You’ve got a promotion, but you want to leave your job. Now what?

Rule no. 1: Be respectful.

Striking the balance between nurturing and building a career at your current company while still being open to new opportunities can be stressful. When we’re invested in our team and work, our judgment can become clouded, and we don’t always know when it’s time to stay or go. Let’s discuss the different contexts and possible courses of action to take when offered a promotion if you’re planning on leaving the organization.

SCENARIO 1: YOU’RE LOOKING TO SWITCH INDUSTRIES OR CAREERS

If you’re looking to switch careers or industries, then seeking a new role outside of your organization might be necessary. You can’t jeopardize your current role by letting your employer know you’re prospecting a job elsewhere, but you also should not be seeking out promotions from within.

Should a promotion come your way: It could look suspicious to turn it down. Of course, there are some instances where saying no to a promotion is reasonable. For example, you might not feel ready for the responsibility, or the promotion might be a job that you don’t see yourself enjoying in the long term. If you’re able to articulate your reasons for declining in terms that make sense, then great, you’re in the clear! However, if declining this promotion could raise suspicion, your best option might be to accept, and give your current employer your best effort while you continue to look for something else.

If you’re one foot out the door: Don’t go out of your way to seek out a salary increase or promotion just to satisfy your ego. However, should a promotion land on your doorstep, you’re entitled to reap the benefits of your work.

You don’t actually know how long an interview process might take with another organization. If you’re still learning, then accepting the promotion and continuing to give it your all while searching on the side could be a great personal move. It might take you weeks, months, or close to a year to find the perfect opportunity worth leaving for. Until you have ink to paper, you should still be giving your employer your undivided attention and best effort, says Alan Zel, Founder of Zel Human Capital.

SCENARIO 2: YOU’VE BEEN DOING THE JOB FOR MONTHS, OR MAYBE YEARS, AND YOU’RE FINALLY GETTING THE RECOGNITION AND TITLE CHANGE
Given the fast-paced nature of the corporate world, we often find ourselves picking up the tasks of the people below or above us, and managing responsibilities well beyond our job description. This can be a positive, as it allows you to stretch beyond your current position and develop new skills and qualifications. However, doing the work of multiple people without the proper recognition for an extended period of time can be discouraging and make you feel like you’re being taken advantage of. Here, you should definitely push for a promotion and demand the appropriate compensation.

Oftentimes, organizations will prolong the process of giving you that title and recognition. If, after months of underpaid work, you finally get the promotion, but have begun to explore new opportunities outside of your company, go ahead and take it. You’ve been doing the job already, and deserve to be properly compensated for your exceptional work.

THE COUNTEROFFER

If you’re a top performer on your team, there’s a good chance your employer will come back with a counteroffer. It’s important to consider what initially drove you to apply for a new job before accepting more money from your current company. If it was simply a matter of money, and this counteroffer solves for that, staying with your organization could be a solid option. Perhaps the counteroffer will come with a promotion, a significant step up, and a brand-new career worth exploring. Here, accepting a counteroffer might be of value as well, says Zel. However, if you’re unhappy as a result of an organization’s culture, leadership team, industry, or any other factor that won’t change with a higher salary, you likely won’t last more than six months before deciding to relaunch your search, says Marina Byezhanova, cofounder of Pronexia Inc. Before making a decision either way, be honest with yourself about why you’re feeling unfulfilled in your current job.

While it might be uncomfortable to resign after accepting a promotion or raise, as long as you hand in the required notice and provide solid work until the end, there is no need to feel guilty. What’s best for your leader’s business might not always align with what’s best for your future, and any reasonable boss will come to understand your decision to leave for a new opportunity. Remember to be respectful and avoid burning any bridges, as you never know whose door you might be knocking on in the future.

BY STACY POLLACK—GLASSDOOR

When it comes to job searching, we often hear how difficult it can be for recent graduates, who are somehow expected to have years of experience straight out of school, to even be considered for an entry-level position. What happens when the situation is reversed, and your years of experience begin to work against you? How can job seekers set themselves up for success when recruiters keep telling them they are overqualified for positions they’re interested in?

Hiring managers might challenge you by saying you’ll be bored and leave for a better-suited position, or your compensation expectations won’t be met.

In these situations, your context will influence your course of action. Let’s examine what you can do when you’re considered to be overqualified.

SITUATION NO. 1: YOU’VE RELOCATED OR HAVE BEEN LAID OFF
How to respond: Highlight the win-win situation

Here, you must explain your motivation for applying to a position that you might seem “overqualified” for on paper. Highlight “how the organization can benefit from your experience, and how taking this position can advance your own skill set,” says Alan Zelnicker, executive recruiter. If the job scope is more narrow and the compensation is less than your old position, you must emphasize what you can contribute in terms of added value and what you can get from the role.

How to respond: Make an important mind shift

Going into any interview, you should always project confidence and take on the mind-set that recruiters are getting a great deal from you, rather than going in feeling like you’re overqualified for the job. You have to drive the power seat and never feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick. Instead, adopt the mind-set that any company would be lucky to have you! Without seeming arrogant, remind recruiters that the learning curve involved with your onboarding will be cut in half, leaving you more time to learn the organization, and giving you a competitive edge.

How to respond: Re-evaluate compensation

Managing expectations around compensation is a separate conversation. You need to be realistic and accept that sometimes you’ll need to take a step back. Whenever possible, make a direct touch point with the hiring manager over the phone to talk about compensation. This way, you can form a personal connection, and you can articulate all that you have to offer. As mentioned before, what is the win-win negotiation for you that makes taking a pay cut worthwhile?

SITUATION NO. 2: YOU’RE SWITCHING CAREERS/INDUSTRIES
How to respond: Highlight your new career path

It is not uncommon for people to switch industries or careers. In fact, millennials report switching jobs four times in their first 10 years out of school. When working with recruiters, highlight any new credentials you’ve earned to demonstrate your commitment toward this new path you’re taking. Emphasize your desire to learn and retrain to create a new path forward for yourself.

How to respond: emphasize the rudimentary

Though you may have 20 years of experience in one field, you must demonstrate to recruiters that you’re ready to check your ego at the door and learn about a whole new world. That being said, relevant and rudimentary skills can always be transferable and should be considered as your added value.

How to respond: know your worth

When discussing salary, make sure to mention that you’ve done your research, you’re aware of the industry standards, and are comfortable with what these types of roles typically offer.

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”–Japanese proverb

What not to do: The worst thing you could do is tell a recruiter you’ll take anything just to get a job. Though this often may be the truth, people want to see that you possess the right enthusiasm and fit for the role. You must always sell your skills and highlight how you are the perfect candidate for the job.

Your resume: If you’re having trouble getting through the door and you think your resume might be the culprit, there are some workarounds to try:

• If your resume demonstrates work dating back more than 10 years, consider consolidating your experience and only keeping what is still relevant today
• If you have multiple designations and education, consider only keeping what is relevant to the job you’re applying for and removing anything that is redundant
• Consider reformatting your resume in a way that tells a new story

If you can demonstrate how a role will help you develop, and show how you can be an asset, then don’t let a recruiter persuade you that you’re overqualified! Remember, you need to maintain your confidence throughout the process and let your resiliency guide you as you continue your search.

BY STACY POLLACK—GLASSDOOR