So, you are considering a career change and you want career
change advice. Good for you. It is important that you gain
satisfaction and fulfillment from your job or career.
However,
some people in your life may not see it that way. You may hear that you
shouldn’t be changing careers “at your age” and that “it’s a job, you
aren’t supposed to like it.” But both of these are very false. It is
important, though, to thoroughly assess your situation and find a career
that is right for you. When you do that, you will have all the
ammunition that you need to combat those nay sayers who want you to stay
where you are.
1. Is your current job satisfying?
This is
the most basic question to ask and one that is often overlooked. Do you
actually like your job? Do you have to drag yourself to the office or
store or whatever each day? Do you dread returning to work after a day
off? Keep a log of how you react to various job issues. Jot down
various thoughts that you have about your job throughout the day – those
that are positive as well as negative. Don’t just focus on the tasks;
also think about the company culture, your co workers and other factors.
For instance, do you work for a corporation but you are more
idealistic in nature?
2. Assess your skills, interests and personal values.
There
are lots of free skills assessments and interest assessments that you
can take on the internet. Think about things you have done in the past
that you enjoyed including volunteer work, activities you did in college
or school and jobs that you really liked. Take a hard look at your
skills and values. Is your current career addressing them? There are
some really good websites out there that can give you some solid career
change advice and point you in the right direction.
3. Know the difference between changing jobs and changing careers.
When
you change jobs you are typically making a lateral move. A career
change is usually not even on the same scale and often requires
different or additional skills. When you are deciding on a move, take a
moment to think about it. Are you making a lateral move? Or are you
making a move into a job that challenges you more and asks more of you
than your current job?
4. Do your homework.
Select several
career choices and read up on them. Read about the requirements as well
as any additional education or skills that are needed. Changing
careers is not something that you want to walk into blindly.
5. Talk to those who are already there.
Talk
to some professionals who are already in the career of your choice.
They can be great sources to give you career change advice. Ask if you
can shadow them for a few hours or a few days so that you can get a feel
for what the career entails. Ask questions and learn about the
education and skills that they needed to get to the place that they are.