Are you finding it increasingly difficult to drag yourself out of bed on a Monday morning? Do you dread the prospect of going into work? Perhaps you feel you chose the wrong career path but it’s ‘too late’ to do anything about it now?
The good news you can change careers virtually whenever you want to in your life. Career management expert Colin Lloyd provides insight and advice on what do people look for when making a career change.
There are different reasons why people may want to change their career. Whilst many are happy to stay in the same profession all of their lives, others get to a certain point or age and begin to yearn change. Sometimes this aspiration for a new career is brought on by the realisation a present career is the wrong one. Other times an employer may force the catalyst for change.
- Voluntary career transitions
A voluntary career transition is essentially when we decide it is time to take a turn in our career paths. When we make a voluntary career transition we are looking for a new adventure, a sense of excitement and a fresh challenge.
Career management authors Sargent and Schlossberg (1988) talk about adult behaviour being dominated by transitions instead of age. In their paper ‘Managing Adult Transitions’ the authors’ state:
“Adults are motivated to learn and change by a need to control, belong, master, renew and take stock.”
In this sense, those making a voluntary career transition are essentially looking for a new chapter in their life, one that is going to bring them more satisfaction than they are currently experiencing.
- Involuntary career change
Of course not all career changes are self-inflicted and voluntary. People can be forced into changing a career though redundancy, job contract discrepancies or conflict with management or an employer.
When people are forced into career change it is not uncommon that they look for a more stable career that’s going to mean a ‘job for life.’
- Focus on the future
Irrespective of the reasons for a change in career, it is important to accept the change and start acting upon it positively. When people become involved in a career change they are usually focusing on the future instead of the past.
This is a new step in their life and they should use assets at their disposal to make the most of it. For example, networks should be activated. If someone wants to move into digital marketing, for example, attending digital networking events would be a good way to ‘get their foot in the door’, learn about the industry and make some contacts. If they are starting up freelance or trying to get their own business together, they will also need to think about office options. Starting a business in Leeds, Manchester, London, Sheffield, or anywhere for that matter, can be less lonely or daunting when surrounded by like-minded individuals in similar situations.
This is when making the most out of modern office environments such as co-working centres where you’ll be in contact with other people embarking on new career path or individuals who could offer you advice, might prove invaluable.
- Less stress/less boredom
As Business Time writes, “no career is completely stress free, but some jobs are certainly less stressful than others.
Some occupations are inherently stressful and experiencing too much stress at work is one of the leading factors that contribute to people changing careers.
In order to preserve better mental and physical health, someone may sought a career that comes with less integral stress even if it means a drop in salary.
By the same token, being bored at work can be equally as frustrating. A job that initially came with opportunities for advancement may have effectively ‘burned out’. Someone may have climbed the career ladder as far as they can go and miss the challenges they were once exposed to. In this situation a career change can provide someone with the challenge they crave.
- Improving life/work balance
An online survey conducted by Right Management found that 21% of people changed careers in order to get a better work/life balance.
If someone is changing their career path in order to improve the balance between their life and work and, for example, spend more time with their family, they are likely to yearn a career that enables some working flexibility.
While some jobs might be naturally more ‘flexible’ than others, there is a growing emphasis on giving all employees the opportunity for more flexible working conditions. Nonetheless professions that are considered more creative and knowledge-based rather than those that require a consistent physical presence are likely to be considered by those looking for more flexible working arrangements that will improve their life/work balance.
- Seeking help
When people are thinking about changing their career it is important to seek help. From self-help career journals to speaking to a qualified career coach, there are many resources available to help your career change more run smoothly and to ensure that this time round, your career is going to be the right one for you.
Colin Lloyd uses office space at Carrwood Park and is regional director at Personal Career Management, one of the UK’s leading career management firms providing career coaching and outplacement programmes.
