6 things to consider in a career change

Is it time for a career change? Before you make any big decisions, check out these important issues to consider.

There are several reasons you might opt for a career change. Maybe you feel like you’ve hit a wall in your current job and have no further growth prospects. Or, perhaps you are not happy with your job spec and hope that switching to a new field may bring back the satisfaction you yearn for. Sometimes, it’s all about the money.
Whatever your reason is, consider these 6 things before you go for a career change.
1. Ask yourself what it is that you want
Make a list of what your core strengths are and what it is that you like doing, irrespective of the salary that you may draw. Are you making a career change because you’re not happy doing your current job or do you feel that you are better suited to something else? And be honest with yourself. Are you running through a bad patch because you and your boss don’t get along (or you hate your colleagues), or is it really the job that you don’t like anymore? Remember, as attractive as it may seem, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
2. What other career are your current skills best suited for?
Are there any companies in particular that you like and would like to work for, irrespective of what the field involves? Maybe you want to try doing something that is the complete opposite of what you have been doing till now, or perhaps you’re just looking to make a small change. Chances are, if your current skills can be transferred over to your new career, it will make the transition period that much smoother (and easier). There will still be a learning curve, but at least you will be confident that you are on familiar territory.
3. Will you be able to sustain your current lifestyle?
Yes, money is not everything in life, but unfortunately, it is very important. Hopefully when you make that career change, you will be looking at a higher salary and perks than you’re your current situation offered you. However, if you are willing to take a pay cut, consider how this will affect your life (and indeed the lives of people dependant on you), and whether the change will be sustainable? You will already be stressed out from changing careers. Adding a negative lifestyle change to that is not healthy, not helpful.

4. Are you really ok starting from the bottom again if you have to?
If you’re able to take your years of experience and expertise from your current career to the next one, then hopefully you’ll be able to start somewhere mid-high level. However, if you are starting out completely green in an unknown industry, then be prepared to start at the very bottom of the heap again and work your way up to the top. The financial implication verses the satisfaction you’ll achieve is a decision that you will have to make to see if it is worth it.

5. What long-term prospects does this new career offer?
You don’t want to keep changing careers again and again, so make sure you do your research before changing your current industry. Ideally, you want to get into something that offers room for growth, plenty of long term growth prospects and perhaps an opportunity to branch out and explore new avenues that are related. However, if there is a risk that your targeted job may not exist in the next 10 years, maybe you should re-think the move and not get into a dead-end career.

6. It’s also about networking and who you know
Sometimes the best jobs are not advertised, but only come through networking and word of mouth. Reach out to as many people as possible (in both your current industry and the one that you are targeting), spread the word that you are looking to make a career switch and take the time to get industry information from the insiders!
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Written for Parents World by Priyanka Elhence. Priyanka is a busy mom of 9 yr old twin boys. She writes on anything from lifestyle and dining to parenting and celebrity profiles.