Solutions Guide to Career & Life Change

Research shows that 1 in 2 people are in the wrong job and 2 out of 3 are unfulfilled in their jobs!

This startling statistic was reconfirmed yet again by a recent Norwich Union survey. If this sounds like you, then now is the time to start getting your house in order, as life is too short!
The longer you have been in a job the harder making the break is likely to be. Also, the longer you leave your decision to change the more frustrated you will become and this will impact on your life and those around you, especially nearest and dearest!
Times have changed, especially as there are no ‘jobs for life’ and it is now accepted that people will change jobs every few years, so this is no longer seen as a negative but a positive sign of improving yourself.

It is also likely that most of us will change professions at least three times in our working lives. This is usually much more challenging than just changing jobs in the same career and you may need to enlist help, as career change is also about life change and learning how to ‘be the architect of your own future’.

What is the start point?

Firstly an honest review of your situation i.e. what needs to change and why?
1. Identify your reasons – What is wrong and why are you thinking about changing jobs?
• Is it the company you work for – maybe the culture or ethos no longer matches your way of thinking or working?
• The job you are employed in – are you are unhappy with the work you are doing, lack of challenge, bored or stuck in a rut?
• Do you feel that you are being taken advantage of, are not getting the recognition you deserve or maximising your full potential?
• Are you are looking to take a step up the ladder but can’t see the way forward?
• Maybe you have gained all the experience possible and now wish to broaden this in a new environment?
• Do you need or want to earn more money?
• You feel you need a complete change?
• Are you are no longer getting the enjoyment, buzz or job satisfaction that you used to?
• Is your work-life balance all wrong?
• Are you are fed up commuting or maybe wish to relocate?
• Do you no longer look forward to going to work and are generally unhappy?
• You have even started thinking about setting up your own business?
• You have no option, as your job is being made redundant

2. Is it the company, job or your career that needs changing?

• By addressing the questions in point 1, you should be in a much better position to determine what is wrong and even more importantly why you need to change, as this is the emotional driver, which prompts action!

Right Company – Wrong Job

You like the company you work for and have no real desire to leave. However, you feel trapped and promotion or opportunities to diversify into other roles within the company are passing you by.

What are your Options?

• You need to take the bull by the horns and discuss this with your boss
• You should be best placed to know how and when to do this but invariably an informal chat works best
• It will be important to stress that you are very happy working for the company but wish to maximise your skills and move into a new challenge to mutual benefit
• It may not always be possible to change jobs or at least not in the timescale that you are aspiring ton • If this is the case you have a decision to make!
• Keep an open mind and you can start looking elsewhere to test the market whilst you decide.

If your boss or company really value you then it may even prompt them to find or create a new position. This is especially relevant if they fear the negative impact of you becoming increasing demotivated. If not, keep your options open as what have you got to lose?

Wrong Company – Right Job

You love your job but feel that the company is going in a different direction. Maybe you feel you are not maximising your potential as your skills and knowledge are being wasted.

What are your Options?

• Much more straightforward – you can focus on finding the right job but with a company that you feel you will enjoy working fo
• No rush, so can afford to bide your time to get it right, unless you are a victim of redundancy (if so, best to seek help at an early stage)
• Start looking at recruitment sites, newspapers, magazines, trade jou
als and by putting out feelers among your contactsn • Networking invariably pays dividends, especially if you are known to be an expert or up and coming high flyer in your field

Wrong Company – Wrong Job

If you have now made this personal discovery, at least you are able to do something about it.

Like many people you may have ‘fallen into your job’ without any real planning and may well have had a big shift in your value set, which can be triggered by different events in your life and your attitude to life.

What is holding you back?

If you are at odds with your value set you will never be happy or fulfilled in your job. However, in order to change, you must change and for many people this is where the problems start, as career change involves life change!

You may already know things need to change but have buried your head in the sand, hoping the problem will go away. It is all too easy to stay in your comfort zone, continue to get your regular salary and not have to face the problem, especially if you are paid well and finance is important to you.

What really holds you back is usually fear of the unknown, moving out of your comfort zone and taking that crucial ‘leap of faith’!

3. What are the consequences of not changing job or career?

• If your values are out of tune with the company or sector things can only get worse, as values are what we hold dear and are what motivates usn • You become the ‘victim’, often resulting in extreme frustration and anger taking over, becoming damaging for yourself and those around youn • Negativity can consume your lifen • You spend your time constantly wondering ‘what if’ but never daring to come out of your comfort zone and take that crucial ‘leap of faith’
• Or, settling for the easy compromise option, starting to ‘vegetate’ and conditioning yourself to a life of boredom, without ever having to think about the unthinkable alte
atives!
• Above all else - never realising your full potential!

4. Do you recognise yourself in one of these categories?

If so, why be unhappy and continue to do something that you don’t enjoy or that is no longer right for you?

It is a key fact of life is that people rarely achieve anything significant unless they get out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves.

5. What stage are you at?

You are likely to be at one of 3 stages:nna) You know exactly what you want to do and how to go about itnb) You know what you really want to do but have never had the courage to trync) You are looking for a complete change but have no real idea to what type of job or career

6. How should you move forward?

• Take action - start the process now!
• If you are at stage a, great – go for it and start making your changes now!
• If you are at stage b or c - enlist the help of a Career Coach or attend a Career Transition Workshop to help you unlock your career potential and steer you on the right path towards the job or career that you can or really wish to aspire ton • Be of a positive mindset and consider this one of the most valuable investments in your life to learn how to ‘be the architect of your own future’!

“The Same wind blows on us all – It is not the blowing of the wind that will determine your future, it is the setting of a better sail”
Jim Rohn

Copyright SMP Solutions (2007) Career & Personal Development Consultancy ‘helping you unlock your potential’ www.smp-solutions.co.uk