Making a major career change can impact several other domains of your life. While changing your sense of direction might seem like the best choice, it is important to reflect and realize what you’re in for before you take the plunge.
In today’s fast-paced world, your career can either make or break you. You are in constant competition, expected to specialize in your field and be passionate about it. A tall order. But the good news is that more and more people today are contemplating a shift, and it is not uncommon to change your career even in your late 30s or 40s. Few stay in the exact same career path throughout their working life, and neither did I.
There was a time when I found myself torn between marketing, counselling, and sailing as a marine engineer. This is a state of mind that many of us find ourselves in at some point in our lives. It’s a signal, it’s time to introspect and ask yourself: Should I change track and do something else?
But how safe is this choice? And is it really for you? Don’t make haste. Now might be the right time to take action, but pause a while, ask yourself these 10 critical questions before taking the leap.
- “What really matters to me?”
There are so many career options out there with a bazillion opportunities. To avoid skipping from one job to another, you need to find a point where your passion intersects with what is needed in the world. Simon Sinek, in his book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action says, “Working hard for something we do not care about is called stress, working hard for something we love is called passion.” Learn what drives you to action and keeps you going.
From being a flourishing marine engineer to developing into a career & counsellor in international education; from moving to New Zealand and helping to bring about impactful change, to rediscovering myself and getting back to my roots, from B2B sales at SGS to B2B marketing – there was the one thing that initiated my journey: the thirst of self-evolution, knowing who am I and what’s my purpose.
- “What is it about my current profession that I don’t like?”
Sometimes people get roped into making wrong decisions due to external factors that may pressurize them. If this rings familiar to you, then you might want to step away and re-examine how you got there in the first place. Make a list of all the things that don’t align with your core values and reflect on them. you might also want to ask yourself what activity in your job do you enjoy the most. Surely, there’s got to be something.
- “Am I just running away from my problems?”
If your reason to call it quits, is simply a way to avoid your current situation then it is best to take a pause and resolve the problem at hand. However, if your reason stems from a desire to explore new opportunities and venture into unchartered territory then go ahead by all means.
I dared to listen to my inner calling and change my life course several times through the years. Today, I can say with pride that I have come some way in this journey of discovery.
- “How does this new profession align with my life goals and values?”
Think about your core values, goals and beliefs. Does your new profession allow you to express yourself and stay true to who you are? It is important to find a path that aligns with your ideals to arrive at true job satisfaction and long-term happiness. Look into prioritizing yourself while exploring your options. Just as companies and corporates look for the best candidate to fill a position, you must find the right fit before fully investing in your new role.
I have successfully managed several career paths and transitions learning how to apply the skills from one to another at each step. The only way I have been able to accomplish this has been by knowing my true self and identifying my innate abilities. A good way to assess yourself is looking into online courses on platforms like Udemy. Coursera & others to gauge your interest levels before taking the plunge.
- “What are the top three things I would want from my new profession?”
Once you’ve determined your core values, the next step is to have a clear goal of what you want to achieve in this new profession. Make sure you don’t derail from your long-term professional goals. If so, this simply may not be the right choice for you. Ask yourself – how is your new profession contributing to your future plans? There’s no room for vague ideas here.
- “Is this a good financial decision?”
Let’s be honest. If this doesn’t pop into your mind, you’re clearly doing it all wrong. It is not overly materialistic to make decisions based on your financial situation. Sometimes people fall into traps early into their career by committing to financial liabilities like buying a house and accumulating EMIs which make them unable to commit to pursue their passion due to financial commitments.
Changing a career that affords a decent lifestyle to a barely-affordable one could only mean trouble. It is wise to wait it out a bit and then proceed with your plans when you’re financially stable to face the consequences of a career change.
However, something interesting that caught my eye was this recent study from Purdue University in the US. The study used data from the Gallup World Poll and reported that the ideal income point for individuals is $95,000 (73,69,724.75 INR) for life satisfaction and $60,000 (4654563.00 INR) to $75,000 (5818203.75) for emotional well-being. Surprisingly, people who earned more than $105,000 (8145485.25 INR), were found to have decreased happiness levels. So surely, your salary affects your happiness.
- “Do I have the support I need to make this decision?”
Your unhappy career can lead to stress and in turn disrupt your family life at some point. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in the US in 2013, overall 15% of working adults say they quit a job to care for a family member. Your career plans can oftentimes affect your loved ones and those close to you, especially your significant other. Talk it out with them so it doesn’t result in a fallout or cause any problems down the line.
Most of all, you have to remember that you are responsible for your own happiness & your goals. Depriving yourself from the choices you wish to make is practically subjecting yourself and everyone around you to misery.
- “Am I willing to start from the bottom all over again?”
It’s so easy to daydream and look at new beginnings with rose-tinted glasses. But is everything going to be just the way you imagine? Perhaps not. You might have to work your way up the career ladder from the start. When I quit my sea job, my wages decreased in half. Things got worse when I moved back to India and my wages suffered a couple more cuts. Despite it being a tough journey, finding the light at the end of the tunnel has been extremely fulfilling and satisfying.
Don Clifton in his book, Now. Discover Your Strengths: The revolutionary Gallup program that shows you how to develop your unique talents and strengths, says, “There is one sure way to identify your greatest potential for strength: Step back and watch yourself for a while. Try an activity and see how quickly you pick it up, how quickly you skip steps in the learning and add twists and kinks you haven’t been taught yet. See whether you become absorbed in the activity to such an extent that you lose track of time. If none of these has happened after a couple of months, try another activity and watch-and another. Over time your dominant talents will reveal themselves, and you can start to refine them into a powerful strength.” For instance, When I first started counselling in 2007, I discovered my auditory, intrapersonal & interpersonal skills which have slowly dominated over what I used to do as a marine engineer.
This is also where you need to ask yourself if it’s worth the change. Be prepared for all the trials and tribulations that are likely to pop up, and try to keep a positive mindset.
- “Have I done research and pre-planning before taking this final step?”
Invest your time in connecting with individuals in the same field or anyone in similar roles. Get online and search away. Everything you need is at your fingertips but be wise in picking the right advice. If your new profession requires you to have a certification or extra qualifications, you must focus on them. Test the waters by signing up for online courses and build your portfolio.
- “Is this a realistic plan?”
“It is false that a human being can do anything,” says Howard Gardner, in his book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. He rejects the notion that a person can do anything that they set their mind to because everyone has limitations. We as humans should not pressurize ourselves to excel in every aspect and instead commit to what we’re good at. Hence, it is important to assess your skills and experiences before the big switch.
Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory suggests that every individual has 8 to 9 types of intelligence. Understanding the combination of these bits of intelligence could lead one to a particular profession where one can excel. For instance, my multiple intelligence tests revealed I had very low visual and kinesthetic intelligence, which signified that I should have never picked up marine engineering in the first place. Why don’t you try taking on the MI test to find out what path suits you better and is more realistic?
That’s all for today, folks! I’ll be back with more blogs on some on these topics listed below.
(1.) Tick the boxes: The checklist to Career Change
(2.) Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory: How it helped me gain acceptance of my strengths & weaknesses.
(3.) How astrology helped me & my clients align with their true selves to discover their career passions.
(4.) Personal experiences & my learnings when I migrated to New Zealand.
(5.) Entrepreneurship – Self assessment
Stay tuned to this space and I’ll see you soon.
Add a Comment