subject: When Its Time To Change Careers [print this page] A lot of us entered careers believing that effort and loyalty would be acknowledged and rewarded too. But we discovered that jobs become routine without any motivation or promotion and no relief in sight. Due to shrinking profits, promised benefits packages were taken away which were offered as the antithesis of a raise by many industries. Auto workers, Wall Street brokers and bankers, as well as newspaper personnel found their dreams destroyed right in front of them. The time has come to wise up and plan to look for a new job in a different field.
Any number of factors could cause you to seek out new job opportunities, regardless of your age. When surveyed, people cited corporate downsizing or restructuring as the top reason for making career changes, accounting for 54% of those who change careers. Other reasons given for leaving a job include lack of challenge, poor leadership, conflicts with the management, offer of more pay and better benefits elsewhere, instability of the current company, and moving out of the area.
The first thing to do when entering a different career field is deciding what you want. To assist you with realizing your inner talents, shortcomings, and desires, you might need to take a self assessment exam. The Myer-Briggs Personality Test, the Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP) Test, and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter are some of the more popular ones. When you start searching for a more fulfilling job, think about the things you enjoy doing, the classes you liked when you attended school, and places that you find refreshing.
Conquering your own barriers is among the biggest challenges in switching careers. While many people are certain that they are not happy with their current job, it takes a lot of courage, motivation, and determination to mount a full-scale job search. Feeling disheartened and rejected often follows when initial efforts fail. It is crucial that you do not give up. Network with others in your field, go to seminars, improve your skills by taking classes online or at a community college, challenge yourself, pinpoint what you like and don't like, and look into job alternatives.
