There are many factors that you need to take into consideration when you are choosing a career path, such as will the job offer you stability? Is the salary comfortable? Are there progression opportunities? Although these are all important points to think about, finding a job role that you have some passion for is what will ultimately keep you happy in your day-to-day routine. It can be easy to let this take a back seat, however, or perhaps at a later stage in life, you find that you no longer have that love for what you do. 

This can leave you feeling frustrated and unhappy in your career, and when this happens, it may be time to consider making a change. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you aren’t sure whether to make a career switch at this time in your life or not.

• How Long Have You Felt This Way?

This is an important question to ask yourself, as the feelings of discontent you are feeling about your job might be a reaction to something else. For example, are you going through a particularly stressful period at work currently? Did these feelings start when this pressure began? Is there a manager or someone else on your team who is getting on your nerves and making you dread going into the office? If they weren’t there, would you still feel that way? It is important to try and determine whether your career is the true issue, or if it is something else that is bothering you so that you don’t make an impulsive decision to change careers when perhaps this isn’t what you needed after all.

• Do You Know What You Want to Switch To?

Making a career change can be exciting, but it’s a big step that does require careful planning if you want to give it the best chance of working out. Therefore, you do need to have a long think about what career you would like to move into, and whether this is the right path for you. Once you have decided what you would prefer to do, you can then start looking at different options to make this happen. You may have to return to school to get a relevant degree or qualification, or perhaps take on different types of training, depending on the role. There are ways you can make studying work around a job, such as online degree courses. You may also want to look at fast-track courses for certain jobs if this is more suitable. For example, if you are changing careers to nursing, an accelerated course might be better if you can’t afford to spend years in a traditional nursing school environment.

• Are You in the Right Financial Position?

Finally, you do need to be prepared for possible reductions in income if you are going to switch careers. If you have no previous experience in this field, you can’t expect to walk into a senior role; instead, you will need to work your way up this different career ladder. Depending on your previous job, this might mean a smaller salary attached to an entry-level position, or even moving to part-time work while you complete your studies if this is a necessary step. Always make sure you are in a good financial position to accommodate these adjustments before you make a switch.

If you have been wondering if your current career is right for you, ask yourself these questions to help you get closer to figuring out if changing careers could be the answer.

Published by HOLR Magazine.