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Ah, making a career move – a topic as familiar to us as the sound of a consultant’s self-important sigh.
If you’ve been in the property game long enough, you’ve heard the whispers about “seizing the right opportunities” and “knowing when to move on.” All very well in theory, but in reality, it’s a bit like attempting to change lanes on the M25 at rush hour: the ideal opportunity is always just out of reach, and you’re never quite sure which direction you’re meant to be heading.
Making a career move is terrifying. No, not “being thrown into a pit of hungry lions” terrifying. That’s more the stuff of medieval history and dodgy reality TV shows. We’re talking “standing in front of an automatic door that refuses to open while people judge you” terrifying. A moment when the very air around you seems to freeze, your heart rate spikes, and all you can think is: Did I make the right choice?
The slightly more refined among you (which is, of course, most of you) may remember making that first move from your school days or university days into the professional world. It was all confidence back then—“I’m going to be a property mogul!” (while wondering if the London Underground will ever let you finish your morning crossword).
But this time is different. Now, you’re older, more aware of your own failings, and the decisions matter more than choosing the right wine for the dinner party with your mate from university. This is about actual career progression, status, and, let’s face it, being able to buy something that doesn’t make you feel like you need to ‘splash out’ on the weekend.
You’ll find yourself second-guessing everything. Am I making the right decision? Will I like my new boss? Will the coffee machine be a Nespresso, or am I about to sign up for a future of instant granules and disappointment?
The weight of it all. Is it worth the risk?
And then, of course, there’s the very real beast that lurks in the background of any career change: imposter syndrome. The trepidation walking into the new office on Day One, a hero in your own mind, only to be hit with the crushing thought that you might be discovered. The fear will set in: What if, at this very moment, security is on their way to escort you out, realising you don’t actually know what you’re doing?
But here’s the secret: no one else does either.
That’s right. Your new colleagues, all smug in their smart chino’s and pristine desks, are just like you. They may be able to name-drop some prestigious firm they once worked at or have a LinkedIn profile with “accomplished” in all the right places. But when it comes down to it, they’re probably Googling things in another tab, just like you.
The key to career success? Look confident, nod sagely, and pretend you know exactly what you’re doing. It’s 90% show, 10% panic.
You see, making a career move in the property and surveying world isn’t about having all the answers, because none of us have all the answers. It’s about confidence, strategy, and the occasional well-timed “I’ll have to look into that and get back to you.”
The real skill is in convincing everyone that you’re absolutely sure, even if you’ve only just worked out what the RICS actually stands for.
The Bottom Line
So, as you sit there—perhaps sipping a coffee in the corner of your office, wondering whether now is the right time to make your move—ask yourself: What’s the worst that could happen?
You could end up in a new role that might actually challenge you. You could find yourself in a company that recognises your potential (not just your golfing prowess, Giles). And let’s face it: staying where you are and letting another 12 months drift by, watching Giles get promoted again, is far worse than stepping out into the unknown. Because in the end, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
So go ahead. Make the move. Even if you have to Google a few things along the way. There’s no shame in that. It’s how everyone else does it too.
And if all else fails? At least you’ll know where to find the best coffee machine.
