If you’ve found yourself dreading the thought of going into work the next day or you’re feeling stuck in a job rut, perhaps it’s time to make a career change. Whether you’ve been in the same job for years or started out on a new path, often, there are times when niggling doubts creep in about the choices you’ve made.
Is your job right for you? Have you made the right decision about your career? Are you supposed to be doing something more meaningful/artistic/exciting/less stressful with your life? It happens to us all at some point or another. But how are you supposed to know whether the grass is greener? Or if you have a case of the Monday blues?
Work Out What Bugs You
Before jumping ship, it’s a good idea to think about what it is that makes you want to leave. Make a list of all the things that cause you the most grief — it might be a colleague, the environment, the workload, the paperwork, the hours, your boss or all the above.
If you have more than one thing on your list, prioritise them so that the worst offender is at the top. That will give you a clearer picture of what it is that you don’t want when you make your next move.
To Be Employed or Not to be Employed
If you’ve thought about going it alone for a while, perhaps now is the time to give it a try. Whether you’re done with office politics or want to be your own boss, self-employment has plenty of perks. And though there are obvious pros and cons to working for yourself, as there are if you stay in employment, don’t let that hold you back if you want to follow your dream and work for yourself.
List Your Interests
After making the decision to change careers, many people stall at the next hurdle. What is it that you want to do? It sounds like a simple enough question, but with so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming trying to narrow it down. Make a list of your skills and interests to give you an idea of what you’re good at and what makes you happy. Then try to find a crossover between the two. Consider your values as well and try to find a career that matches up with them.
Write an Action Plan
Now that you have a rough idea of where you’d like to go, work out how to get there. If you need training or qualifications for your new path, look for ways that you can achieve them. Are you prepared to start at the bottom and re-train from scratch? Or would you prefer to go into a career that already uses some of your existing skills?
Another consideration is how much money you need to make. Draw up a list of your income and outgoings so that you can work out how much you need to bring in each month to stay comfortable. Set yourself realistic goals and put dates in the diary so that you can stick to your plan and achieve your career switch.
Look for Inspiration
One of the best ways to work out your next move is to see how others have made the switch before you. There are plenty of people who have started out in one career and then veered off in a different direction completely. Take, for instance, Martha Stewart. After starting out as a model for CHANEL, she made a leap into selling securities on Wall Street. She then discovered the joys of catering and entertaining and the rest, as they say, is history.
Walt Disney was a newspaper editor before founding his legacy, The Walt Disney Company. PSPC winner Ramón Colillas dreamed of being a sportsman but due to an injury ended up working as a personal trainer instead. He took up poker on the side of his day job and ended up winning a $5.1 million prize. Last but not least, Ellen DeGeneres used to be a paralegal before making her name as a comedian and TV personality. So, however wild your next move might be, remember that many other people have made the switch, so it is doable!
Good luck with your new venture! 💋