Like so many, when I first started thinking about a different career, the first thing I did was to scroll job sites searching for similar job titles to the one I already had. Searching for roles and responsibilities like my existing ones. I was hoping to find the answer there. I didn’t.
A theme coming up during this year is that people are re-evaluating all areas of life, including their career. They want to do something different but not sure what ‘different’ looks like.
As I did, people start their search by trawling job sites for their existing job title, in similar industries to the one they have decided is no longer right for them. This soon becomes frustrating, tedious and hope wanes when the ‘different’ job opportunities you find are all too similar to your current one.
Changing careers is a big deal if you don’t know what you’re looking for. In my experience, looking for clues outwardly is not the best place to start. Look within. Listen to your instinct. Take time to explore. Remember that it is a process. Remind yourself of what’s important to you. Stay curious.
Without fixating on the reasons why not to change careers, spend some time on these questions:
What are your values? What is important to you? When do you feel most at ease?
What do you love about your existing role (the work itself, the environment, the company)?
What is it specifically about your existing role that you do not enjoy?
What lifestyle do you want to create for yourself (your partner, your family)?
What are you passionate about? What fills you with joy? What would you do if money was no issue?
What are your strengths? What is unique about you? What do you do with ease that others find difficult? What do you get positive feedback about?
Who do you see and think ‘I would love to do what they do?’
In ten years time, what do you want to look back and see?
It is quite natural for your inner critic to pop up and give you hundreds of reasons why you shouldn’t / can’t do something different. For now, let yourself be immersed in all the reasons why you should!
Create your own ‘career change’ notebook and capture all the answers to these questions. This is exploration. This is part of the process of working it out.
Get in touch if you would like to start working through your fears to find your next career move.