Recognizing the right time for career change is challenging. There are no one-size-fits-all answers, and everybody’s career goals, dreams, and aspirations are different.
Luckily, you have already taken the first step because if you are reading this, your subconscious, or not-so-sub-conscious, could well be hinting that the time is approaching. Prudence, however, is important, so let’s equip you with a few mental talking points to mull over to make sure you make an informed decision.
Signs For Change
Knowing when to change is often innate, but knowing some of the characteristics of what makes a “good” job certainly helps. We could easily delve into the psychology of what a “good” job looks like, but for today, we’ll stick to business. The experts agree on a few key indicators, like a livable and competitive wage, opportunity for growth in the company, flexibility and schedule control, and workplace conditions and flexibility.
At the end of the day, the most valuable thing you can do is consider what you truly liked in your current job and previous ones. What makes you excited? What makes you satisfied with a boss or team? What working arrangement works for you?
Evaluating the Decision to Career Change
Evaluating the decision to change careers requires a thoughtful approach, balancing logic with your gut instinct. Start by assessing all of your transferable skills—those strengths you’ve developed that could be applied to another new and exciting field. These strengths can be the foundation for your next move and are often sought out by employers.
As much as we pretend it doesn’t, money matters; a career shift might mean a temporary income drop or investing in new training. Weighing these costs against the potential long-term benefits is crucial. At the same time, consider your support systems—having the encouragement of family, friends, and especially mentors can make a world of difference. Ultimately, your decision should work towards building a career in the image of your final goal. However lofty it may seem, having the bravery to take the first step is admirable.
Weighing up the Benefits
We do this on an hourly basis, analyzing the pros and cons of lunch at your favorite spot versus a new, risky restaurant or whether to drive or take the bus to work. Decisions are part of life, and the decision to career change is no different…except for the fact that it has likely been rattling around your head for some time.
Harvard Business Review has some great advice on how to make decisions, and you don’t have to be a CEO to apply some strategy to your decision-making. They claim that timely decision-making is key, so when you are weighing up the pros and cons, trust your gut, rely on your confidence, and balance the risk-to-reward ratio as well as you can.
Perhaps the greatest benefit we can hope for is a real sense of accomplishment. Changing careers is risky, but real success only comes with risk and hard work; imagine enrolling in a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program and looking back on yourself in twenty years and realizing this was the moment the decision was made.
Challenges of Making a Career Change
As we touched on, the risk is everything, and making a decision is only worth it if you can take the leap to fulfill it. Luckily, you are not the first or last person to career change; many before you have faced uncertainty, new prospects, and greater responsibility. There could be a steep learning curve that comes with stepping into an unfamiliar industry, where new skills and knowledge need to be acquired quickly.
Beyond the purely practical concerns, the emotional challenge of facing the unknown can be just as significant. Fear of leaving a stable position or stepping into uncharted territory can create doubt, making it essential to have a strong support system and a clear plan in place to navigate these challenges well.
Strategies for Making a Smooth Transition
By changing paths, you don’t have to leap into the unknown. With any new job, there will be some surprises, but the experts recommend getting prepared precisely because it will make you feel more organized. Aside from organization, successfully transitioning to a new job requires focus, patience, and adaptability.
Start by embracing the company culture and learning the nuances of your role. Build relationships with your new colleagues and seek feedback to guide your growth. Stay positive, even when challenges arise, and give yourself time to adjust. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first, but by maintaining a proactive and open-minded approach, you’ll gradually gain confidence and find your footing. Remember, every small step forward is progress toward thriving in your new position.
Confidence is Key
Having the courage, confidence, and self-belief to both acknowledge when it is time for a change and to make the jump is difficult. That’s why the experts talk about “building confidence.” It is not something that happens overnight but rather the product of making tough decisions over time and seeing them pay off.
If you are ever in doubt, remember that J.K Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, was rejected by twelve publishers before she found one that would print her book.
