Written by: Aileen Carson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Career changes are much more common these days as increasing numbers of people look for more meaningful and fulfilling work. About 15 years ago, I made the transition from a career in publishing to one in social housing, working with people with long-term mental health problems. Making the decision to leave my job was easy but deciding what to do next was a lot harder. So what do you do once you’ve decided to change your career? Here are a few questions to get you started.
What are you good at?
If you’ve been working for a number of years, you will have plenty of skills and experience to draw upon when trying to answer this question. What skills do you have that you can use in other jobs even if you don’t have much experience?
Don’t just think about the skills you have developed at work. You may have gained skills from other areas of life, such as voluntary work or bringing up a family. If you’re finding it difficult to identify your skills, ask a friend what they think you’re good at. Other people can often see things in us that we can’t see.
What do you enjoy doing?
If you notice you’re not spending much time doing the things you enjoy, it’s time for a change. We spend so much time at work that it’s important to find a job you enjoy, not one that wears you down.
I spent years doing voluntary work for various charities and I discovered I enjoyed this far more than any paid job I’d ever done. It was far more fulfilling and felt more meaningful than some of the jobs I had had. This realization gave me an insight into the kind of job I really wanted – doing something that made a difference in people’s lives.
Once you have identified the things you enjoy, think about the types of jobs that will enable you to do these.
What are your values?
Working for an organization whose values align with your own can increase job satisfaction and reduce the likelihood of burnout. Take time to identify your own values. What’s really important to you and how can you incorporate this into your work?
If money was no object, what would you like to do?
Imagining that money is no object can encourage you to think creatively. When you’ve thought about what might be possible, start thinking about how you can achieve this. Consider whether you need further training or qualifications or if you can gain some experience in other ways. If there are people in your network who can help you, ask them for advice.
Can you make a living from your chosen career?
As you’re deciding what you want to do, make sure you’re being realistic. Are you going to be able to earn an income from your new career? If not, what do you need to change for this to happen?
If you’re struggling to answer some of these questions, consider talking it over with a coach. Any transition in life can be scary as you’re moving from something familiar to something unfamiliar. A coach can help you overcome any fears you might have and find clarity.
Once you’ve come up with some answers to these questions, the next step is to consider how you can use these to move into a new job. Think about how you can show potential employers your skills and the value you bring, perhaps by providing examples of your previous achievements.
Finally…
Making any change to your life can be difficult, but you’re not starting all over again. You have years of experience behind you and you can use that in your new career.
Give yourself some space and time to think about what you want to do. You might find it helpful to discuss your plans with friends and family, particularly if your move will have a direct impact on them. Having the support of people close to you will make any transition easier.
Changing career can be a lot of work and it requires energy. It won’t happen overnight, but it will be worth it when you’re spending time doing something you enjoy.
Aileen Carson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Aileen Carson is a professional coach who specializes in helping people with career transitions. She has had a varied career, starting as an editor in the publishing industry and then moving into the social housing sector where she worked with people with mental health problems and dementia.
Her passion for working with people led her to become a coach. She focuses on helping people identify what’s important to them to enable them to find work that is more fulfilling. She also supports people to find ways of dealing with stress to help them avoid burnout.
Aileen’s own career transitions have given her a unique understanding of the problems people face when moving into a new sector and her personal experience of the common difficulties other people face in their working lives, such as burnout and redundancy, has given her valuable insight that feeds into her coaching work.
