Have you made all of the correct career decisions, yet your present position feels completely wrong?
Every day, we are confronted with a great deal of perplexity, confusion, and indecision. When it comes to big decisions like considering a career change, we often tend to get confused and anxious. This perplexity arises from apprehension over a change in one’s life, which leads to stress.
Getting confused about your career choice is quite expected, especially when you reach a certain age or are not getting the satisfaction you want from your current job. Most times it’s not about the money, frustration easily sets in when you are not fulfilled doing your current job.
In this post, we will make explicit the concept of a career change. we will make you understand better why this career frustration happens and then explore the steps you can use to change your career and not hit the rock bottom.
Read through the article carefully as it promises to be informative and enlightening.
Table of contents
What is Career Change?
A career change is a phenomenon that describes a shift to a new type of job from what you’ve been doing previously. A career change is a process of moving into a position that is not related to your previous work experience. This encompasses both involuntary adjustments prompted by circumstances and intentional changes aimed at improving quality of life, work satisfaction, or pay.
Career change (also known as career transition) is exactly what it sounds like: it’s the process you consider and may decide to do when you realize your current job or career isn’t fulfilling you.
Your current employment can be used as a starting point for a career move, and you can work from within your organization to create something better for yourself (hopefully more in relation to your talents, values, and spirit). Moving on and, no matter how long it takes, finding a new and different career that you are passionate about can also be part of a career shift.
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Why Change a Career?
There are a whole lot of reasons that make people want to change their careers. Professionals frequently shift occupations in order to achieve a higher degree of job satisfaction. Another key aspect that influences job change is work flexibility. Employees who are juggling a profession and their personal lives frequently need and require a flexible role.
One of the most prevalent reasons for changing occupations is to achieve a better work-life balance. Some employees want to work in industry or nonprofit that helps to improve the world, such as the environment or social programs that help the impoverished. This type of employment transition would be due to a shift in philosophy or life goals.
Another motivating factor in career change is financial satisfaction. This accounts for most of the cases of a career change.
Another common reason people feel forced to leave is dissatisfaction with their present employer’s leadership. Leadership challenges can arise at any level of an organization and have a significant impact on employee productivity. Poor leadership is characterized by a lack of recognition, low salary, and little perks.
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Types of Career Change
Here are the top five types of career change:
1. Vertical Career Transition
A promotion that drastically alters your responsibilities, such as becoming a manager from a software developer.
2. Changing careers horizontally
Changing jobs at the same level as your current employer, such as an administrative assistant who becomes a software developer after taking a few computer science classes.
3. Redesigning a job
In your existing team, you’re negotiating additional roles and accountability. a software developer who becomes a project manager, for example.
4. Change that is purely exploratory
Keep your current work while pursuing a new career. Take a one-year sabbatical to write a book, for example.
5. Changes in strategy
A deliberate job shift that leads to a future career goal. For example, a person who aspires to be an executive manager may go from the information technology team to the marketing team in order to increase their exposure inside the company.
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How To Know When You Need A Career Change
You’ll know it is time to change your career when you start to experience the following.
1. You’re uninterested and unconcerned
With each passing day, you become more and more removed from your original motivations for entering the business. You’ve mentally checked out; you’re underperforming, your deadlines are slipping, and you can’t seem to find the energy to pretend to be enthusiastic about the company’s objective any longer. But this isn’t your usual behavior. What exactly is going on? The truth is that even if you enjoy your career, there will be days when it just feels like work. However, if you can’t recall the last time you were energized by a new idea or inspired by your next project, it’s time to reconsider your position.
2. You don’t have the impression that you’re having an impact
Your job responsibilities are the same every day. Every day looks and feels the same–you’re just going through the motions. You feel devalued as if your time and abilities are being squandered, and your most valuable skills are being overlooked. You’ve been disheartened and have ceased actively seeking new ways to contribute. It’s time to find a new position that plays to your strengths, allows you to learn new abilities, and allows you to contribute meaningfully. Your career should enhance rather than detract from your self-esteem.
3. You despise going to work every day
Everyone has those days when they hit the snooze button a few times too often or need a little additional motivation to wake up and go to work. Maybe you’re not excited about the project you’re working on, or you’re nervous about a meeting with the boss. But this isn’t like that—this happens every day. You live for the weekend, but the dread of Monday sneaks in by Saturday night, despite your best efforts. If you’re dissatisfied with your current job, it’s time to consider whether other fields of work might be more aligned with your interests.
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4. Your pay will not be enough to compensate for your displeasure
Although the money is good, the work is mindless and unpleasant. You used to be able to rationalize sticking because of the income, but now that isn’t enough. During meetings, you find yourself watching the second hand of the clock tick past. After a long weekend, it’s Tuesday, and you’re already looking forward to your next vacation day. While you value the security that your employer gives, you’re beginning to believe that you’re squandering your potential. These are all indications that someone could benefit from a change.
5. Your work has a negative impact on your personal life
Work should be difficult but not exhausting. If you’re constantly tired, sleeping poorly, getting headaches, or having other physical problems, it’s possible that your body is telling you that your job isn’t good for you. Being constantly stressed might have a negative impact on your relationships with others. Have your friends and relatives expressed their displeasure with your impatience or incessant whining? If your job is making you miserable or bitter, start looking for hobbies that can help you reclaim your identity.
All these signs put together after a long while can lead to severe cases of depression and a feeling of unfulfillment. They make you unproductive and incompetent. When all these begin to happen, “Change your career path!!”
How To Change Your Career
With the knowledge of the types of career change we have explained above, we’ll now consider how you can change your career to something more suitable. I’ll advise you to start making plans to locate a work that allows you to pursue your passions, as happiness is an important factor in job performance and progress. To break free from career frustration and make a difference, follow these steps by step guides.
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#1 Identify exactly what isn’t functioning
Take some time to figure out what exactly is causing you so much stress at work. Is your frustration due to variables outside of your control, such as your coworkers, supervisor, corporate culture, or even your commute? If that’s the case, would changing teams or leaving the firm make you happier, or do you still feel dreadful thinking about the task you’ll be performing regardless of the change in scenery? If your dissatisfaction stems from the job’s functional obligations, a more severe shift may be required.
#2 Identify the aspects of your current position that you enjoy
Consider when you first started in your current position. What were your reasons for doing so? Was it the day-to-day obligations that made the difference? Is there a chance for advancement in your career?
Then look at the aspects of your employment that you still enjoy and try to figure out why they do. Is it because of the creative nature of your job? What about strategic planning? Do you want to do some math?
Do you enjoy constant change or do you prefer stability? When considering your next role, keep these points in mind. You’ll have a better understanding of areas to seek out or avoid in your next professional move if you examine your current likes and dislikes.
#3 Think about your essential principles
It’s critical to discover a strong cultural fit in any employment. Examine your values and choose which corporate culture best suits your personality. Do you place high importance on autonomy, community, and innovation? Would you feel at ease working in a place where upholding the status quo is rewarded? Perhaps it’s important to you that you’re contributing to a good cause.
It is critical, to be honest with yourself when taking this form of self-inventory, regardless of your ideals. Consider the jobs you admire in your friends. Is it their role that interests you, or is it the freedom and empowering culture that you seek?
Discover what makes you feel alive, even if it isn’t what you (or others) believe you “should” be doing. It’s quite fine if your values have shifted since you first started working. Just make a list of your top priorities for today.
#4 Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses
What would you be doing if it weren’t for money, time, location, or any other reason? The time has come to figure out how to do so. Examine how your current role and your ideal role intersect, even if a complete 180 isn’t possible overnight. Consider your transferrable abilities, relevant experience, and network connections that can assist you in making the most convincing shift, even if your current and ideal positions are poles apart.
#5 Create and carry out your strategy
After a comprehensive self-evaluation, write out your objectives, establish short-term milestones along the road, and set realistic deadlines for yourself. To help you find a job, perfect and polish your own brand. Along the process, keep an eye on increasing your network and reconnecting with existing contacts, as well as honing your talents.
Above all, don’t be intimidated or discouraged by the prospect of a new job. Regularly check in with yourself to ensure that your current role is in line with your long-term objectives. Know when to leave and when to continue. It’s never too late to pick up where you left off and do what you love every day.
Conclusion
Changing a career is a new phase and a new beginning in one’s life. Now that you know how to go about a career change, we’re very positive that you’ll make the right choice in picking a career that meets your requirements and satisfies you. We hope this article was helpful enough.
FAQs on Career Change
A career change is a phenomenon that describes a shift to a new type of job from what you’ve been doing previously.
The three types of career change are; vertical career change, horizontal career change, and strategic career change.
Yes. It is possible to still change career at age 40. All you have to do is make plans and work towards it.
Career counselors are very important, especially to those who are confused about how to go about their careers.
You can keep working on your current job while you make plans to switch careers.
References
- 9 Types Of Career Change
- 6 Signs It’s Time To Change Jobs
- The Curse of Loyalty: Should I Change Or Change My Career?
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