Is now the right time for a career change?

As we roll into February, the summer holidays may seem like a distant memory. The reality of work has now hit and it's a time of year many of us question whether we are in the right job. This is totally normal, so if you have been worrying about this; don’t! If you are considering a change of job or career, you might be feeling both excited and daunted. Anticipating and imagining new possibilities for yourself is exciting. Equally, the fear of change or overwhelm of not knowing how to start can be daunting. It doesn't have to overwhelm you to the point you are unable to do anything. This month, my intention is to guide you through the process of considering career change. By the time you have read and responded to the ideas below, I guarantee you will have a clear idea of how to move forward in your working life. STEP 1: EVALUATE Why do you want to change careers? Really evaluate your reasons for wanting change - dig deep on this one because it is so important. You need to ensure that it is not a knee-jerk reaction or a result of summer holiday blues. Sometimes there will be opportunities within your current job that you haven’t explored and now could be the time to do so. Are there opportunities for further training? Project work? Promotions within the same organisation? STEP 2: VISION What do you really want? Imagine your dream career. What does that look like on a daily basis? Spend some time visualising how a different career might look in your life. Why do you want this? What does it offer that is important to you, that is not already in your life? The key question to ask yourself, is WHY? When things get tough your “why” is the thing that will keep you going. STEP 3: YOUR ZONE OF GENIUS What are you really good at? What do you really love doing? Identify your zone of genius, and YES you will have one - every one of us does. This is key to any opportunities that you pursue. You may find that the tasks you really love doing are closely aligned with your core values. Take some time to consider your values. If your core values and career don’t align, you may be jumping from the pan into the fire. Often people don’t realize or understand how powerful values and career alignment is. STEP 4: COMMIT TO A PLAN What steps can you take to steer your career in a new direction? By now you will have some clarity around why you want to change your current situation, what you'd like to change to and where your strengths lie in order to find a career aligned with your values. Now comes the HOW part. Be realistic. What practical things can you commit to? What factors and obligations do you need to consider when developing your plan? STEP 5: PAUSE & REFLECT Does it feel right? Whatever path you decide to go down, ensure that it is sitting right with your gut. Of course it needs to logically and intellectually make sense, but it must also 'feel right'. Don’t ignore any intuitive or gut feeling that you get. Does your potential career change make your heart sing? Listen to your inner truth and go for it! Contact me for personalised, one to one mentoring and support with career transition.