The ultimate Career Change guide
Why, When & How to do it

Do we really know when it’s time for a career change? Or do we dorm in our comfort zone out of procrastination?.

By Emmanuel Perez, aka the Talent Surgeon.

The Talent Surgeon is a contributor ghostwriter for People Place, among other well-known HR digital magazines. The Talent Surgeon gets diagnostics directly related to our day-to-day lives and he surely delivers the right antidote right in time over and over.

Do we really know when it’s time for a career change? Or we dorm in our comfort zone out of procrastination contemplating how our future passes by.

We all experience moments of doubt in our professional lives, but how do you know when it’s time to make a significant change?

In today’s fast-paced and competitive job market, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your career trajectory and make adjustments when necessary. One of the most significant indicators that it’s time for a career change is an unfulfilling salary, however, is not all about the dirty cash…  professional fulfillment, employer recognition, personal progression, and the feeling of overall well been are other key aspects. If you’re seeking ways to improve your income, develop new skills, grow professionally and personally and have the need to find a better employer, then this comprehensive but straightforward guide is for you.

Career transitions are like onions, there is usually a lot more to them than we see on the surface, and if not done like a pro’ it will make you weep!

We will explore ten essential sections that cover everything from identifying the need for a career change, how to read the signs, to how to spot “that” opportunity.

1. Assessing Your Current Situation

A. Job Satisfaction

The first step in determining whether or not a career change is necessary is to evaluate your current job satisfaction. Are you happy with your work, or do you dread going to the office every day? If you find that you’re consistently unhappy, it may be time to consider a new career.

The first step in deciding whether to pursue a career change is evaluating your current job satisfaction. Take a moment to reflect on your happiness, work-life balance, and growth opportunities within your current role.

Some key questions to ask yourself are:

• Are you happy with your current remuneration?
• Do you feel valued and respected at work?
• Do you enjoy the tasks and responsibilities of your job?
• Is your full potential been maximized in your position?
• Are there opportunities for professional development and growth?
• Are you been considered for those opportunities?
• Have you grown as a professional in the way you were expecting?

If the answers to these very basic questions are predominantly negative, you do not need to dig any deeper with more complex ones, is definitely time to consider a change.

 B. Identifying Contributing Factors

Once you’ve assessed your job satisfaction, it’s important to identify the specific factors contributing to your dissatisfaction. For many people, improving their salary is the primary objective. However, other factors such as work-life balance, poor company culture, or lack of quality management communication or management support.

You know better than anybody the real factors, by pinpointing to yourself the real reasons that are causing dissatisfaction, you can begin to develop a targeted plan for addressing them in your next role to make sure they do not repeat to make sure your move will be for the better.

C. Growth Opportunities

Do you feel like you’re growing in skills in your current role, have your potential been maximise? or has your career growth stagnated? Consider whether they’re tangible opportunities for advancement within your current department or company. If you don’t see a clear path to growth, or a career development plan within your organization it may be time to explore other roles, other organisations, and perhaps even sectors that will provide you the room to grow you deserve.

D. Compensation

Take a look at your current compensation package. Are you being paid fairly for your work,  for those unique sets of skills that are in high demand in the market?, are there opportunities for raises, or performance bonuses? If you feel undervalued based on what the market offers for a profile like yours, or underpaid compared to others, it could be a sign that it’s time to move on to a new path.

2. Identifying the Signs It’s Time for a Change

A. Lack of Motivation

One of the most apparent signs that you need a career change is a lack of motivation. If you find yourself constantly procrastinating or struggling to complete tasks, it’s a clear indication that your current job isn’t fulfilling your needs. It will affect your performance, productivity, and overall employee engagement and as a result your career development.

B. High-Stress Levels

Experiencing high levels of stress in your job can negatively impact your mental and physical health and as a consequence affect your personal life. If you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed or anxious due to your work, it’s something you can’t under any circumstances ignore. Workplace stress for ongoing periods of time is a strong risk factor for preludes to cardiovascular disease (obesity, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure) and of adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke.

No job is worth your health, keep that in mind!

C. Poor Relationships with Colleagues

There 7 basic toxic factors that damage employee relations: workplace micro-bullying, lack of honesty, lack of flexibility, bad managers, unclear policies, unjustified wage differences among team members, and unresolved workplace conflicts among colleagues. If we had to these basic factors other more complex ones the signs became more and more evident than fixing a relationship issue at work sometimes can turn into a very difficult task.

A toxic work environment can make it difficult to find happiness in your job and without knowing it we take the issue home with us affecting our personal environment. Is it worth it?

D. Job Hopping

Job hopping has pros and cons and only your personal circumstance will dictate if is the right move or not. But keep in mind that whether or not it will hurt your career will depend on a few things:

a) Your industry    b) Your career stage

c) Your pattern     d) The market situation

e) Your ability in interviews

If you find yourself frequently job hopping or unable to commit to a role for an extended period, it could be a sign that you haven’t found the right fit for your skills and interests. But could also be a sign of unresolved issues with the way you perceive things.

3. Exploring New Career Options

A. Consider similar but research Different Industries

Before diving into a career change, consider opportunities in similar corporations to your existing one, often a vertical move into a different organization from the same industry you are in is a very natural step. Other times it’s essential to research different industries to identify potential new opportunities. Look for industries that align with your skills and professional assets, interests, and values to ensure a successful transition.

B. Networking 

Networking is a crucial part of exploring new career options. Expand your connections,  join professional groups, and connect with people you think can add value to your digital brand or your desired field that way, when the time comes, you will already have contacts to leverage.

In addition, you can identify mentors who can provide guidance and support throughout your career, sometimes only takes a comment or a like to engage with them.

C. Skills Assessment

Take some time to assess your current skills and determine how they can transfer to a new career. Identify any gaps in your skillset and consider taking courses or pursuing online certifications to pump your hard and soft skills, this will make you more marketable in the current market, both for your current or for the new industry you are trying to switch to.

4. Preparing for a Career Change

A. Updating Your Resume

Before you begin applying for new jobs, take the time to update your resume to reflect your relevant skills and experience. Revise your summary and make the necessary tweaks. Design a new layout if necessary to accommodate the increase in text, add new skills, and get rid of old ones that seem now unnecessary. Within every subsection, keep your resume tight, clear, and in line with your current goals and plans. You’re evolving, and your resume should do the same.

B. Crafting a Compelling Cover Letter

A well-written cover letter will make a significant difference in your job search. Make a sound introduction of your profile, cover your availability to start, how your skills and experience make you an ideal candidate for the new role, and a brief statement of your interest in the organization.

C. Practicing Your Interview Skills

Interviewing again can be mentally exhausting, especially if combined with your current job, and personal life,  just finding a gap for it can be very off-putting. Look at it like home searching, it pays off sooner than expected and is worth every effort. Don’t underestimate it because you have done it before, the employer market changes constantly and you do not want to be obsolete in it process.

Practice your interview skills and prepare answers to common questions to increase your confidence and chances of success.

5. Navigating the Job Market

A. Staying Informed

Stay connected with the job market to identify new opportunities and be agile in your job search. Have your social media channels active and well-tuned, maximize auto-follow updates, relevant article notifications, and relevant industry news, and if or when advisable attend networking events.

B. Being Persistent

The pandemic and post-pandemic and the constant employment market changes could confuse anyone when trying to get back into the job market. Finding a new position that will be right for you can be time-consuming and sometimes very discouraging.

Be persistent in your goal and continue to apply for positions even when you have not been successful when you thought you would be. Remember that every application is a learning experience and brings you one step closer to finding the right fit.

6. Utilizing a Recruitment Agency

A. Finding the Right Agency

Working with the right recruitment agency can make all the difference when it comes to finding a new career. Take the time to research and find an agency that specializes in One to One consultancy, this way they do the majority of the work for you, and most of the points we have covered in this guide can be taken care of by your consultant making the process incredibly smooth and stressless.

B. Building a Relationship

Once you’ve found the right recruitment agency, it’s essential to build a strong and candid relationship with your consultant. Communicate your goals, interests, and concerns openly to ensure you work together towards the same goal, your consultant can be a valuable asset to help you find the best opportunities for you, so can go through the entire process with ease and he/she will be there for you before, during, and after your onboarding process.

C. Trusting Their Expertise

An experienced consultant will have extensive knowledge of the job market and industry trends. Trust their expertise and follow their guidance; agency consultants are in direct contact with corporate HR departments and their counterparts, and they have first-hand information which they will utilize to assist you and their client by making sure they match the best suitable talent with the best employer to help both side in the process.

7. Handling the Emotional Aspects 

A. Managing Fear & Uncertainty, the Emotional Aspects of a career change

It’s essential to manage feelings of fear and uncertainty by reminding yourself that it’s normal to feel apprehensive about such a significant change in your life. According to studies they are 3 main hurdles that we need to face:

• 1st is the sense of guilt about leaving your employer and your team.
• 2on is the emotional challenge of adjusting your personal identity and sense of self (above 65% of people define themselves by their job instead of considering work as a means to earn a living) When your career changes most likely you will need to adjust your self-image too.
• 3rd is the emotional obstacle is letting go of old patterns and habits that worked well in your previous phase but might not work in the new one.

B. Seeking Support

Don’t be afraid to seek support from friends, family, and professionals during your career change journey. Surrounding yourself with a supportive network can make the process more manageable and help you stay focused and motivated. Is paramount for your successful transition and integration that you have the emotional aspects under control not to cause any unnecessary pressure on yourself.

8. Evaluating Your New Career

A. Measuring Success

Once you’ve transitioned to a new career, after some time take the time to evaluate your success. Consider success factors such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, and growth opportunities to determine if you’ve made the right choice in some aspects and if you have made all necessary efforts in others. Your goal should be not to repeat previous scenarios where you procrastinate on actions to be taken.

B. Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset

A growth mindset is led by the idea that you can do anything you want, or that your effort and attitude determine your success. In contrast, the fixed mindset operates out of the idea that you’re either good at something or you aren’t. You assume your potential is predetermined.(read our article on the topic). Remember that a fixed mindset will always lead you to negative thought patterns and slow your career progression, on the contrary, if you adopt an open mindset in your workplace, your managers will recognize your commitment to fulfilling your responsibilities in the best way you can — even if it means breaking habits that you had always been comfortable with.

C. Celebrate Your Accomplishments but

Continue to Grow.

Once you’ve successfully navigated the career change process, take the time to celebrate your accomplishments. Recognize the hard work and dedication that went into finding a new career and be proud of your achievements. Seek out professional development opportunities and stay engaged in your industry to ensure long-term success.

In conclusion, recognizing the signs that it’s time for a career change and taking the necessary steps to find a new, fulfilling career can lead to increased job satisfaction and overall happiness both at professional and personal levels.

Why hibernate when some much is at stake? why not start today by reaching out to us with a brief and short message? book a  free One to One consultation for a casual chat, it will be your first step to making big things happen!