Should I stay or should I go?

Everyone in work asks themselves this question from time to time.  Here at Seltek, our consultants spend most of their time talking to people who are at a crossroad in their lives, helping them to decide whether to ‘jump ship’ or not.

There are two sorts of people in work:
People who are very happy doing the job they are doing, and have no wish to change.  There is nothing wrong with this.  The Peter Principle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle) famously suggested that within an organisation, people tend to be promoted to their level of incompetence.  Arguably, those that prefer to avoid that pitfall might be regarded as more sensible!

The second sort of people are keen to develop their career, and continue to rise to the highest level they are capable of (without succumbing to the Peter Principle!) and reap the commensurate rewards.

The main danger that confronts the first sort is a reduction of job security. 
The main danger for the second sort, is stagnation.

If these two dangers are absent from your work situation, then there is no reason to change jobs.  However, another factor comes into play, which can affect your decision as to whether to stay or go: happiness!  Given that you spend most of your waking adult life at work, it is important that you as happy as possible at work.

What then, are the factors at work which affect your happiness?  There are many, and include:
Benefits package
Salary, car/car allowance, travel costs, bonus/commission, pension, healthcare, expenses, parking, gym membership, cheap canteen/luncheon vouchers, sick pay, holidays
The Work
Work content/detail, responsibility, interest, training, chance to learn, travel
The Human Element
Your boss, colleagues, customers – you like them and enjoy working with them
Other
Travel to work, office environment 

Most people fixate on salary as the most important reward for working, yet curiously it is the only thing which you can – to a certain extent – balance yourself.  You can ‘cut your coat according to your cloth’ if you wish.  In other words, you can spend a little less if you happen to be earning a little less.  But it is hard to balance matters if you are unhappy with the people you work with, or with the work you are doing, for example.

If you are happy in your work and are not threatened either by a reduction in job security or by a lack of promotion prospects, then you should stay in your job.  To change would be to place yourself in jeopardy, unnecessarily.

If however you are either threatened, or unhappy, or worse still both, then you should change.  Life is too short to be miserable at work!

Finally, remember that change is good for the soul!  Only through change can we expand our horizons, improve our skills, make friends and influence people (acknowledging Dale Carnegie).

If everything is hunky-dory, stay put!  If not, call Guy Buncombe at Seltek Consultants Ltd on 01279 657716 or email guy@seltekconsultants.co.uk to find out what other options you have.

We have never known anyone to regret making a change.  But we have known thousands who regretted not making a change!

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How to Make a Decision

For most of the thousands of our regular readers, the important decision they have to make is: shall I take this new job, or shall I stay put at my current company? Readers who are recruiting staff face a different question: shall I take on Joe, or shall I take on Cindy?

Making important decisions is very worrying. No one wants to make a mistake!

Here is a helpful method to help you through this trying time:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Decision-Using-a-Quantitative-Scoring-System

In a nutshell, the idea is to:
List all the factors which are important to you, on a piece of paper. Rank each factor by giving it a mark out of ten, where ten is utterly crucial and one is not particularly important.
Next, give each of your options a mark out of ten against each factor, comparing one option with the other.
Then multiply the two numbers against each factor, add the columns up, and hey presto! there's your decision.

Another way I was once taught might be simpler: toss a coin - heads it's Joe, tails it's Cindy. As the coin lands, gauge the feeling in your heart. If it's joy, accept the decision, if the heart sinks, go the other way. This is what I call the Blink approach.

You haven't heard of Blink? Then read Blink- The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell - an outstanding book for all students of The Human Condition.

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Seltek Launches New Forum (The Boardroom)

We're excited to announce the launch of our new forum (The Boardroom). Initially we will be restricting the launch to our Hotsheet subscribers only. This will enable you to be amongst the first to access the forum and since we're still in development mode - influence its future content and structure. I welcome any suggestions or advice you'd like to make, either by email or posts on the forum itself.

My hope (and aim) is that this will eventually become the "virtual community" described by Wikipedia above, where people can request advice, discuss concerns or just chat generally about anything to do with science, your career or recruitment.

Initially I and my colleagues will be fielding many of the questions or requests for advice but as the board membership grows I'm hoping for an increasing number of contributions from the knowledgeable people that make up our client and candidate database.

Initially the forum may feel like a quiet room where everybody is afraid to be the first to speak. But you are one of over 6,000 people receiving this Hotsheet and when I do publish its location on the website, with over 30,000 unique visitors per month there is every reason to expect this to become a buzzing virtual community. You will be able to discuss many subjects with like minded individuals who are perhaps in a similar position to yourself, whether you are a candidate at a crossroads in your career, or a manager looking for your next recruit.

Join us in The Boardroom!

Questions & suggestions to Steve (steve@seltekconsultants.co.uk) - better still, post them on the forum!

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Hot Jobs

Europe

Belfast

Clinical Jobs

€45,000

£40,000

Hot Candidates

Scientific Sales & Marketing Division

Sales Manager
A BSc and PhD qualified Biochemist who has considerable UK and European life science sales and sales management experience is interested in a new challenge.  This top performer has managed a sales revenue of over €10M and a team of seven account managers. He has recruited, trained and mentored a highly successful team and developed the sales strategy which has consistently delivered over 10% sales growth every year for the last five years.  Market experience covers the immunology, flow cytometry and immunoassay market across the UK and Europe.  Here we have a highly motivated sales manager who could generate sales growth across Europe for you. A rare opportunity to hire a proven leader!
Reference 92150PSP
£50,000
South East

Business Development Manager
A highly experienced PhD Molecular Biologist who boasts one of the most outstanding sales records within the diagnostics market! An excellent track record in taking new products to a highly competitive market makes this character a rare find. Known as an inspirational leader this individual will ensure that your sales people make the most of that uncapped commission scheme! Don’t miss out on this superstar and call us today!
Reference 81234SD
£48,000
Kent

Clinical Engineer
A qualified electrical engineer, this man has been trained by virtually every major manufacturer of clinical equipment under the sun! Currently working at one of the most prestigious hospitals he is responsible for the upkeep of cardiology and respiratory equipment, both in-workshop and on-site. Previously he has set up biomedical engineering units, trained medical staff on equipment, and helped develop junior technical staff. Frankly, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it is broke, get this wunderkind to fix it!
Reference 92481CRD
£32,000
Anywhere!

Territory Manager
This candidate will certainly go far! After completion of her degree in Biochemistry with Neurobiology, she moved into her first field sales role within the highly competitive molecular biology reagent market. She has been tremendously successful in this role, increasing sales of one particular product line by 500% in just two years and has continually grown business within her London territory. She is now looking for a new challenge within a large and well known company where she can use her excellent people skills and molecular biology knowledge to dramatically increase sales within her territory. Don’t delay, interview this candidate TODAY, she certainly won’t be on the market for long!
Reference 92531JRP
£28,000
London

Clinical Research Division

Clinical Research Manager
A knowledgeable, thorough and proactive clinical research professional, a BSc in Sports Science and an M.Phil. in Physiology. This outstanding candidate has considerable successful experience embracing international project management responsibility for leading organisations in the industry. Key achievements include international project management of Phase I, II and III clinical trials, UK local project co-ordination of several pan-European clinical trials and UK site monitor for Phase II and III trials in several therapeutic areas including osteoporosis. This is once in a lifetime opportunity to snap up someone of this calibre!
Reference 65098DE
£60,000
London

CRA II
Medically qualified, this outstanding young man is currently supervising five CRAs across Europe in an ongoing asthma study, whilst previously he was responsible for supervising the phase III clinical trials carried out in the area of cardiology, vascular diseases, diabetology and gastroenterology, including trials conducted under FDA regulations.
Reference 92237RK
£30,000
Anywhere!

Star Quality CRA !!!
This candidate is an absolute god-send!!!!! She is currently a CTA working as an acting CRA (due to staff shortage) and handling everything from budget tracking, critical documentation and protocols to SAE's and pharmacovigilence. And she's even been involved in unsupervised (!) site visits. She has got a phenomenal amount of experience compared to any old CTA so she can ensure trials are brought in on time with no major or critical findings! And a word of warning to the idle: she will get snatched up quickly!!
Reference: 92342PK
£23,000
Scotland or nearer to London