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| www.talkcareers.blogspot.com |
Maybe you have reached a point in your working life when you
need a new challenge. You might even be thinking about a completely new career
direction.
We all have times when we get frustrated with our jobs. But
stop and think first - will things get better or has the job run its course and
it's time to take action? If you decide it's time for action, the next decision
is whether it's a fresh job role , a different organisation or a completely new
direction you need. Read on for help with deciding if your career needs a
little tweak or a full overhaul....
How satisfied are you with your career?
Thinking about what you've achieved in your career so far
can be a good place to start. Success means different things to different
people, but you may want to consider whether you’ve:
enjoyed the
challenges you've met in your work
been promoted in
line with your talents
achieved a salary
that lets you live the way you want
built up expertise
in your line of work
made an impact -
within your organisation, or more widely
earned the respect
of clients, customers and colleagues.
Is it time for a career change?
Working out whether your current job has let you achieve the
level of success you want should give you an idea of whether it's time for a
change.
If you think a career change could benefit you, you’ll need
to decide whether you want:
- a new role in your current organisation
- a change of employer
- a completely different career.
Asking yourself some of the following questions may help you
to work this out.
Are you enjoying your job?
If you no longer enjoy the day-to-day activities in your
job, you may just be bored and need a new challenge. Moving to a different
department within your organisation, or to a different employer might solve the
problem.
If you actively dislike parts of your day-to-day job - or
you don't get the chance to use all of your talents - ask yourself whether what
you do is typical for someone in your line of work. If you're dissatisfied with
the job itself, changing department or employer may not improve things. You may
want to consider a more radical change.
Do you feel motivated by the people you work with?
How do you get on with colleagues, managers, clients and
others in your workplace? Consider whether any problems are due to personality
clashes with particular individuals, the culture of the workplace, or because
of the nature of the job itself.
If you like the people you work with but are frustrated by
the actual work, you may want to look at changing your role within the
organisation, or looking for a different role with a similar employer.
Are you satisfied with your work-life balance?
If you're looking for a better fit with your family life, a
change of job isn't always necessary.
Technology is making it possible for more people to spend
time working from home. Bear in mind that you may have the right to ask your
employer to make arrangements for flexible working (though they can refuse if
there's a good business reason to do so).
Source: National career service.
