When it comes to finding balance, health and happiness in life, your job is going to be one of the fundamental factors in that. Careers have the potential to either fill your life with negativity and stress or awaken your wellbeing and passion. That is why it is so important to find a career which provides everything you need, and which doesn’t negatively impact your health. If you’ve decided that you need a career change, then that is the first positive step towards a better life.
Signs You Need a Career Change
Maybe a job change has been something in the back of your mind which you haven’t fully acknowledged yet. Or maybe you’ve simply been ignoring signs of stress or dissatisfaction and haven’t allowed yourself to fully embrace the idea of a change just yet.
Here are 10 crucial signs that it’s time for a career switch.
- You dread going into work. You may feel anxious the night before, or every morning.
- You gain no satisfaction from your job.
- You have no passion for what you do.
- Your job is negatively impacting your health, whether physical, mental or both.
- You want to relocate, but you’re worried about switching jobs.
- You’ve gained everything you can from your current job.
- Your job doesn’t align with your interests.
- You’re looking for higher pay or a higher-level job with more responsibility.
- You want a different working routine, such as various hours, working from home opportunities or escaping the office.
- You actually think about a career change all the time.
If you relate to any of the above points, here’s what you can do for a successful career switch.
Be Honest with Yourself About Your Reasons
To be successful in your career pursuits, you need to understand why you’re looking to make the change. This will enable you to better understand yourself and what you need from a job, for your own growth and wellbeing.
There’s no shame in wanting another career simply because you want more money. If that is your career goal, then you will need to be honest about it to gain a higher position. If you want a job which allows you to work less, there is no shame in that either. Maybe demanding hours have taken a toll on your personal life, or maybe you have new responsibilities such as a family.
Your reasons are your own, and you shouldn’t compare your own career goals with anyone else’s, so think about your reasons before you begin your new search.
Explore Career Options Based on Qualifications
If you already have a specific qualification or degree, it may be an excellent place to start by exploring alternative careers you can achieve with the skills you already have.
Alternatively, if there is a qualification you have in mind which you have always wanted to pursue, you should do your research into the different career options this will open up for you to pursue the right one.
If you’re considering healthcare, you can explore what can you do with a doctorate in nursing or look into the various sectors you can get involved with.
If you’re looking to pursue a business qualification, you could research the various openings for that sort of qualifications and the doorways it can open for you.
Alternatively, if you have a specific career goal in mind, you can work backwards and research all the relevant experience and qualification steps needed to succeed in that particular role.
Sometimes, you may not even be aware of specific career paths which are actually available to you, so research is always helpful in finding guidance and inspiration.
Plan Out Your Finances
Significant career changes can have a big impact on your finances. You need to ensure that you can still pay your bills and have enough money during this important process. You should consider the following:
Does your career change mean that you need to return to education? If so, will this mean that you’re working less? How will this impact being able to pay for your outgoings?
Will your career change see you taking a drop in pay for a job you enjoy more? If so, will you still be able to pay your current bills?
Are there any outgoings you can easily drop to save money if your income is affected?
Will your career change see any new expenses, such as more money spent on commuting, or perhaps a complete relocation? How will you pay for that?
Do you have an emergency fund prepared during this process to fall back on? If not, can you begin to save in preparation?
Knowing that your finances are taken care of will make the process of career switching a lot easier and a lot less stressful. You do not want to have to worry about money when you’re trying to make a better decision for your job and for yourself.
Tailor Your Resume to Each Job
If you have an extensive resume and already have the necessary experience for a job you want to pursue, it’s still a good idea to tidy up your resume for each specific application you make. Be sure to update your covering letter every time for each specific role and highlight the most critical points on your resume which connect with the job in question.
Eliminate anything on your resume, which doesn’t apply to the job or which could distract from your more critical experience and skills.
Try Voluntary Work or Work Experience
The best way to understand whether you’re a good fit for a job you have in mind is to try it out. Voluntary work may be unpaid, but it’s a good experience when making this all-important decision.
Work experience and voluntary work can also be tailored around your current job, such as doing volunteer work on days off and weekends, so that you can still feel secure that you haven’t handed in your notice just yet before you know whether your chosen route is the right one for you.
