How to make a winning bet with your career choices

The Kentucky Derby seems to be the quietest yet grandest sporting event in our country each year.  People who do not follow horse racing at all still tune in once a year to see the pageantry, pomp, and circumstance.  Oh yeah, and the the actual race itself.  My son actually picked the winner this year, and thinking about it afterward gave me some great insight when it comes to a job search or possible career change.

The first thing my son did was a little research.  While I was preparing supper and not paying attention, he was listening to what the commentator had to say about the horses, the trainers, and the general conditions of the track.  I didn't know he had been listening, but he processed an amazing amount of information in about twenty minutes leading up to the race.  You should do the same when considering a new employer.  To make a bet on your future without that seems reckless.

The second thing he did was to weigh the odds.  You may not have the luxury of a scrolling line on the TV or computer ahead of an interview or conversation with a potential new employer, but you should be able to draw some conclusions or comparisons with your current employment.  Which company has better odds of providing room for advancement, work/life balance, attractive overall culture, or even employee benefits/perks?  Although not a pure mathematical science, it does bring a little bit of objectivity to the process when making a final determination.

The third thing he did was to ask some questions.  He asked me why there was only one female rider.  He asked me how the horses' names were chosen.  He asked me about how many people attended the event.  He asked me how bets were made.  None of these answers necessarily framed his final selection, but it showed that he was collecting and disseminating information to know he was on the right track.

The final thing was he simply went with his gut.  I tell candidates all the time that you have to feel comfortable with any decision before making any decision to stay or go.  Sometimes that gut decision pays off and sometimes it doesn't.  But more often than not your intuition will not let you down.  Especially if you have followed these previous steps to provide some objective balance to your search.

The bottom line is that when thinking about career choices you don't want to gamble.  But if you want to take a bet on yourself there are always risks and rewards.  Here's to hoping the risks don't prevent you from going for the reward occasionally.

Have you made a bet on yourself that paid off recently with a job search/change?