There comes a time in many people’s lives when they can feel trapped in the career they have chosen. What might have seemed like you dream job when you first started working may no longer fill you will the excitement you once felt. Perhaps your personal circumstances have changed and you feel the need to take your professional life in a different direction. It’s human nature that things in our lives will change the way we feel and it is important to identify those feelings and make the necessary changes.
Whether you have been made redundant, have lost your job, are returning to the workplace after a redundancy or just feel that you need a new career there is plenty of help out there to help you in your quest.
What makes you unhappy?
The key to working out what direction you want to take with a new career is working out what it is about your current one that makes you unhappy. It is important to make sure that it is not just the post-holiday blues that are making you feel demotivated and unrewarded in your job. If your job dissatisfaction is simply seasonal or temporary then you may not actually want a new career – perhaps you just need to challenge yourself in your current environment.
If you have been unhappy for a long time, perhaps due to your hours, lack of career progression within the company or a feeling that you have chosen the wrong path for your career then it is probably time to look for something new.
Don’t be Hasty
That isn’t to say that you should stay in the job you are not happy in but rather that you should start your search for new employment whilst you remain in the job. This will give you an income whilst you look for something new, and ultimately a little more time to look around for the right new career. It isn’t always possible to find a new job straight away – the interview process can sometimes run to not just one round of interviews but often a second.
Have a really good think about what it is you want to do. Do you want to stay in the same industry and just work for a different company? Do you want a complete change of industry but using the same skill set? Or do you want a complete change of direction with your new career, which may very well entail retraining? Once you have made the decision to look for a new career, make a plan and follow it but do not rush into any decisions.
Update your CV
It is never a good idea to leave your current job until you have a new one, so make the first step on the job hunting process and spend some time on writing your CV. Make sure that it is up to date and that your most relevant skills are easily identifiable.
If you haven’t updated your CV in a while then do a little research and see if the preferred format has changed. You can make several versions of your CV so that you can tailor it to the jobs you are applying for. If you can afford it then it might be worth using a CV writing service who will help you to present your information in the best way for potential employers.
Quality over Quantity
Having updated your CV, it is important to consider the jobs you are applying for. Don’t just blanket send your CV and a basis covering letter to every job you possibly can. Take your time and tailor your covering letter and even your CV to each job you apply for. Focus on the quality of what you send rather than the quantity and you might stand a better chance of getting more than a second glance for your application.
Update your Skills
Whilst you are applying for a new job and working in your old one, why not look at the skills that you have and the skills that employers seem to want. If there are areas that you could make improvements in, no matter how small, then look out for local classes, perhaps at night school that you could take in order to boost your skills and impress a potential employer.
Remember finding the right new job can take time. The first hurdle is getting that all-important interview, however if you get offered the job but don’t feel it is the right fit for you then it is probably not a good idea to take it. Trust that the right job is out there for you and with careful and patient searching you will find it.