OK, so you’re thinking of making a career change. Maybe even a radical change. You’re tired of doing what you’ve been doing and are eager to consider something new and different. Maybe even completely different. If so you’re definitely not alone. Boredom, frustration, and monotony are strong motivators, especially for those in or approaching their 40’s having been in the same field for well over a decade and knowing they have at least a couple of decades more in front of them should they decide to hunker down and stay put.
As you gaze across the horizon the grass may indeed appear greener elsewhere. It usually does, as familiarity breeds contempt and we are prone to disdain being held prisoners to mindless routines. Yet before you quit your high paying CEO position to take up painting yard gnomes to sell at art festivals there are a few questions worth stopping to consider. Those who neglect to do so will often experience failure and frustration, eventually returning to their previous careers as the only way they know how to bring in $$.
1. Are you considering a change of scenery or a whole new field?
If you desire to move in a completely new direction, stop and consider the reasons why. Be honest with yourself. Does your dislike with your current position have more to do with you and the way you conduct yourself and relate to others, or is your work environment in bona fide conflict with your values and passions?
2. What exactly is it that you are passionate about?
If you’re not sure, reading this post is a good place to start.
3. If no one else’s opinion mattered what would you be doing for a living? Why?
This is about authenticity and freeing yourself up from fears and judgments. It’s your life. Are you living it for yourself or for someone else?
4. How can your current network support your new endeavor?
People make things happen and there is no substitute for good networking. If you don’t know anybody in your new field, how will you compensate for this?
5. If choosing a new career field, do you have a solid action plan to transfer your current skill set into a money making position?
Be resourceful about the way your skills and experiences can transfer into a new endeavor. With clients, I utilize a technique referred to as “mapping across” to help people discover how past successes in one area of life can translate into useful recourses in seemingly unrelated areas.
6. If considering self employment, are you the right type of person to be self employed?
Do you make decisions quickly and change them slowly? Do you love to network? Are you willing to invest your savings and sweat equity into a startup operation without any ironclad guarantee of success? Are you a self starter? If not then working for someone else may be more appropriate. Self employment holds many benefits, but if you’re not cut out for it it’s far better to know so up front than to jump in blindly and later regret having pulled the trigger.
7. Do you have or are you willing to invest the time and $$ to acquire the proper credentials?
If you lack the required experience, credentials, or training, what plan do you have to compensate for this? How important are formal credentials? How else can you acquire relevant experience?
These are only a few of the basic questions to consider when contemplating a major shift in career direction. By taking the time to formulate clear, honest answers to questions like these early on in your decision making process, you can sidestep a lot of frustration and position yourself to make better decisions that will serve you well in your chosen career for years to come.
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