Ask these 10 questions seriously to yourself before making any major changes related to career.10 questions- to ask yourself before making a career change is must read for all those who seek change.
Many a times in our life we have to address some of the most critical questions of our life. These are the questions which make us or break us, these are the questions which creates long term effect on our personal, professional and social life. These are the questions which changes our entire life style and way of living. These are the questions which needs greater research, enough investigation, complete planning from our end, if we fail to address it properly, it may creat very much serious problems in our life and we have to tolerate the consequences of it for very long time.
CHANGE OF THE CAREER IS ONE OF THE SUCH QUESTION
If your job is draining you more than nourishing you, consider a change. -Senoraroy
There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction. – Winston Churchill
Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. – Arnold Bennett
Whenever we wants to change the career, We must ask and address below mention questions to our self. Be brutal with yourself, answer each question with utmost honesty.
1. CAREER CHANGE OR JOB CHANGE ?
First of all, answer this question completely, because many a times we may not be sure that whether we wants to change the job, organization, institution or enterprise in which we are working OR We wants to change the entire industry in which we are working.
After deep consideration and analyzing the situation from every point of view it may be possible that it is not industry but it is the job profile or job description or nature of your job you may want to change.
Let me explain it from one example. Suppose if you are working in hospitality industry and working in any hotel as a front desk executive or receptionist, constant complain and demanding services from your guest may create lots of tension and pressure for you and due to that if you want to change the career, before making any sudden move, work in any other area of hospitality industry like back office, administration or HR and see the changes it brings with it and after moderate time frame evaluate your decision and based upon this make next move.
2. FIRST QUESTION ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION
The second and most logical question is Why do I want to change career? Is completely based upon the answer of your first question. Because due to addressing first question properly, at least now you are in a position to know the areas of your current career causing troubles for you or most responsible for change. There are commonly known few areas responsible for change.
(A) Is it money or Financial gain or loss?
(B) Is it status?
(C) Is it economy?
(D) Is it boredom?
(E) Is it office conflicts?
(F) Is it work environment?
(G) Is it relocation?
3. SECOND QUESTION HELPS YOU FOR THIRD QUESTION’S ANSWER
After thorough analysis and honest discussion with yourself only, now you are in a position, to understand the major factor or factors(many a times more than one factor are responsible for change) for your career change decision.
Once you have identified motive or motives behind your decision. Evaluate it thoroughly with enough research, facts and figures.
Suppose money or monitory gain is prime cause behind your career change, ask few more questions like
(A) Does your new career will provide you expected money?
(B) How much time does it need to reach up to the expected level?
(C) The amount and time which you have decided for your new career is it based upon some hardcore concrete data or on sound research or mere daydreaming or just plain assumptions or hypothetical?
4. ARE YOU QUALIFIED FOR CAREER CHANGE?
No doubt, you have find out the motive behind your career change, you have set some financial goals also, but have you done enough research from your part that the career in which you want to jump or begin, needs some basic qualifications, some educational requirements, some professional training or course? And without that professional degree, course or credentials you cannot enter in that particular career.
So, while selecting the alternative career do not forget to address this questions.
5. ARE YOU PREPARED DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED?
Once you found that, the career in which you want to jump is suitable for you and it servers the purpose or motive which you intended,
but you are not qualified for it, you does not have enough skills or does not possess professional credentials required to do it.
Then,
There are more questions and more answers.
Are you sincere enough to do whatever is needed to do it? Have you have that much time to acquire professional degree or certificate which is needed for that career? Does your age permits you to enter in that career? Have you have enough resources to acquire that qualifications or certificates?
Let me explain it through simple example.
Currently you are working in hospitality industry but you wants to change your career as a life guard- an expert swimmer employed, as at a beach or pool, to protect bathers from drowning or other accidents and dangers.
Now answer all the above mention questions wisely and decide whether can you change your career?
6. IMPACT OF CAREER CHANGE ON YOUR FAMILY AND PERSONAL LIFE.
A new career is not only a major change for you only but it means it brings major changes in your family too. What, if your career requires you to move for another locations, What, if you have to work longer hours? What, if you have to travel more? What, if you earn far less than your previous career? What, if your new career is dangerous and many a times life threatening or cause death also.
So, these are the questions needs proper clarification from your part to your family members.
7. DO YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND NEW CAREER?
Despite of all above mention questions still one more time ask yourself that do you really or truly understand what is involved in new career? Because, your new career seems very much interesting, exciting, thrilling, full with challenges, glamorous, fulfill your inner desire may be from superficial level but when once you get inside of it, you may badly disappoint.
So, before making final move make your sure you have done enough research, you have gathered wide variety of information, you have networked with enough people, you have ask enough questions & you have read enough comments about it.
8. HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE COMFORTABLE LIVING FROM THIS NEW CAREER?
After answering all the questions it is financial considerations which needs addressing properly, Because in whichever new career you are heading it is obvious you lack expertise, you lack contacts, you lack experience, you lack tricks and techniques to earn easily and with less efforts.
So, it is quite obvious that during initial period of career change your income will be much more less and sometimes even you may not earn anything, so during that period, how you maintain your livelihood? Is prime question, because during that time you have to make enough compromises with your living standard, your comfortable life style may be changed for a while, so, are you mentally, physically and socially ready or prepared for this?
9. LONG TERM OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW CAREER
The new career which you have chosen, is it good, profitable in the long run? Does it have life cycle? If yes, how much years can you spend in this career.
So, depending upon the years, efforts, investment and time you are investing in new career does it provide long term value?
10. DO YOU HAVE BACK-UP PLAN
Last but not least, despite of all your sincere efforts, desperate attempts, still, you not succeed in your new career, what do you do? Do you have an back-up plan or plan B in mind?
If not, do not miss to give it serious thought.
Because, remember one thing very clearly that life is quite unpredictable and many of our best laid plans does not work as per own wish or desire, Always expect unexpected.
[box type=”success” align=”alignleft” ]CONCLUSION: These are the few questions you need to answer before making final move towards new career. Last but not least, many a times fortune favors the brave or those who go deep down to the ocean finds some precious jewels. So, if your heart is very much in something and which you need to do at any cost and anyhow and if your intentions and motives are good then with all the faith on universe take that bold step & venture in it.[/box]
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