Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before You Opt For A Career Change
When you wake up in the morning, and your stomach turns over with dread at the thought of going into work again, it may be time to make a career change. There could be many reasons why you are starting to hate your work, but you need to take a step back before you make any rash decisions. Take a look at the following questions, and answer them with honesty before you quit your job. You may thank us for it later.
1: Why do you want to leave your job?
We mentioned the word ‘hate’ earlier, but that might be too strong a word for why you want to leave. It may be that you are no longer interested in the type of work you are doing, or you are tired of not being able to climb the career ladder. Of course, you might also despise your boss, and you may be sick of the bitchiness of your coworkers. Whatever the reason, there may be ways to improve your time at work, before you send in your letter of resignation. However, if you have valid reasons for leaving, and your current job no longer holds the same value it once did, then it might be time to move on.
2. Do you want to change career completely?
If you have been in this career for some time, you may not want to move onto something completely different. If you do leave, you may have to retrain and learn new skills, so ask yourself if you’re prepared to do that. You may even have to start at the bottom of the career ladder again, and that will mean a significant dip in pay. Perhaps there are other roles within your workplace that you can take on instead. Alternatively, if you do leave, there may be other places hiring for similar roles. However, if your career offers no meaning to you personally, it might be time to go for a career change that is infinitely more rewarding, or choose to start afresh to make a brighter financial future if money is the issue.
3. What skills do you possess?
While there may be training involved for a career change, some of your skills may be easily transferable. These may include organisational, research, computer, and people skills. For these reasons, you may not have to start at the very beginning when you enter a job, even if it seems to be sufficiently different from the position you are holding now. It may be worth your time to hire a resume writing service to help you prepare for a new career, helping you think outside the box a little when you are applying for something different. Alternatively, sit down and prepare a resume yourself, and list every skill and capability you have learned in your current role. There will be more than you expect when you put your mind to it.
4. What job are you looking for?
You probably already have a good idea about what you want to do, but don’t get suckered into thinking the grass is greener elsewhere. Every job has its challenges, and unless you intend to work from home, you will still have to deal with a boss and pesky colleagues. As we said, you may be able to move sideways in your current company rather than going somewhere new. However, if you are sure you want to leave, take some careers advice before handing in your notice. There are loads of jobs out there, but they may not all be right for you, despite your perception.
5. Will you regret the decision?
As soon as you walk away from the job, there may be no going back, so you need to be sure before you shut the door for good. There may be consequences to leaving. You may have a family dependant on your income, for example. Then there are your monthly bills and mortgage or rent payments, so will you be able to live comfortably while pursuing your next job? You may even have friends at work that you aren’t ready to say goodbye too, and while you mean to keep in touch, circumstances do change. Of course, if you don’t quit your job, you may regret that decision too. You don’t want to be stuck in a job that is giving you little satisfaction for the next ten years, and life is too short to spend all your days in a place that depresses you. In short, weigh up the pros and cons, and come to an informed decision in case you make a terrible mistake.
Final word
When possible, stay in your current job while looking for work elsewhere. If your heart is set on leaving, you still need to have money coming in while you are searching. However, speak to your employer before walking away, as there may be ways to improve your current situation. Ultimately, it is up to you, and we hope you make the right decision. We wish you well.