The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new. –Socrates
You have a spectacularly good weekend and now you find yourself dreading having to go back to work. The Monday Blues are not just for those who are still recovering from Saturday night. This feeling of dismay manifests itself on those who have reached a level of unhappiness in their job. Perhaps the work is no longer challenging or the environment is suppressing. If you’ve lived with a funny feeling that you’re meant to be doing something else maybe it’s time to make a change. And what better time than the new year to get a fresh start?
Do you want to leave the corporate world and start your own business? Wouldn’t it be great if you found that new job that fulfilled all your professional desires? Wouldn’t it be better yet to find a career doing what you love? So where do you begin? If you’re asking yourself all of these questions, today might be your best Monday yet!
Here are some tips to get you started.
Open different doors (and windows, if necessary) at work
The grass is always greener, they say. Well, not always. Think carefully about your current job before making any drastic decisions. Sometimes a new perspective can give your staled career a new boost. If you haven’t felt challenged in your current position explore how to participate and contribute on assignments that stretch you professionally. Working with other departments or lending a helping hand to a colleague can open opportunities that you never knew existed. I’m not suggesting that you stay in an unsavoury environment, just make sure you have looked at every possible angle before deciding to move on.
Get ready
Update your resume, speak to recruiters about your options and sharpen your interview skills. And in the process think about your own personal brand—the things you have accomplished in your career and how you can translate those skills into a new job opportunity.
Reach out
Make the most of your professional network by actively reaching out to previous employers, colleagues, recruiters or your old university roommate. Make the most of social networks such as LinkedIn, which is a great resource and tool for new job seekers and making professional connections. Also search for conferences, industry events or mixers that will put you in front of people who might know people.
And for those of you asking “What if I want to make an entire career change?”
Well, that’s certainly courageous and I encourage it! It means that you want to find your true passion and do what you love. If you don’t quite know what that is yet, here are a few simple questions to get you started thinking about it.
- I’ve always wondered what it would be like to do ____________.
- If I had to go back to school tomorrow, the subject I’d be more interested in is__________.
- My co-workers and friends always say I’m great at ____________.
- The thing I love most about my current job is ____________.
Changing jobs or careers may not always be easy but if you take small steps you will reap the benefits of doing what you love. The key is to let go of fear and insecurities and think about the possibility of being able to wake up every single day excited about the work you’re doing.
Have you made a career change recently? Are you doing what you love? Contribute to conversation by leaving a comment! Need help figuring out your next step? Let us help you. Contact us to schedule a consultation.