Ready For a Major Career Change?

Preparing yourself to make a career change can be exciting but equally terrifying for anyone. Moving from the career and comfortability you know then jumping into something completely new is enough to intimidate some people into not making the jump at all. It is important to remember that stagnancy is the enemy of growth, whether your career is simply unfulfilling, or you have other personal reasons for quitting, comfortability should not be enough to make you stay.

Now, let us say you got the job offer you were looking for at a new business you are excited about. If you are still hesitant about making the choice, there are some factors to consider when making a major career move that should be thought about before making your career change official.

Initiating a major career move takes a lot of courage, time, and proper planning. Some quick things to consider during planning include making sure you are leaving a job for the right reason and that your new position is something you are actively enthusiastic about, this includes doing thorough research of the position before deciding on it.

It also helps to take an inventory of your skills because there are plenty of valuable skills that are transferable between careers, and you will also be able to take a note of skills you need to either gain or improve upon for your new career path.

Finally, create a plan and prepare yourself financially for the transition. Creating a plan will help you hold yourself accountable with achievable target dates and goals for your new career while preparing financially will give you some cushion for any pay delays or cuts that typically happen in the early phases of a new job.

It is crucial to know exactly why you want to leave your current job because making a hasty job switch usually ends in regret for about 72% of workers according to cnbc.com. Therefore, it is good to lay out exactly why you want to leave and ask yourself questions like: is it the environment? Lack of growth? Lack of support? Am I bored? Am I being challenged enough? Are there communication issues? Is the commute too much? Are your skills and interests not lining up with your position? Is the pay not adequate?

Recognizing and seeing exactly why it is time to move on will not only give you more motivation to leave your current job situation but show what you are looking for and what you need out of your next position.

Money is a powerful motivator to change careers, but you need to look beyond the pay difference between jobs and annual salary. You also need to consider the type of work, the market rate to ensure fair pay, all job expectations that are required, and the hours per week that are expected of you. Considering all these factors help make certain that you are being paid properly for the amount of work you are doing.

Career advancement plays an important part in keeping employees happy and motivated at work, in fact according to a study done by CareerAddict, a staggering 82% of employees would quit a job if there were no chance for advancement. When researching and inquiring about a new job be sure to ask if they not only offer but will invest in your advancement with formal career guidance or technical training.

According to computerworld.com, more than two-thirds of all employed workers (68%) say that they plan to leave their current job in the next 12 months with better pay and benefits being the main reason for leaving. When comparing benefits, obviously focus on health, dental and vision especially if you have health issues or dependents, but also take note of what is offered for short/long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) plans and PTO.

Some organizations are even adopting more employee perks that include things like paid vacations, childcare, tuition assistance or reimbursement, free meals, and annual bonuses. While perks usually are not enough to make a career change decision, they are incredibly enticing.

A healthy, productive work culture is becoming more important to younger employees. If you find yourself dreading going to work due to hostile colleagues or environment, that is a clear indicator that this specific culture is not the right fit for you. When researching organizations, there are plenty of elements to consider that can build a strong work culture that include: competitive innovation, work/life balance, reward culture, clear company values, low employee turnover, diversity and inclusion, clear communication, employee recognition, mental health services, and strong leaders.

Personal growth is defined differently for each person but are typically short or long term goals aimed for self-fulfillment. These goals could include applying newly found skills or education to land a specific job or take the time to learn and harness different skills that will eventually be used for your ultimate growth goals. Regardless of your goals, if you find a new career path that will help you meet them, it is worth considering the move.

Location usually refers to where you physically commute to for work, but as we enter a more remote workforce, flexibility also plays a role. Sometimes a job is perfect, but the commute is far too long, does this job have remote work opportunities? If it does not, is it worth the price in gas and time to get there? You can also inquire if an organization offers any hybrid options or flexible work hours. As of late, the flexibility to make your own schedule or work remotely are valued highly with individuals looking for a new job.

After taking all these factors into consideration, you should start feeling confident about making the major career move if you find it fits your personal or professional needs and wants. Be sure to remember that this new position should be challenging, exciting and a step in the right direction and not just a quick out from your current job situation. While undoubtedly an intimidating process, you should feel the confidence that this new path is the one for you and should be followed through with enthusiasm.