When to Take a Lower Position

Downshifting. Does it ever make sense to take a step down the career ladder? If you can get past that nagging, inborn sense that “going lower” can only be a sign of downward career mobility, the answer is yes. Taking a lesser position can help move your career forward if the job fits into a larger long-term plan. Read on to find out when a lower position might make sense, and how you can make such a transition successfully. When to take a lower position.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS | Downshifting can help move your career forward if the job fits into a larger long-term plan or re-orients your work-life balance. Be prepared to shift how you sell yourself for a lower-level role.

Does it ever make sense to take a step down the career ladder? If you can get past that nagging, inborn sense that "going lower" can only be a sign of downward career mobility, the answer is yes.

Taking a lesser position—downshifting, as it's sometimes known—can help move your career forward if the job fits into a larger long-term plan or re-orient your work-life balance. Find out when a lower position might make sense and how you can make such a transition successfully.

Downshifting - Know Why

What could drive you to consider a lower position? Here are some common circumstances:

Necessity: Economic conditions, your financial situation, and lack of other alternatives may necessitate taking the best available option — even if it's a step-down. There's no shame in this, but be honest about how you got into this situation in the first place.

• Some people make this career decision out of avoidable necessity — they are forced to take a lower-level job because they didn't take charge of their careers. Do what you have to do, but learn from it.

• In other cases, your local job market doesn’t contain comparable roles, and to avoid relocating, downshifting is necessary.

To change careers: This is a completely valid reason to take a lower position, but remember: Changing professions doesn't automatically mean you start at the bottom. Look for transferable skills or specialized knowledge that could allow you to slide into something above an entry-level role. Also, changing industries is not the same as changing professions. When you change industries but not functions target a lateral position, not a lower one. For example, a finance director in a software company can occupy the same role in a biotech company.

To broaden your horizons: A lower position in a different department can provide new experiences and enrich your career. But as with any career decision, think about the fit, your ability to be successful and how such a move figures into your larger career plan.

To find another way to advance: Imagine climbing a mountain and reaching a point where the route is blocked or requires climbing skill beyond your ability to pass it. You can give up or make a tactical decision to go back down a bit to look for another route up. Taking the right lower position can be a smart tactical move if you believe you can be successful in the lower role and know there's a defined path on which you can continue your ascent.

Opting to gear down: During the reunion, one friend told me he had chosen to step down a level to get out of the demands of VP-life in an international company. The result? “I feel no stress from work.” For others, it was a general sense of not needing to build their resume and compete in the race. What are the signals that it might be time to shift down?

• Financial - When you’ve saved and planned and feel secure in your future.

• Physical Health - When health issues have arisen, or you want to prevent the damaging effects of stress and overwork.

• Mental Health - When you realize that a) you don’t need the psychological payoffs of career advancement anymore and/or b) your current level is costing you more than it is beneficial.

• Time & Lifestyle - When the benefit of more non-work time and margin outweighs continuing to work longer hours.

• Fun - When you realize you’re not having as much fun at work or are drawn to other endeavours.

Sell yourself

Once you've determined why taking a step down makes sense, prepare to sell yourself differently and potentially hard. Your approach to marketing yourself for higher-level roles will need to shift. You may be up against more junior candidates, so you'll need to overcome the hiring manager's perceptions that you are overqualified and will get bored and leave.

To convince them otherwise, express positive, compelling reasons you want the job. Convey why you want this new role, not why you’re moving away from the previous level/role.

Avoid sending negative messages. In all of your communications, demonstrate you:

• Possess the energy and enthusiasm to do the job and the flexibility, ability and willingness to learn quickly.

• Will bring more value to the role based on your work experience than an untested junior candidate.

• Will be content to do the job you are hired for and won't be making waves three months after you start about moving up.

In situations like this, it's human nature to feel superior to your junior coworkers. But acting superior will only torpedo your plans. Be mindful of your development in the role, and manage your performance. If you remember that the lower position is just one step in a long-term career strategy, you will perform well and with purpose.

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You can also find my downshifting article on Monster.com - When to Target a Lower Position.