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| CAREER - STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR? |
Hi
We spend most of our time at work so wouldn't it be nice to spend all that time doing something that you enjoy? The current economic downturn and rising unemployment is leading many people to reassess where they are at in their careers. It is no longer the late 20 and 30 somethings that are looking to research other careers as they feel stunted or feel that there has to be more to work than just doing their job. Circumstances are forcing people to think 'what are the areas that will grow during or after the recession?' 'What college course could I do that will ensure employment?' 'What other area can I apply my skills to now?' I also see many people use this as a chance to start again with a clean slate. They want a career that will make them happy and fit in with their lifestyle.
Through my own experience of changing career, I can understand that there is the fear of the unknown. But fear is what holds us back. When I got fearfully or procrastinated I always asked myself 'Would I be happy to be sitting here in 10 or 20 years time doing the same job'? I enjoyed my job, met loads of great people and was moving up the career ladder but I knew I was missing something. I committed myself to finding that 'something' and that was the start of my journey.
I've set out below some exercises/tips on how you can ge the best out of your career. If you are interest in changing career by doing these exercises you may find out what possibilities are out there for you. On the other hand if you are happy in your current career, these exercises will help you on focusing on what you want to get from the future in your life and career.
As always I hope you enjoy the newsletter!
Be remarkable!
Rosie
What is the difference between a job and a career?
We often believe that a job and a career are the same thing. However to me, there is one main difference between them - a job is often a means to an end whereas a career is something that you are building during your lifetime. A career can full you financially, mentally and emotionally. People with careers are usually passionate about what they are doing. They make work more like play despite the fact that they may be working harder and longer than in a previous job. However, sometimes a job can lead you to a career - but is it a career you are passionate about?
The most important quality to have when you are looking to change career is patience. There is no one size fits all solution as each individual is looking for a career that is right for them. When looking to change career you do not have to leave your current employment tomorrow. It is about finding a balance that is right for you. There are many possibilities on how you can start introducing something you love to do into your life such as introducing it on a part time basis, studying it in evenings, doing it at weekends or simply doing it for pleasure in your spare time.
Make a commitment to yourself to decide within a few months or years to find a career or decide if you are willing to leave your current employment. By making small changes now you are taking action and making a commitment to yourself about your future. It is these small steps like research, getting a mentor, evening classes etc that will give you the confidence to take additional steps to doing something you love. If you don't take the first steps then how will you know what is out there for you or what the world has to offer you?
Below are some tips on how to start your journey of having a career you love. Take your time going through these questions - you may surprise yourself with what you come up with!
Assess Where You Are at in This Moment
Evaluate where you are at currently in your career. If you are currently dissatisfied in your job then there are many options and not all of them lead to leaving your job. It may help to do up a list of pros and cons and decide whether you are able to deal with the cons if they are outweighed by the pros. You may be dissatisfied for many reasons -feel lost, feel like you are not working to your full potential, feel stunted in your growth, clash of personalities or hours that no longer suit your family life etc. These are things which you can address once you make the choice to make changes. These changes could improve your working environment thereby removing the element of dissatisfaction.
Questions to ask yourself:
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Am I working too much or too little?
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What do I love about my job?
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What do I hate about my job?
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What talents do I use and don't use in my job? What talents would I like to use more in my job?
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Is there room for promotion/transfer in my current company? What is the possibilty of this happening? Will this happen soon enough for me?
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What am I passionate about? Are these elements in my current job?
Assess Your Past
Make a list of your previous places of employment. What was it about the job that you liked? What made doing the job or elements of the job satisfying? Are these any of the things that you would like to bring forward into your current/future job?
You Ideal Life
Take a few moments and let your mind wander. I want you to write down what you ideal life would be like. There are no constraints or limitations in this exercise. Write it as if someone has given you a clean slate to have the life you dream off. It is important to be honest with yourself in this exercise and don't write down things that you think you should want. Cover all areas of your life - romance/significant other, family & friends, career, finances, personal growth, health etc. The more specific and detailed you are the better. If you don't know what kind of life you want to lead, then how will you know if your current lifestyle & choices are going to lead you there.
Your Ideal Job Description
Write up your ideal job brief. If you don't have a specific career in mind write about the things that this career would bring to your life or what you would expect from this career e.g. are you travelling, do you work from home, is it in a city, are you self-employed or an employee, do you work with a team or alone etc. Write down what you perceive to be the day-to-day activities, nature of work, functions performed, location and abilities you would use.
This is important as it will provide you with a strong focus. You can also start placing career roles next to it, or while you search for alternative careers you can hold them all up against your list to see if they match or not. Remember that the brief is not set in stone, as you do more research and speak to people you may find that you add and delete from this list.
What does Job Satisfaction mean to You?
Everyone has a different definition of job satisfaction. What does it mean to you? If you don't know then how will you know whether you have it and if a new role would give it to you or not. It might be helpful to list your job satisfaction criteria and select the top 5 which are an absolute 'must-have' in your career.
Here are some examples below of job satisfaction criteria, which can help you with yours:
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I feel what I do is worthwhile or makes a difference
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I am given respect for your achievements
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My views are listened to
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I'm working with people I like
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There's a good balance between work and the rest of my life
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I am proud of what you do
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My work reflects my talents and personality
Match your Values with Your Career
By identifying what your values are then you can see if they are included in your current job. Your values are things like family, money, independence, friends, honesty, love, happiness, health, holidays, sleep, etc. Values are things that are important to you and that you need in your life to be happy. They are not something you want or would like to have. Values are personal to each individual, they are your beliefs and your ethics combined. Living against your values is stressful and unfulfilling therefore it i
s important to clearly understand your true values. To be happy is to live in accordance with ones values.
Decide what your top 10 values are and match them to your career to ensure that your career supports and doesn't hinder them. If you choose to change career, you now know what your values are so can match them to your chosen career.
Find a Mentor
Find out people who love their jobs or are working in an area you would love. Ask them why they love it and how they went about finding the job they do? You may find ways that you could do this career or what other possibilities are open to you. You could ask to shadow them for a few days to see what the job really entails. You have nothing to lose by asking.
Get Confident
Once you have found the right career move for you, if you are having problems taking that final step then ask yourself some of the following questions:
- If I don't take this leap what will be the consequences? Is life too short not to take some risks?
- What's really the worst that can happen if I leave? Can I deal with this or will I allow this to happen?
- What's the best that can happen if I leave? How would my life be different?
- If I knew that in 12 months time that conditions at work were going to be exactly how they are now how would I feel? Would I feel happy, sad, depressed or regret that I didn't do something earlier?
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