Examine Yourself Before Career Change

Do you drag yourself to work every day and wait for the day to end as time ticks? If you really find your job uninteresting and do not enjoy work, it is time you take career change seriously. You have observed peers doing exceedingly well in other professions, but at the same time, it is necessary to understand that what appears in front of your eyes may not be true always. Hence, before taking the plunge for a career change, it is good to examine yourself. This can help you take the right decision as well as assist your transition to other fields smoothly. You can evaluate yourself by asking important questions and then decide whether it is safe to jump ship. Therefore, before career change, try inspecting yourself with the help of these questions -

1. What are the reasons behind change?

It is a good idea to understand why you want to change field at first so that this same situation doesn't arise after a few years. Jot down the points that made you go for a career change. It could be anything like no professional growth, loss of interest, restructuring of the organization, unhealthy relations with colleagues or a sudden unavoidable life incidence.

2. Are you sure of it?

Analyze whether you are in need of a change or your career. Identify what you do not like in the current organization. It can be the job position, a senior person or the work culture which is not as per your values. Try to clear all such points instead of making a hasty decision.

3. What type of work you prefer?

Identify your personality and what kind of work you would enjoy doing. Whether you would prefer a flexible job by working from home, handle administrative responsibilities or like traveling to outdoor locations to meet clients.

4. How to use your existing skills?

If you are opting for a completely new field, understand how to utilize the knowledge and skills that built in the previous jobs. Get in touch with people who could help to use the those skills for a new career.

5. Would you consult a career coach?

Choosing a new field could be a big decision that will alter your life. Recognize if you are willing to approach a career coach or take expert advice on the topic. It could also mean going for a career test to see if the new career option is suitable for you.

6. Are you ready to start again?

Though the decision to change career is final, give heeds to opinions from family members. It is possible that your choice may upset them. Further, it could even affect societal status and finance.

7. What will be the income?

It often happens that switching to a new field means starting from the base. As you will be considered a novice when you go for career change, the pay would be much less than what you were previously earning. Get an idea about your monthly expenses and what exactly would be your annual income.

8. Will you regret if you don't act now?

It is said that there will be times when you might have to give up things for something better had to come. However, due to certain reasons if you were not able to make the change, what would be your reaction? Will it make you regret the decision a few years later in the future? Ask your conscience to get a clearer picture.

You might want to explore a different career but do not hop organizations or make the jump just for the sake of it. Switching to a completely new career involves taking risk, but you should be well-prepared for it once you have made up your mind. Always do proper analysis and collect information about the desired change before taking the leap.