Itâs a fact: people will change jobs at least eight times during their lifetime, sometimes much more than that. Then changing your job is not the same thing as changing your career â a much greater move altogether and which involves a further range of possible options.
Starting with âWhy do you want to do it?â youâll need to research and satisfy several credible questions before you can be sure youâre making the right move. But, having done so, the rewards could be worth it.
The desire to change jobs or career will occur to almost everyone at some point in his or her life. Or will it? Changing your career is quite a bold step and not one to be taken lightly. However, some are happy just to change jobs. In any event, you should first ask yourself three questions: âWhy?â âWhat?â âHow?â
Why?
There will always be the âgreener grass syndromeâ, which, as we all know, can be illusory. However, there may be any number of legitimate reasons for your wish to move on, including, e.g, a poor working environment, colleagues or boss, not having your efforts appreciated. Still, before you write your letter of resignation, find out whether a move to another department or office location might also be possible - and the real answer. Again, be wary of that âgreen grassââŚ.
Or you may simply wish to get ahead with your career and, if relevant, you should know why you want to move sectors entirely. You may have decided to change from the public to the private sector (or vice versa). If one of the first questions at your interview is âSo tell me, Adele, why did you want to make this move?â you will need to know the answer. If you do, excellent. If youâre waveringâŚ..!
What?
What is it that you really want to do? Are you looking to work at home more? Or do you think you need to be more goal-focused? Would you like a job that involves more travel (local, UK-wide or international)? Perhaps you want to forge a new career in sales and/or marketing. You may simply want something thatâs more stress-free. These are just examples â the list of ânew opportunitiesâ
is clearly endless â but they all require you to have researched fully the pros and cons of the one you choose. You must identify the pitfalls, possibly the need for further qualification(!) and appreciate the genuine chances of success. If you see this change of job, or even career, as the next, but final, step, thatâs fine. However, if itâs to be a step on your path to âoverall career success and fulfilmentâ, then you must know what this role is all about, and what part it will play in the journey.
How?
OK, how are you now going to make the move? Weâve shown already how important research is in any of these plans, but so is networking . If you do want to go into, say, marketing, or the private sector, or move to the Leeds office, contact and meet people who are already there. You donât need to know them personally but make contact â and tell them youâd really appreciate their advice; people react well to that. And, crucially, will probably introduce you to more key people â and on you go..
So how? Try social media â LinkedIn is an amazing source of people who you will find by inserting the relevant search criteria, e.g. âsales & marketingâ within âfashion retailâ in âLeedsâ and who would be delighted to help you. And if you plan to move within your organisation, the same rule applies. Network. What you discover could change your approach and either help your application enormously - or put you off the idea altogether.
Summary
A career change is, by definition, one step beyond simply a change of job. But the same rules of research and networking apply equally to both.
Question why you want to move, and whether there are alternative ploys. Know what this new role entails, whether youâre capable of doing it and, if not, if further training is required. And, finally, decide how youâre going to go about getting in front of the right people, either as part of your research or for interview.
Once youâve satisfied these criteria, you can make that move with confidence.
Key Points
- Why move at all?
- Carry out full research
- What, exactly, is this ânewâ role all about?
- Network and meet contacts face-to-face. (so much better)
- How to make the next (and final?) move