5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Changing Career

Are you thinking about a change in career? You’re not alone. This time of year, lots of employees will be evaluating their options and looking to make a change.

To really understand your impulse and emotions around your career doubts, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to figure out the best way forward.

Ask: What’s keeping me in my current role?

It’s really easy to get carried away on a wave of negativity and forget any positive things about your current career. This is especially true if you’ve just experienced a set back at work, such as being overlooked for promotion or an appraisal didn’t go as well as you’d hoped.

Taking a step back and defining the parts of your role you like and enjoy is a good starting point to see whether it’s just the current situation that’s the issue and not your career as a whole. Compile a list of the reasons why you’re working in your current position – is it the people, the tasks you’re assigned, or just the salary?

Ask: Do I have a job, or am I building a career?

The difference between having a job and building a career is that a job pays the bills, but a career is a long term pursuit in a profession. If you are solely money driven and are only motivated to work to make ends meet, then a career change is unlikely to offer any additional personal fulfilment. If you are working in your current role because it’s something you’ve always done, and not step towards a bigger dream and ambition for yourself, then perhaps it is worth considering a change to help get you to where you want to be.  

Ask: Why is now the time for change?

What is at the heart of your decision to consider a new career? Before taking the leap, it’s worth considering where the impetus to move has come from.

There are many different elements to consider as part of this process. Is it the business you work for that’s causing the doubt or the industry as a whole? Perhaps it’s the right path but wrong company?

Be really honest with yourself, what’s the change you’re looking for to feel fulfilled? Is it your current manager who is causing these feelings rather than the company itself? Do you just fancy a change of scenery or is it deeper than that?

Whatever your reasons, get to the bottom of them before making a decision to leave your current employer or industry. Discuss your findings with friends and family too so that you understand your motivations. Your decision should be based on a long term plan, and not on a whim of emotion due to a changeable situation that’s presented itself at work. 

Ask: Where do I see myself in five years?

This question typically pops up as part of interview scenarios but I also find it useful to ask this during appraisals to see where someone sees themselves within my organisation once they’ve actually got to grips with the role and the business.

It’s a great indicator of how people’s motivations change as their role with you takes shape. Ask yourself where you see yourself in five years, and if you’re existing role isn’t exactly what you pictured yourself doing, there’s no need to worry.

Change happens, and, as a result, the plans you had for your career and your life can go down a different path. Revise your five year plan, focussing on what you want to achieve in your professional life and where you would you like to see yourself positioned. Answer truthfully and then see which options and paths you can take to help you to meet these desires and why. 

Ask: Am I ready to change?

After 30 years in recruitment, I’ve heard a lot of candidates tell me they’re desperate for a career change, but when it comes to it, all they’re really searching for is to be more valued in their current role.

Very few are 100% committed to an overhaul. It takes time, drive and passion to start a new career from the bottom up. Although I applaud those that make it, many just need to make some changes to their current role to feel more content. There will be times where you will question whether you’ve made the right choice, but keep the end goal in mind – life’s too short to not enjoy what you do, don’t just have a job, build and have a career too.

For me, honesty really is the best policy. I encourage my staff to set their own objectives and tell me what a good week looks like. I find that this helps them to create their own career path and find fulfilment by working in a way that meets their personal and career objectives, rather than just mine.

As a manager, if a member of my team is really considering a change, I’d prefer them to come to me and share how they feel. Not every bump in the road at work needs to lead to losing a key member of staff.

I appreciate that not everyone has the luxury of an open minded boss, but these people are the gatekeepers to your happiness at work.

Why wouldn’t you at least see what they have to say before leaving? Especially if you already feel that you’re at breaking point in your career.

If they can’t or won’t help you to rediscover your work mojo then perhaps a big step change is needed, a retrain, a new path… if you’ve decided that a change is needed, then I wish you the very best. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons to avoid having to follow this process again in 5 years… or less.