Are you considering a career change in the New Year?

Many of us take some time out over the Christmas break to reflect over the year and our career. A very common New Year resolution is to seek a new exciting and challenging role in the coming year. You many feel bored in your job and would like a similar role in a new company, or you may decide to try a completely different job?

So do you know what you would like to do with your career, what kind of role you would enjoy, and what to think about when considering career options?

To figure out what kind of role you would enjoy and that would make you feel motivated, you first need to establish the features that are important for you in a role. These features need to align with your interests, values, motivators, personality and the skills you enjoy using. For example, the key features in a job for me include: helping people; using my analytical skills; using my expertise in coaching; and working as part of a team. All these features are fulfilled in my job as a Career Coach and in the company I work for, and hence, I love my job!

Once you know the features that are important for you in a role, you need to think about the kind of jobs that have those features. Make sure you are realistic. It may be asking too much to change from being an Accountant to a Geotechnical Engineer in one step. It is often better to make a career change in smaller steps.

You may want to see a career coach if you are really unsure what kind of work you would find rewarding. Before you commit to a new career, make sure you meet with someone doing that job and ask them what it is really like. Use your network to find out about relevant people who you can talk to.

Whether you are considering a new career, or looking for a new job in the same field. The key to successfully managing you career is to network. Approximately 70 percent of all jobs are placed through the ‘hidden’ job market. That is, roles that are not advertised and filled through contacts or through job applicants approaching the company they would like to work for. If you find out about a role before it is advertised, you are competing with less people and the time-frame for the recruitment period tends to be a lot shorter. I often work with people who are in positions that have been made redundant and I see again and again that those who are well networked tend to gain new employment a lot quicker.

In the New Year I will blog more about networking, how to network effectively, and provide good networking tips.