, and think about which you’ll be doing the most of in your new organisation.

Opportunities to progress

Be sure to consider if the new role is definitely a step up in the long-term. More money and seniority might not mean much if you don’t get the chance to expand your horizons and expertise. For example, a more niche role can be exciting if you’re keen to specialise but it’s also important to consider the opportunities that will be available, or unavailable, to you in the long-term.

Your relationships and the support available

The support of workplace colleagues is often the important thing in many people’s work lives, and it’s easy to forget how instrumental they are to our success and motivation. While new teams will offer new friendships and relationships, we shouldn’t forget the support we’re leaving behind. You can never know who exactly you’ll meet and work with in a new role, and how those dynamics will play out, but you can gauge how supportive your new organisation is likely to be. For example, are there regular team socials? Do they offer a mentoring scheme? Getting a feel for the lay of the land and the team you’ll be working in is hugely important when considering the next step.

Workplace culture

The company culture of your workplace is pretty much the foundation of your entire working life, and it’s hard to thrive in an organisation that doesn’t suit your personality. Even if the new role is exciting and offers more responsibility, you’re unlikely to invest yourself in a company that doesn’t suit your own ethos, or feel very content while you do work there. Do you know much about the direction the organisation is moving in and whether it suits your interests and values? Does the company offer a collaborative culture?

The ‘extras’

Salary and pack-check are all too often seen as a summary of our value in a company, but organisations value their employees in different ways. They may offer a slightly smaller salary because the holiday allowance is higher, and they place a particular importance on their employees enjoying a good work-life balance. Similarly they may offer flexible working opportunities or higher pension contributions – all things which are important either for our general wellbeing or our long-term futures. Don’t get blindsided by the figure on the offer letter and think about what your new role, and the benefits that go along with it, will really mean for both your personal and professional life.

A new role is an exciting opportunity but be sure to consider the whole offer. Really think about what your professional life will look life in one, five and even 10 years time if you stay in your current role, and what it will look like if you make the move.

About the author

Annabel Jones joined ADP UK as HR Director in 2014. She leads the HR function for approximately 800 employees, and is responsible for the development of strategies related to areas such as pay and performance, talent management and corporate social responsibility.

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