How to Make a Career Change Decision

Dreading going to work everyday and counting down the minutes until quitting time may indicate you need a career change. Making the decision to change careers involves careful thought and consideration. Think about the reasons behind your career change and how it will affect you and your family. When selecting a new career, think about your strengths, and how they can be turned into a successful, new career.

Instructions

1. Consider your strengths and weaknesses. Think about the things you do well and the tasks you struggle with. Is the business utilizing your strengths to their potential? Do you feel challenged in your job, and do you bring value to the company? One of easiest ways to assess this is to make two columns on a sheet of paper and write strengths and weaknesses. Highlight the items you do on a daily basis. If more items are highlighted under the weakness column, then you are not utilizing your strongest assets.

2. Think about reasons for a career change. First, consider if you need a new job and not a new career. Changing jobs is challenging, but easier than starting a new career. Many people seek a career change when their life changes. Starting a family brings career changes for many people. Hectic travel schedules and long hours are not conducive to a family lifestyle. Think about a career change if the job outlook in your field has worsened. Changes in the economy, technology and your industry can lead to a career change with a more promising outlook.

3. Ask yourself (and answer) some basic questions about your career and current job situation. These answers will help you assess the need for a career change. Do you dream about a better job or doing something else? Is your job repetitive and boring? Do you show a bad attitude when doing your job? Have you lost sight of your career goals? Maybe you've achieved all you can in your current position. Changing careers provides you with new challenges and career goals. Are you experiencing burnout? You once loved your career, but not even a job change has motivated you at work.

4. Examine other factors. Consider your job stability and security within your current career versus changing positions. Going back to school or taking training classes is almost certain if you seek a career in an entirely different field. Think about the cost and time of this training. Will changing careers allow you to move up the job ladder and make more money? Examine the differences in salary for your two careers and how it affects your family's budget.

5. Take a career test. Discover what you are best suited to do. Think about things you are passionate about or enjoy doing. Evaluate your skills, personality and interests using an online career test. These tests create a career list you might find interesting based on your responses.

Resources

• Free Self Assessment Tools