HOW DO I MAKE A CAREER CHANGE?
I know several people who have undergone career change, often mid life, with varying degrees of satisfaction. This, combined with my own experience, prompted me to reflect on the importance of confronting the YOU in the process before going further.
Career change starts with you
The reasons people change careers are so varied, pages could be and have been written on the topic. It might be due to unhappiness or boredom at work, a desire for career progression or for a less demanding career, or perhaps a genuine “light bulb” moment of clarity. Aside from job loss or redundancy – both of which can have a huge impact on individuals – changes in financial, health or personal circumstances are also prime motivators for changing careers. Some people have a clear idea of what they would like to do next while others might be looking for a career aligned with what they have previously done.
What career change is right for me?
And saying you want to make a career change is easier than doing it, especially if you have been working in the same field for a number of years. Sometimes self-doubt and inaction are our biggest obstacles. Making a career change change can be difficult and it takes courage, effort, and a good dose of self-analysis, but the results can be life-changing.
In my experience, being informed, prepared and realistic around expectations will help you to be confident and develop a plan of action to help you realize your change-of-career aspirations.
Health and well-being matters
I have experienced career change several times in my career, requiring me to “dig deep” and hold up the mirror so to speak. It would be fair to say, many people undergoing career change for whatever reason can experience a roller-coaster of emotions. Above all, your health and well-being is paramount, especially if you have recently encountered changes in your work or personal circumstances. A visit to your GP, counsellor or other allied professional may assist. Seek help if you need it and surround yourself with supportive people where possible.
Time for some thorough self-analysis
Preparing to change careers is a very individual experience and usually requires several steps, though the first and perhaps the most important involves getting to know yourself better. But what does this really mean in the context of career change? Here are just a few key pointers to help you begin the career change self – analysis process, based on the assumption you have a few thoughts around what you would like to do;
This is the tough part. Ask yourself (and make sure you answer honestly):
- Why do I want to make a change? Is it my career I want to move from or my job (two very different things and each requiring a different approach)? Is there anything else going on in my life which might be colouring my views about my current job that I can deal with so that I can continue in my current position (if I am otherwise happy in it)?
- How motivated am I to make a change and how substantial do I want that change to be? What research have I undertaken? People I have spoken to?
- What will I miss about my current career?
- What have I enjoyed/not enjoyed about my previous positions?
- How important is salary to me? Can I afford to take a reduced salary for a period if need be?
- Do I have the requisite skills and personal qualities required of the industry(ies) I am interested in?
- Will I require additional training/education to launch my new career and how am I placed to pursue this? Cost?
- What style of work do I prefer and hours/location of work?
- How do I picture my new career? (Part-time, full-time, combined with voluntary work or a portfolio approach?) How flexible do I need my new work to be especially if I have family responsibilities?
- What are my strengths and limitations and how are they relevant to my proposed career?
- To what extent do I have the support of my family and other networks? (Make sure you don’t gloss over this one; it may not seem like it when there’s everything else to consider, but it’s pretty important).
This blog was published by Mums and Co in an adapted form aimed at the website’s audience, entrepreneurial mothers.
Helen Green, Director, Career Confident
Helen is a qualified careers consultant and professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia. She has over two decades’ experience working in senior positions within a variety of sectors including tertiary education, law and government. She now runs her own careers consulting practice in McKinnon, Melbourne.
