Unhappy At Work Consider A Lateral Move

Unhappy At Work Consider A Lateral Move If your job isnt making you happy, you might be thinking about making a change this year. But before you jump the gun and say goodbye to your office forever, consider making a lateral move within your company. If you generally like your workplace and colleagues, finding a new job at your company has several advantages. Youll feel less overwhelmed by the transition if youre bedrngnis in an entirely new position and an entirely new place, and youll be taking less of a risk if youre already comfortable with the companys culture. Lateral moves are also a great way to round out your skill sets and have been shown to be an accelerant to getting top corporate jobs.Here are some tips on how to find and secure the right lateral position for you1.Do some investigating. Since youre already an insider, youre in a good position to find out all you can about a prospective new role. Before you apply to a new position, chat with a colleague who works in the de partment(s) youre interested in to get the scoop. Try to figure out if that departments dynamics appeal to you and whether youd be a good fit.2. Think about whats motivating you. Whether you want mora money or youre not feeling challenged in your current position, figure out why you want a change and what you want to get out of your next job. Ultimately, you want to understand where others are happiest working. The women of Fairygodboss rank Talent Acquisition, Consulting, Business, Education and Editorial departments among some of the best departments for female job satisfaction, for example.3. Be discreet. Theres no need to broadcast the fact that youre looking around, just as you wouldnt do if you were seeking a new job at a new company. As a former head and hiring manager for a large product gruppe, I was occasionally approached by employees in other departments interested in open positions within my own organization. They would tell me confidentially that they were interested i n exploring positions in my department, and sometimes they would make it clear they had not yet told their own manager they were looking. I never betrayed anyones trust, and I suspect that fruchtwein other hiring managers would do the same.4. Look for informal opportunities to work with new colleagues. If youve found a department or specific position that interests you but youre not sure whether youre qualified, you may need to figure out how to get a foot in the door. The good news is that as an internal employee, you might have opportunities to work with your future team and prove your interest and abilities to them before you formally make overtures for the job. Volunteer for a project that intersects or interacts with the department or manager youre trying to work for. Not only will you get experience that helps you confirm youre really interested in the position, but youll also get a chance to make a good impression that helps you land the new job.5. Be considerate of your curr ent team and boss. If youre hired into another group, you will almost certainly maintain some kind of ongoing relationship with your former colleagues. Therefore, take care to be honest and considerate of transition timelines and communicate clearly so that nobody feels like you left them in the lurch.A lateral move can be the right step if youre generally happy at your company but youre ready to move on from your specific job. Your best professional option may be literally around the corner, in the next department--A version of this article was previously published on Forbes.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer