Too often people make a career change without fully considering the impact of changing careers. Following are 7 issues to consider before you commit to making a career change:
1. Your Values
People think about money or prestige when considering career options, but they rarely talk about work values when making a career change. A mismatch between your values and the realities and requirements of your job is the biggest source of career burnout.
Many people easily tolerate working odd hours or a long commute when they feel truly invested in the value of the work that they do. As soon as you don't buy into the big picture importance of your job, all of the little stresses and annoyances pile up and wear on you.
If you ensure your work is in line with your values and you believe in the value of the work that your do, you will be taking to first step toward a smart career decision.
2. Your Current Lifestyle Based Needs and Expectations
Do you have a mortgage to pay, or a child or partner who is dependent upon you for income? Have you become accustomed to a certain lifestyle that your current job allows? Before you make a career change, assess your lifestyle related needs to ensure your new job will meet those needs. If you have a spouse, or other people in your life who will be significantly impacted by your career change, discuss your plans with those people. if you take their needs into account as much as possible, you will have an easier time getting the support you need through this change.
3. The Influence of Others
Are you making career choices based on your own needs or based on the expectations of others? While it's important to consider the concerns of people who will be impacted by your career change, basing career decisions based on the expectations of friends and family can send you into a job that is not a good fit for you. You are the one who will have to get up and go to work everyday, so you need to make career choices based on your one definition of success, not someone else's ideas about what may be right for you.
4. Your Education and Skills
Do you have the education and or skills required to be competitive in your new chosen career? If you don't, are you ready and able to commit the time and perhaps financial resources needed to upgraded your education or get needed experience? If a particular job requires a master's degree, and you are just not willing or able to commit to pursuing that degree, then that job is not a good fit for your needs.
5. Your Aptitudes
Consider the kinds of tasks that you are naturally good at and work to your strengths. Too often we focus on our weaknesses. Instead of always concentrating on your areas for improvement, look toward those things that come naturally to you and use those skills as a starting point for making career choices.
6. Your Interests
You will spend countless hours each year at your job, you might as well be doing something that piques your interest. Consider the types of subjects that interest you when making career decisions.
7. Labor Market Conditions
Is it realistic to expect you will find a job in your chosen field within your local area? Will you need to look outside of your community to find work in your new field, and if so, are you willing to commit to a move or a commute to make your career change? Particularly in smaller towns, labor markets can quickly become saturated in some fields when new training programs emerge.
Imagine, for example, you live in a small town, and the community college has just launched an aesthetician certification program. Suddenly there will be an perceivable increase in the number of people in the area who are trained aestheticians. The first few graduating classes may have no trouble finding work in the local area, but if there are only a limited number of jobs in the area in this field, as more people graduate from the program, graduates will need to look beyond that community for job opportunities.
Before you make a career choice, ensure that there are jobs available locally in your filed, or that you are willing to move or commute to an area where those jobs are available.
Think through your needs and fully understand the realities of your new career, and you will ensure that you make a smart career choice and a smooth transition to your new career.
Lisa McGrimmon writes about career planning at Career Choice Guide. Drop by her site for more information about making a career change.
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