An Executive Search Consultant Calls You - Are You Ready to Make a Move?

tcinello
Sep 8
2 min read

That’s a great—and very common—question when a search consultant reaches out. It can feel flattering, but it also forces you to pause and reflect on whether you’re truly ready to make a move. Deciding if it’s time to leave depends less on the recruiter’s timing and more on your own circumstances and goals. Here are some key factors to weigh:

1. Career Progression and Growth

Are you still learning? If your role no longer stretches your skills, or your career path has plateaued, it may be a sign.
Is there room to advance? If promotions or new challenges seem blocked or years away, you may need to look externally.

2. Engagement and Fulfillment

Are you motivated? Loss of energy, excitement, or pride in your work can indicate misalignment.
Do your values align? If your organization’s culture, leadership, or ethics diverge from your own, it often becomes harder to stay long term.

3. Compensation and Recognition

Are you fairly rewarded? If your pay, equity, or recognition significantly lags behind the market, you may be undervalued.
Have you recently benchmarked? Recruiters often have insight into current market trends—you can use their outreach as a signal to compare.

4. Work-Life Balance

Is the role sustainable? If your job leaves little room for family, health, or personal goals, it could be time to rethink.
Are stress levels manageable? Constant burnout can be a strong signal that change is necessary.

5. External Signals

Is your industry shifting? Mergers, restructurings, or a declining business model may impact your security and long-term opportunity.
Do you feel valued by leadership? If your contributions aren’t recognized or leadership isn’t investing in you, the market might.

6. Gut Check

Would you accept your current role again today? If the answer is no, that’s telling.
Are you more excited by the call than your current job? Sometimes the reaction itself is your answer.

A Practical Next Step: You don’t have to decide immediately. Take the call. Ask thoughtful questions about the opportunity, and use it as a way to clarify your own priorities. Even if you don’t move now, it builds a relationship that may matter later.