“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” So said Confucius, circa 550 BC, and while it still rings true for many, your love relationship with your initial career might not be everlasting.
Your workday can profoundly affect your personal life. Being stuck in an unsatisfying job can be very frustrating. However, a career change gone awry can worsen the situation, rather than bring relief.
“It’s important to take inventory of what you like about your current job and what you dislike”, says Linda Spencer, former associate director of the Office of Career Services at the Harvard Extension School. “This will help you identify career opportunities that suit your strengths and interests.”
Confirm your current coordinates
We are complex beings, and many things can contribute to a feeling of dissatisfaction and restlessness. Because we spend so much time at work, it might be easy to assume that a change in career will alleviate these frustrations. However, this could be a costly mistake.
Before embarking on a career change, it’s important to make an objective list of what you would require from a new position.
- Do you want an increase in salary, or can you survive on a lower income?
- Would you be willing to work longer hours?
- Can you afford the time and expense of a longer work transit, or are you looking for a position closer to home?
- Can you afford to spend time, money, and effort to equip yourself to be proficient in a new field?
Left, right or U-turn?
Herminia Ibarra from the London Business School has been studying career change for the past two decades.
“The most common path to career reinvention involves doing something on the side – cultivating knowledge, skills, resources, and relationships until you’ve got a strong basis for exploring a new career,” she says.
A medical sales representative, for example, who would like to spend less time travelling, could consider a course in office management to make a switch to medical practice management. A teacher who is feeling bogged down by the administrative burden of mainstream schooling might broaden his knowledge base to become a private tutor or move to corporate training.
If you have decided that a more radical shift is imminent, there is safety in a multitude of counsellors. The services of educational psychologists are not limited to children, and their knowledge of professions and training can save you a tremendous amount of trial and error.
Financial planners can help you to manage your expenses during the transition period, when your income may be lower or non-existent. A life coach or a personal mentor may also be able to give you valuable advice and guide you along your new and exciting road.
