Are You Ready for a Career Change?
Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash
Do you think you’re at a point in your life where you’re ready to make a career change? Maybe you’re already established in your chosen field, yet you have a nagging feeling that you’re not where you want to be. Maybe you have reached the goals you set for yourself and you’re ready for a new challenge, or you discovered (or rediscovered) a passion that you now want to pursue full time. Or perhaps the role you currently have is no longer meaningful or fulfilling to you.
Different people have different reasons for wanting a career change. The thought of embarking on a brand new professional journey can both be exhilarating and scary at the same time. We get excited when we envision ourselves in the new career that we dream of, yet we get anxious by the thought of throwing away all the work, time, and money we invested in the career we are currently in.
The following statements are designed to help you reflect and assess your current situation as to whether or not you are ready to embark on a new career path and commit to making the switch.
1. Make sure you’re not just experiencing burnout.
There is not one single job that is all sunshine and rainbows 24/7, or in this case, from 9 to 5. Maybe if you work in Disneyland, then you’ll literally work with sunshine and rainbows. The point is, even if you are working at a field that you are passionate about, there will still be times when the day-to-day operations will overwhelm, frustrate, and stress you out. Don’t depend your career trajectory on what you’re feeling on a late Friday evening at your workplace. Sometimes what we need is just to take the time to recharge our mind, body, and soul. Take a deep breath and a hard look at your situation to evaluate whether what you really need is a two-week vacation approval and not a letter of resignation. You will save yourself from a lot of regrets and rocking back and forth at night screaming “What have I done?!”
2. Make sure you’re not just feeling bored.
We are a generation that thrives on challenges and solving problems. As we gain experiences and develop skills, it also becomes less challenging. Over time, we find our enthusiasm and spirit gradually diminishing. A job that was once fulfilling slowly becomes less meaningful and less enjoyable. When excitement fades, we tend to question our passion and the meaning of what we do. Before you declare that you’re done with your job or industry, try to seek out new opportunities in your current situation first. If more responsibility or an exciting new project will give you a renewed sense of purpose, then maybe it’s not the time yet for you to start a new journey.
3. Determine if it’s really the work or just the work environment.
When thinking about whether or not to make a major career shift, there are internal as well as external considerations. Our work environment plays a huge role in our job satisfaction. When you’re around toxic people in a toxic work culture that doesn’t promote rest or work-life balance, it’s easy to feel like you’d rather spin signs on the sidewalk or do “anything but this”. It’s easy to feel “stuck”. We also become prone to thinking that we are not where we are meant to be. But don’t confuse being in the wrong industry with being in the wrong company. Make sure you’re making the shift because you’re running towards something more meaningful to you, not running away from your current situation.
4. Assess whether you are in a situation where you can afford to take a risk.
Any kind of change, especially one that’s related to identity is scary. While each situation is unique, one thing is certain - embarking on the journey of a career change involves risks. You can’t just simply drop everything and fulfill your dream of being a professional scuba diver. The thought of leaving our current profession for something uncertain is terrifying and paralyzing, especially if we spent years trying to get where we are now. This is why most people dream but fail to act. It helps to assess how comfortable you are with taking risks. We all handle risks and change differently. If you’re cautious about change, it’s good to have backup plans that will serve as your safety nets during your career transition. Assess whether you are in the financial situation where you can afford to go back to square one with a new career. Make a self-inventory and identify what skills you have that are transferrable to your new desired job. A career change also goes beyond just yourself, especially if you have a family to support. Have the necessary conversations with them and discuss what lifestyle changes you must do before you’re ready to take the leap. You are likely to have to make short-term sacrifices for long-term goals. Taking risks in changing careers is tough, but if you become paralyzed by fear, you’ll spend a long time asking “What if?”. Remember, not taking risks is the riskiest career move you can make.
5. Have a well-thought out strategy in place.
Before you announce your version of Brexit, make sure that you have a plan to commit. Don’t be that co-worker who grumbles everyday about how much he hates his job, and plans to make career changes, yet doesn’t make any action towards making it happen. Carefully consider what moves you might make to figure out how to ease into the career transition you’ve been dreaming of. First, try to find out with as much clarity and certainty what it is you want to do next. Second, make an inventory of the existing skills and experiences you have that you can use for the transition. Also seek advice from professionals and those who know you best. Try doing some freelance work and build connections. Craft a detailed transition plan, set milestones, and start ticking through items.