The last thing you want to do when changing practices is to leave one for another and regret it. With this in mind, how do you ensure that your next move is the right one?

It can be helpful to take a step back and consider why you have decided to explore your career options. There are usually two main reasons:

It is here that we would encourage you to work out the 'Top 5' attributes that you are seeking from your next organisation, and then use this list to assess opportunities as they arise.

Here is an example 'Top 5' and how you can use them to qualify an opportunity:

This should be an easy one to assess by confirming the location of the practice and whether you can get there within 30 minutes by walking, public transport or by driving.

Firstly work out what flexibility means to you. Is it the ability to work your own hours e.g. early start/early finish? Is it being able to work from home where business needs allow for it? Once you know the answer, you can ask the employer whether they can offer you the flexibility you are seeking.

This can take many forms such as formal education/qualifications, on the job training, a mentor, or job shadowing. Work out what gaps you have or skills you want to acquire, and find out if your potential employer is able to support and facilitate that.

Knowing that you’re working towards your next step/promotion can be really motivating so ensure that an organisation can provide this for you. Find out about their current team(s), who has progressed their career, what steps were involved and what timeframes applied. Ask if they have a formal succession plan in place for their senior roles.

This can be a tricky one as culture means different things to different people. You can ask your interviewers about how they define and measure the culture of their business which should provide a good insight into their cultural objectives and how closely aligned they are to yours. Make sure to ask about the average tenure of staff as this is a good indicator of how employees feel about working there.

A good recruitment consultant will be able to give you a detailed overview of a practice and answer any questions you may have, which can of course expedite the qualification process. The recruiter can also provide you with a list of practices known to them that tick your 'Top 5' boxes, and could develop a reverse marketing strategy or make a strategic introduction to them on your behalf.

Please reach out if you’d like help in ascertaining your 'Top 5' or putting together a list of prospective employers to approach. Contact us on 03 9946 7333 or info@practicemanagersaustralia.com.au and follow our LinkedIn and Facebook pages for more information.