New Year, New Career?
It’s the start of a brand new year and for many of us this prompts us to reflect and reassess our lives. Perhaps you’re thinking about what you’d like to change in 2023 and the idea of a fresh start and a new beginning really appeals to you. If that sounds like you, here’s your invitation to consider if you’re on the right path to pursuing your own personal sense of success and what matters most to you.
Are you thinking about exploring alternative career options that better fit with your values and life goals? Are you fed up with your current work life and thinking of finally quitting your job to pursue a new career?
If changing or re-shaping your career is on your list for this coming year, then take a look at my 10 tips below to help with this:
1. Reflect on your career path and define your why - take time to reflect on your career choices to date and create the time and space to consider what some of your key motivators have been up until now. Think about the things you have most and least enjoyed, those times when you’ve thrived and struggled and identify some of the key contextual or environmental factors that have enhanced your working life. Weigh up the motivating factors for a change - what will it achieve and what will you gain from an alternative role or career?
Understanding exactly what drives you in your career is key to informing what happens next.
2. Identify what ‘better’ looks like - what’s prompting the need for a change? What’s missing, lacking or needs to look different in order for you to feel fulfilled in your career moving forwards? (My FREE Career Change Checklist can help with this). A question I often ask my clients, ‘if you could wave a magic wand, what would your ideal career look like?’ You may not have those answers yet, but start to consider if you were going to design your ideal working life, what might it look like?
3. Determine what type of career transition you need - Identify whether you’re in need of a total career change or a change of context (ie if it’s the culture, environment, lack of support, working conditions then this might indicate it’s a context change you need but if it’s the work itself, then it might be time for an even bigger shift. This is something I often address with my prospective clients during our FREE Strategy Sessions. Consider what type of transition you might be open to. See if you can pinpoint whether you’re looking for the same role somewhere else, whether you want to explore a different industry or sector doing something similar or you want a completely different work life altogether.
4. Explore all of your options - if the things that aren’t working for you in your current context have the potential to be addressed, you might want to use these insights to approach a conversation with your employer to see what changes are possible (with regards to working conditions, changes to your role & responsibilities, opportunities for development and progression). Increasingly, more employers are utilising a retention tool called the ‘stay interview’ when you’re invited to share what would make the difference between staying and going. I’ve contributed to an article in The Metro on this which you can read in full here). Take up the opportunity to explore all avenues before you reach the decision to go and before you head into the meeting go with a clear sense of your non-negotiables and what would make the biggest difference for you.
5. Consider your practical needs and review your finances to help inform your next steps. If you are planning to move across to a similar role, the suggested safety net is 3-6 months living costs, but if you're considering a career change or setting yourself up in business, plan for at least 12 months expenses plus start-up costs.
6. Monitor industry trends & economic climate - when you’re considering a significant change in your career, it’s important to consider the current landscape you’ll need to navigate. Consider the current economic climate and industry trends. Where are the areas of growth and opportunity? What skills will be in demand?
7. Keep your network warm - networking can be one of the best ways to find a new role as up to 60% of all jobs are never advertised. It’s important to build genuine yet strategic relationships to explore new opportunities and to immerse yourself in your new chosen field or sector. It’s a great way to learn more about the area too. So, be intentional about keeping your network warm by attending events (online or in person), engaging with others on platforms like LinkedIn and utilising connections amongst your peers and further afield.
Even if you’re not sure what you want right now, there’s no harm in reaching out to someone for a coffee if you think they do a job that sounds interesting and you’d like to learn more.
8. Consider how prepared you are for change - any change in work life can initially seem quite daunting and whilst career change is often made up of a number of small steps, there may be times on the journey when you feel stretched and uncomfortable. So, think about how you can best prepare yourself, build your resilience, approach with a positive mindset and utilise your support network as your new professional life unfolds.
9. Work with a career coach or mentor - if you know it’s time for a change but you don’t know how to go about figuring out what comes next and really need someone to provide you with a road map, then working with a coach or mentor can provide really valuable support. Qualified Career Specialists can guide you through the process without judgement or agenda on the outcome of your decisions and can help you with your next steps and all of the practicalities and actions involved in your next career move. Be clear about the exact help you need and spend time finding the right person who can cheer you on and support you along the way.
10. Be curious and pro-active - let your dissatisfaction motivate you to explore new avenues and opportunities so that you can feel more in control during an unsettling season. Why not get curious and push some doors, dip your feet into the water and carry out some mini projects to take some tentative steps in the right direction. Many think of career change as one big substantial and quick change but it can actually be the culmination of many small steps; a process over a period of weeks and months. So, if you can, give yourself the gift of time to reach a conclusion that’s right for you.
If you would like professional guidance and in-depth support in figuring out what you want from your next career move to go from confusion to clarity, from overwhelm to action and to pursue your new career with confidence, then book in for a completely free strategy session to explore the support options available.
We'll identify where you want to get to in your career, we'll dive into what's going on for you right now, what is and isn't working and we'll identify the challenges and obstacles that are preventing you from making more progress, so you can put in place a plan of action to move forwards.
I also run a free monthly workshop, ‘4 steps to career clarity’ where I share the exact process I lead my client through when they’re navigating a career change. You can book for that here
I offer a range of support options to help you find work you love, why not take a look at the various services on my website
If you want 2023 to be the year when you finally get to do work that really matters to you and you're ready to make a change, do book in for a completely free chat to figure out your next steps.