For many of us, there comes a time in our careers when we feel like we need a change. There can be many reasons for re-evaluating your career. I took a break from work after having a baby and it was during this time that I realised I wanted to explore other career options. For some of my friends the need for change has come off the back of being made redundant, needing a better work-life balance or wanting to try something new after years of being in the same career.
Whatever your reasons are, the idea of starting again can be daunting. So, if you have reached a career crossroads, let me help to point you in the right direction.
Reason 1: I’m on a career break
When I was on my career break, the easy option would’ve been to return to what I knew best, working in HR. Having had a few years off work I’d lost confidence and wasn’t sure if I still knew how to do my old job let alone start something new.
However, I took the decision to tame my ‘inner gremlin’, the voice in my head telling me what I couldn’t do, and to search out the positives instead. I chose to look at this career break as an opportunity to find my dream job. As I wasn’t sure what that was, I decided to invest in seeing a career coach, someone who would ask me the ‘right’ questions and provide me with impartial support so that I could explore my career alternatives.
If you are on a career break (whether you’ve chosen to be or not) you don’t have to fall back into your old career. You have been given a great opportunity to make some changes, so tame your ‘inner gremlin’ and go for it!
Reason 2: I need a better work-life balance
If your life is feeling out of balance and you aren’t able to focus on what really matters to you, maybe it’s time to make some changes.
Ask yourself, ‘What’s really important to me? ‘What do I want to accomplish in life?’ and ‘How do I want to spend my time?’
When I thought about what my priorities were in life, it was to help people, have autonomy at work and to spend time with friends and family. Once I realised this, I was able to build a life where I could focus on what mattered most to me.
Reason 3: I’m feeling restless
You may’ve enjoyed (or tolerated!) your job for many years but have now reached a point where you’re feeling, “there has to be more to life than this.” Saving your biggest dreams for retirement is a risky move and so it could be time to consider trying something new.
Take Action
Clarity comes from taking action, so take action. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try? Start by learning about subjects that interest you and explore further the subjects you’re excited about. Why not sign up for a course to learn a new skill? This could help you to progress in your current role, give you something interesting to focus on outside of work or help you secure a new job.
When I was trying to decide on whether coaching was the right career for me, I signed up to a two day life coaching course to see if it lived up to my expectations. It did, so I decided to take the Personal Performance Coaching Diploma. Once I qualified, I set up my own career coaching business, Vida Coaching. Attending that two day coaching course ultimately led me to my dream job. It was the best decision I ever made.
Add Value
Another way to deal with feeling restless is to consider how you could add value in your existing profession. In your current job, could you specialise in something you really enjoy doing or coordinate a meaningful project? Or, if you feel more autonomy would help, maybe you could start your own business in your chosen field.
We spend so much of our lives at work, it’s important to pay attention to that restless feeling. If your current job doesn’t fulfil you, it’s time to consider how you can improve your situation.
Career Direction
So which direction are you going to choose? There’s always more than one turning you can take at a crossroads so, whatever your reasons are for evaluating your career, you do have a choice. Are you going to change career like I did? Will you look at ways to improve your existing career or do you think you will stay as you are? The choice is yours.
Want to find out more?
Contact me to book a free, no obligation 30 minute consultation where we can talk through what you’d like to do and I can advise you on how I can help.
