Find out how you can switch gears in your career today!
Do you find yourself in a job or career that you don’t want to continue with? Are you considering a change in career because of personal reasons? Then sit tight as I am about to take you on a ride on career change for women.
It’s one thing to think of changing a career, and it’s another thing to bring the thought to life. Many people are stuck at a job, hoping they get a lucky break and change careers. But the unfortunate truth is, it doesn’t work that way. Changing a career requires a lot of deliberate actions than just thinking and wishing. Until some steps are taken, the thought of changing a career will be a fantasy.
A career change isn’t limited to a particular gender or race, as human beings in general always seek to make their lives better and more productive. In a quest to live a fulfilled life, one must take on a job that makes them happy and productive. Women seek fulfillment too, and hence the need for them to change their careers if it’s not favorable to them.
Why People Change Their Career?
Due to several reasons, the thought of changing careers comes to the mind of many people. It could be because of low income or due to the level of stress involved in the job. For some people, the thought of changing their career is as a result of an individual they are trying to model their life after or trying to avoid being like.
There are a lot of reasons for changing careers. According to Joblist, here are the top 10 reasons why people consider a change of career.
Better pay
Stress
Better work-life balance
New challenge
Lack of passion
Boredom
Long hours
Don’t like their boss
Don’t like the tasks
Chasing their dreams
Factors Women Need to Consider Before Changing Career
Midlife career change can be a challenging task to take on. One must put every factor into consideration before taking this bold step. Just as changing a career can help one get fulfilled, it can also hurt one’s ambition and productivity when done wrongly.
To make a decision you will regret for years, here are some factors to consider before changing your career.
Understand your reason(s): Are you thinking of changing your career on impulse, or you have already given it proper thought? Do you want to change your career due to a minor quarrel you were involved in at the office, or your career doesn’t suit your personality? Knowing your “why” and evaluating it might make you rethink your decision to switch careers. This is an important thing to do.
Examine the next career: The saying “not all that glitters are gold” is applicable when looking at switching careers. You might have a friend who’s working on a different career. This friend of yours keeps talking about how they love their job or the benefits they get, and you might get tempted. Sometimes, you might see their lifestyle and say to yourself, “this is what I want.” But the truth is there is more to the job than meets the eye.
You must have a proper understanding of the career you are about to leave your current career for. Examine the stress, potential risks, and other things that might go wrong, and ask yourself if it’s worth it. You don’t want to get stuck halfway while trying to change your career.
Get Personal: Between your current career and the one you plan on switching to, which one fits you better? Which of them makes you use your abilities more? Which of them has more room for growth and improvement? If you have a family, which of the careers supports your family life? Which one won’t hurt your health in the long run?
Questions like this are vital as they can determine your productivity in the long run. You don’t want to switch careers only to figure out that it will hurt your relationship with your family along the line. I’m also sure you don’t want to wake up one morning doubting your abilities because of your job.
Examine the cost of switching: Switching careers can cost you both time and resources, especially when not trained for the job you’re switching to. You will spend money and time trying to get the necessary skill and certification needed if you don’t have it. Before changing, make sure you calculate and know what it will cost you. You don’t want to get stranded halfway while trying to change careers.
Consider other alternatives: Depending on your reasons, rather than moving to a new industry, you might want to consider getting a new job within the same industry. You don’t want to switch careers because of distance, especially when you have a closer option.
Try job shadowing: Job shadowing involves observing a person at work or a career you are interested in. This is one of the effective ways you can understand better the career or job you are looking to switch to. It will help get you a near-firsthand experience of what the career will look like when you switch.
Consider the benefits: What do you stand to gain when you switch careers? If the career you are about moving to promises you a higher income, better location, more time for your family, etc., then it might be worth the change. Knowing the benefits helps to make a better decision.
What Next?
Make a decision.
Take a step.
Start somewhere.
As stated earlier, it’s one thing to think of changing a career, and it’s another thing to bring the thought to life. Don’t spend the whole year dragging your feet as to whether to change careers or not. Start working on it. Carry out your research and make a decision.
As a woman, changing careers can be a challenging task. It is a step that should be properly calculated before being taken. Several obstacles will be faced while trying to do so, but with the right information, it is achievable.
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