Nowadays, people tend to change their careers during their life. And it's intriguing to explore why there is such a trend towards career mobility and what implications it has for individuals and organizations alike.
Is Changing Careers a Good Idea?
An increasing number of people change their career nowadays. There are both advantages and disadvantages to changing careers. The job market is quite volatile right now, so making a move may not be the answer. However, if you know for certain that your current career is not going to get you where you want to go or won't satisfy your long term goals, then yes - switching jobs or careers might do some good.
Here are some things to consider:
Advantages of Changing Career
You’ll reinvent yourself – pursuing a new passion can give life meaning again. It can reinvigorate you and push you towards self-improvement (mental and physical) both at work and in your personal life.
A career counselor can help inform you about the next steps to finding a better career fit to change jobs and transition careers successfully.
Disadvantages of Changing Career
It's essential to be aware of the disadvantages of changing careers to determine if you're ready for a change. You must consider things like whether or not you have enough money saved, an updated resume, social media presence, and more.
Planning is always key. For some individuals, though, this may not be a problem, as it can take more time to find other jobs, so they need to start looking right away before they might become unemployed.
Depending on your situation, chances of success range anywhere from 40-60%. If you're making the jump without any prior experience in your desired industry, then we'd expect that number to be lower than 40%.
Pros of Changing Careers
- Learning a new skill set
- Gaining new knowledge
- Boost confidence levels and self-esteem
- Renewal in life and personal growth
Cons of Changing Careers
- High chance of stress, self-doubt, and disappointment
- Low income while actively searching - you may need to get a part-time job for now until you find a suitable opportunity that suits your goals
Assuming you are already employed, it would first be advisable to evaluate whether your current role is interfering with your desired goals.
If you are seeking something better aligned with your interests or personal life, consider changing jobs or if necessary careers.
Is a Career Change Right for You? Ask Yourself these 10 Questions
- Am I ready to step out of my comfort zone and embrace a career and new role that might drastically differ from what I'm used to?
- Am I prepared to potentially take a cut in my base salary during the transition phase?
- Do I possess the right skills for the new career, or am I willing to invest time and effort to acquire new skills?
- Is the new career in line with my greatest skills and passions, or am I being swayed by external factors?
- Will the new job offer the challenge and constant change that I'm seeking?
- Does the thought of making this change fill me with excitement or dread?
- Do I have a strategic plan for this transition, and am I ready for hard work?
- Am I willing to start from scratch, in other words, beginning from a junior level position in the new field?
- Can I take the risk associated with this change considering my current personal and financial circumstances?
- Do I really want change, or is my reaction the result of a temporary situation in my current job?
Great ideas and dreams of change are exciting, but a successful career transition requires thoughtful planning and due diligence.
Changing Careers FAQ
Should people change their careers frequently?
Is your work satisfying?
How long have you been doing your current job?
Are there any other skills or personal interests of yours that could be contributing to this lack of challenge, and would it be beneficial for you to explore them in an alternate setting?
In today's world, we're in a constant state of growth and change as people, and the first step is acknowledging that our needs as people are eclectic enough for us to always have something new we want to explore - whether in our personal lives or careers.
For some, constantly having novel challenges may seem impossible when hooked into a family relationship and commitments. However, if this situation still feels unsatisfying, then try examining what alternate career path might be available to achieve a more fulfilling career.
Many employees will find that the longer they are with a company, the less likely it is to offer them something new. If you take time off from work to explore other opportunities there may be in your industry or others, your employer may realize that you no longer feel invested in their company. They may counter the situation by making adjustments to fit you in an alternate role within the workplace or at least provide enhanced salary and benefits to keep you interested.
Eventually, when all else fails, there's one thing left that every person should respect about coworkers: their right to happiness. For example, if someone finds themselves unable to move forward in their current job, they should not be afraid of taking steps towards improving where they are and feeling happy doing so. It may mean exploring a new job or even a new career, and that is okay because having a fulfilling career is important in life!
If this applies to you, then such challenges will only make you a better person.
What about current job security trends?
Nowadays, job security doesn't exist as it did before. Many people who are laid off every day would prefer a career change rather than have their employment terminated. There's no need for fear when it comes to a new career because there will always be a new opportunity on the horizon if you don't choose to settle in a dead-end job.
If someone is unhappy with their current role, they shouldn't hesitate to leave and find something better suited for themselves, regardless of their age group. It may seem scary at first, but over time you'll realize that allowing yourself room for growth is necessary and worthwhile.
In conclusion, if you're currently unhappy with your position or environment, then you should focus on changing exactly what needs fixing without hesitation and work toward a more fulfilling career. The reward of personal satisfaction from such an endeavor far outweighs any negative consequences that arise from the process.
For younger workers, the best advice is, generally, that they should change jobs or industries frequently to gain more experience and learn applicable skills.
In cases where a person is in an unsatisfying position, it might be appropriate for them to pursue further education via online courses or enrol in a short retraining course. Doing so might allow them to gain the necessary knowledge to switch careers with success.
The main reason behind this is that all companies are competitive at the end of the day. They'll try their best not to take any unnecessary risks when hiring people, which could cost them their business later on if things don't go as planned.
Even if someone has been working in what they consider their dream job for over five years with the same title, you can bet managers will become weary of their performance if there hasn't been much advancement in terms of abilities. What was once viewed as satisfactory may no longer be the case in the current job market.
Flexible career paths
What are your own career expectations?
Over a working lifetime, most people should expect to have several job titles and possibly a career change. It's just the way things are nowadays. very few people manage to find their dream job - or keep it for long!
A company will change its employees whenever they think it will produce better results for themselves, not necessarily to improve the situation of those who help generate their revenue in the first place.
Even if your work performance is excellent, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to stick with one employer for life because of this fact alone. When a particular job title becomes in-demand in your area of employment, organizations may begin to attract more applicants than they can cope with as a result.
There could be too many people interested in doing essentially the same thing at once, which would inevitably lead to some individuals being overlooked despite their experience and natural talent level.
Business is about making money, primarily, and the majority of employers, if offered the opportunity to pay younger workers less but still get the same result in terms of performance, will make the most of the opportunity. Unfortunately, this often leaves loyal workers out of a job and in need of a new job or different career, despite all their efforts over the years.
Tired of the same job? Thinking about changing careers unsure how to start? Consult a career coach. Getting a professional perspective on your situation can make an enormous difference and help you focus on what you need to do.
Working on actionable expert career advice is far better than guessing what things you should prioritize to successfully change careers or even switching jobs.