Career Change: Is it too wild to even think of?
Change of profession, rather than just change of job, might be a risky idea. It may also be the best idea you ever have.
The time when people had one job for the whole of their working life is over. Changing jobs every couple of years has become the norm. But more and more people change not only their jobs, but their whole careers.
An accountant becomes a web designer, an ex-technician now works as a nurse, a teacher has started up an own business with exotic plants. Was it a good idea in their cases? That depends on what they wanted from the change, whether they managed to get it, and whether they perceive the benefits of the change as bigger than the losses.
What to consider
Before you take a final decision whether to go for a career change or not, you should consider the following issues:
- Understand your motivation for the career change. At the beginning, the driver is often to get away from something that you do not want to do or to experience any more. Try to understand what it is that you want to change from, and then think properly what you would like to change to – what your new goals would be.
- Be aware that the switch to a new field will very likely mean becoming junior, even if you already have years of work experience. Consider which of the skills, and which experience, from your previous career(s) you could use in the new field, and so advance faster.
- The change will require time, energy, training and money – and probably more than you estimate now. To avoid underestimating the requirements, plan the change in detail, and from all aspects.
- Think big, and then work in small steps.
The current trends in the job market suggest that in the near future, career changes will become increasingly common. Read more about job trends and perspectives here.
Career change can be your way to a job that you will enjoy, become good at and find meaningful when, one day, you review your working life.
You can use career coaching to decide about your career change, make an effective plan and get support through your next steps: contact me here.
