Most people will change careers at least three times in their professional lives. Sometimes that change can be an enforced one such as redundancy. But usually it's the individual's decision, based on a variety of reasons. Perhaps the job you're in is no longer stimulating or challenging you, you feel you're working long hours for little recognition or simply that there's too much month left at the end of the money. Any reason can be the catalyst for change, but before you make a hasty decision to hand in your notice, take a few factors into consideration.
If your current job offers you stability and a good wage, is it really worth jeopardising that for a leap of faith? If you do decide to stay where you are, perhaps it would be worth speaking to your boss to see if there is some way you can advance within your present company, either through additional training or an internal move into another department. But if you really feel that your time with your current company has come to an end, a little bit of pre-planning could make the transition into another career much smoother.
Think about what you are qualified to do and where your experience and strengths lie. If you are looking to move into a completely different area of employment, it may be worth waiting a little while until you have updated your skills or qualifications. Remember - if you are making a transition between professions you may have to start again at the bottom of the ladder until you have gained the experience to move up a rung. If you are planning to change careers but have to wait for a while to bring your skills-set up to date, keep your plans to yourself. An employer is never happy to hear that someone within their organisation is intending to jump ship, and they may end up forcing your decision on you earlier than you had planned.
As the economic downturn puts more jobs at risk, take a long, hard look at the marketplace. With more people chasing fewer jobs, you have to make sure that you have a fighting chance of success and can compete with those who may have more relevant experience. If you have been in your current position for any length of time, you may find that your CV needs a major overhaul to bring it up to standard. Allocate some time to tackle this or speak to a specialist recruitment agency to see how you can make your CV stand out from the crowd.
The ultimate career change is, of course, going self-employed. The prospect of working from home, choosing the hours you work and the general glamour of being self-employed may be tempting, but ask yourself some very serious questions before you take the decision to go it alone. Do you have enough financial backing to get you through the first year without having to resort to business loans or credit? Is there actually a market for your skills? Do you have the self-discipline to work long hours in splendid isolation or will you miss the camaraderie of working within a company structure? If you decide to go independent then remember that to succeed on your own takes far more hard work and discipline than working within an organisation.
Career changes can give you a new lease of life as you shed one skin and slip on another. If you feel that something is 'missing' from your working life - be that a better pay cheque, more responsibility or a greater working challenge - then a career chance is probably on the cards. Embrace the excitement and with a little careful planning that career change could put that something that was missing back into your life and widen your horizons more than you could have possibly imagined.
Tony Hall is a freelance author and has the vast knowledge in Sales Recruitment Agencies and Executive Recruitment Agencies . For more information on ajobcy.com Recruitment Agencies he suggests you to visit: ajobcy.com ajobcy.com.
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