Career Change - Art Or Science?

Changing career is not easy! I guess you may have already found that one out for yourself.  You are probably going round and round in circles, hating your job, getting stressed out, but somehow not being able to get off that career merry-go-round and make the change you need.

So how is it that you keep yourself so stuck?   Here are two of the main reasons:

Tunnel vision

When you have worked in one job or career for a while, you begin to get tunnel vision and this stops you from seeing anything other than what lies straight ahead.  When you try to think about alternative career ideas, you start from the basis of what you already do and are familiar with.  It is a bit like exploring a dark room with a narrow beamed torch or flashlight.  The light only illumines a narrow range ahead of you and much of the room remains in darkness.  You just don't see what lies outside the range of the beam of light - and similarly just can't see other career options.

The formula approach

You assume that the solution to your career change challenge is a simple matter of adding up skills and experience and that somehow, this will lead you to the magic career solution.  Yes, an awareness of your skills, interests and experience is useful, but  this rather 'scientific' approach  does not help you to tackle the problem of you career in depth.  I believe it needs a more creative approach - career change is much more of an art than a science.

So what's to be done about it?  If you want to give your career change plans a new lease of life, read on...

360 degree vision

I challenge you to open your mind to new possibilities.  Adjust your torch from narrow beam to wide beam and take a good look round in every direction to see just how many career options are out there.  Make the first stage of your career change a period when anything goes.  Nothing will be ruled out, and anything and everything that appeals to you in any way is put on the table as a possibility to explore.

The lateral thinking approach

Don't expect your career change research to be just a matter of collecting information and adding it all up.  Imagine what you would do if you were starting out without the weight of your current career history behind you.  What would you do?  Instead of starting with what you know, try listing a range of really unlikely careers for you that you just like the sound of.  Start by being contrary and considering the most unlikely options.  Don't expect the answer to your career change to be obvious - it may leap out at you from an unexpected place.

The best approach to changing careers is one that shakes you out of the narrow box you have got locked into and gets you to explore your career change options from a new perspective.

And if you would like to explore the key tactics that will help you with your career change, then I invite you to download my free Career Change Blueprint Just go to http://www.how-to-change-careers.com/career-change-blueprint.html. It explains the 5 essential steps to career change success and gives you 5 great bonuses too!

From Cherry Douglas - Your Career Change Guide