TIPS FOR DECIDING ON MAKING A CAREER CHOICE

A 2017 article in Forbes magazine identified that millennials are now the largest employee group in the workforce, that employees who are hiring managers at many companies are now of that age, that changing jobs and careers often (every 2 years or so) is common-place and now not considered a detriment to career mobility, that those employees who make frequent career moves can expect to make 50% more money over their career than those who remain in one job, and that generally employees change jobs for reasons other than money---work/life balance being a major one.

With all this information, the workplace can expect to be disrupted with frequent employee turnover as a common practice going forward. Despite this reality, employers are looking for employees who will be deeply engaged in the work they do. For people seeking to change jobs or careers, here are a few tips to consider as you evaluate whether or not to make a change.

  • Be prepared to consider this move as one of several in a process. If you’re looking for the perfect job or career, you may need to make more than one change before you land on the one that is the best fit for you. Or, you may discover that as you develop skills and interests, your preferences for career and role may change, and what was a perfect fit in your 30’s may need an adjustment in your 40’s or 50’s.

  • Just sitting on your hands and waiting for the perfect job or career to come to you is a waste of time. I guess it could happen, but it’s not likely. You need to be looking for it. And especially if you want to change careers, you need to figure out how to demonstrate that you have some skills to actually do the career you seek. Or, you need to fill in the blanks of your knowledge/skill set so you are more prepared for that next career.

  • Get VERY CLEAR on the details of what you want, for example:

    • What kind of organizational culture do you prefer?

      • Very structured

      • Loosie/goosey

      • Work autonomously from home

      • Work in a team setting

      • Other?

    • What kind of people do you like to work with?

      • Serious/quiet/mind their own business

      • Fun loving/collaborative/lots of back and forth

      • Prefer academic environment

      • Prefer business/office environment

      • Prefer multi-levels of talents/skills/opinions all together

      • Other

    • What kind of work do you REALLY want to do?

      • Be the boss/CEO/President/Dean/Big Kahuna/Producer/Director

      • Be a Teacher/Facilitator/Consultant/Academic Researcher

      • Be a Musician/Dancer/Sculptor/Opera Singer/Actor/Etc.

      • Be a Doctor/Nurse/Therapist/Pharmacist/Medical Researcher/Chemist, Etc.

      • Trail guide/mountain climber/Olympic athlete

      • Computer Programmer/IT Guru

      • So Many Others

  • Find a job/career that fits in with who you are but is not the sole definition of your life. One that makes you happy/fulfilled but also balances with the rest of your life.

  • Being unsuccessful at one job/career doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It means you have a great opportunity to take stock of what you’ve learned and move on. This is a chance to build resilience and see what you might have missed when you originally thought this was a good fit. It’s an opportunity to re-evaluate (with kindness and good will toward yourself) your decision-making process, your interview skills, your evaluation talents, your desire to do this kind of work or be hired at this place. What was amiss?

These are a lot of things to consider. And if you’re really serious about making a big change, consider working with a coach. I have changed jobs often and careers several times in my life and have found it to be enormously helpful---that’s why I finally became a coach. Look for the right coach for you by taking advantage of the free introductory sessions that most coaches offer. And then jump in with both feet to figure out what your best job/career could be; it will change your life.