Are You Ready for a Career Change?

Some people know exactly what they want to do with their life from an early age. They follow a pre-determined path and end up working in a job they love for many satisfying years. This is great, but not all of us are so sure of what we want to be or do, and therefore we sometimes make bad decisions and end up in a role that isn’t right for us. But how can you be sure that your current career is not the right one for you?

Often dissatisfaction stems from a feeling that we are not progressing as we thought we would. Perhaps you were passed over for promotion or you think that there is nowhere else to go. Such frustration is common – it happens to everyone at some point, no matter how successful they are. However, before you make any rash decisions and throw in the towel, consider whether your career really has permanently stalled and it’s time for a change of direction, or whether it just needs a bit of a tweak.

What Do You Want?

There are lots of things to consider, so sit down, make a list, and be brutally honest with yourself about your aspirations, expectations, and how any change of career would affect you and your family, both from an emotional and financial perspective.

Do You Enjoy Your Job?

Nobody enjoys their job every single day. It’s impossible to find that level of satisfaction. Most of us have good days and bad days, but if you find that the bad days far outweigh the good days, it may be that you are ready for a change.

However, consider whether you are truly dissatisfied with your career as a whole, or if a simple change such as looking for a new employer within the same niche might be enough to re-charge your batteries. Perhaps it isn’t the job but the people you work with that’s the problem. And if that is the case, a move to a new position or department could be the answer.

Are You Fulfilled?

If your job is just a bread and butter role that pays the bills and nothing more, but you dream of a more fulfilling career where you can’t wait to get up in the morning and change the world, then a new challenge involving completely re-training could be the answer.

Look at the Options

It may not be necessary to completely change direction. Look at your options and see if there are opportunities for re-training within your current career. Say for example you are a nurse: if you decide to look into CRNA continuing education opportunities, you will discover that there are lots of courses available at Valley Anesthesia.

Whatever you decide to do, plan the change carefully and take lots of advice. Changing career at any age is not a decision to be taken lightly, but when you have a family to support, it is even more important that you plan for every eventuality.

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Ms. Career Girl

Ms. Career Girl was started in 2008 to help ambitious young professional women figure out who they are, what they want and how to get it.