Evaluating your current employment position and making the determination as to whether it is time for a job change can be a difficult situation. After all, you are familiar with your current situation (whether good or bad), while a new position is oftentimes a big “unknown.” In order to help you organize your reasons behind a possible change, there is a tool called “CLAMS.” The basic premise of this tool is that people will move for a combination of five major reasons:
Challenge of the new position
Location of the position
Advancement potential
Money
Stability of the company
In order to put “CLAMS” in effect, it is best to prioritize the above reasons in order of importance. When evaluating the reasons, consider where you are now and anything that may have an impact on future decisions you may be making. Next, write a clear description of what each item means to you. This will help you determine why certain reasons may have more importance to you. Alternatively, it may cause you to reprioritize your ranking! By the time you have completed this, you will have a clearer picture of where you are and where you want to be.
There is a common misperception that money is the number one reason people contemplate a new job opportunity. It has come to our attention time and again that this is not the case. When examining all motivations, a majority of people do not rank money as their top reason. “CLAMS” can be a valuable tool in helping you determine what is important to you – either in your current position or in the future.
