We’ve all heard of a mid-life crisis. The urge to ask every existential question out there and seek immediate answers. But what about a mid-job or mid-career crisis? The feeling might sneak up on you at any point in your professional journey and leave you with one question: what’s next for me?
For professionals who have reached a career plateau, the decision for a career shift is not easy. So how can you spot the signs, and what can be the first steps to help you decide between coping or changing?
What Does a Career Shift Really Mean?
When talking about a career change, there are many factors to weigh in: sector, role, and location. Each requires serious consideration and a lot of courage!
Tackling one dimension is more common than modifying all three, but sometimes they can be mutually exclusive.
In fact, career experts recommend setting new goals for yourself to avoid this crisis. Every now and then take some time to break down your work year and see if you remember why you started to begin with.
A career move can either be a gradual or sudden feeling, but either way, should not be taken lightly. Here’s why.
Signs It’s Time to Move On
It’s the famous “it’s not you, it’s me” expression, but make it more professional. The below signs may be uncomfortable but they will definitely help you identify the extent to which you’re willing to change: is it just a job shift or are you moving to another industry that requires relearning a new set of skills?
The motivation is gone
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
If you no longer look forward to the job or you feel less engaged because you’re not learning something new, then you might have to consider the why? Is it because you’re not growing or are you falling into a routine where you’re less engaged?
If money could talk …
…What would it tell you? With respect to passion and ambition, the financial aspect remains an incentive that cannot be dismissed. It’s actually a factor that will either delay your career shift or expedite it. The salary and benefits can sometimes be the main reason why certain people stick around in the job, yet it can also be a great motivation to make a total pivot.
The market wants what the market wants
With all the uncertainties the world is facing, the future is not so clear to both fresh graduates and working professionals.
When climbing the career ladder, pausing to assess is not wrong, on the contrary, it’s mature and commendable.
If you’re evaluating what the market needs and notice a gap with your personal development within a business, you have another sign to pay attention to.
No reason is also a reason!
Career moves don’t always have to be justified or given a deeper melodramatic meaning. A lot of us are interested in many topics, sectors, and fields of study, but so it happens we picked one over the other.
How to Make a Successful Shift?
Recognizing even one of the aforementioned signs is enough for you to re-assess, so take it step by step.
Lists are never out of date
Who doesn’t love a good list? Write down a checklist with your thoughts on the below, and see where it leads you. Research market needs and forecasts along with potential occupations that are worth exploring:
- Set your goals and career plan
- Revisit your resume
- Connect with your existing network
- Expand your network
Network
Networking remains one of the most effective ways to not only apply for jobs but also to seek professional advice from experts in the industry you’re interested in.
Interesting fact, a common shift is noticed with engineers that are looking to make a career switch and are interested in exploring the managerial or business side.
Now more than ever, recruiters and employers are looking for transferrable skills and new skills when evaluating career switchers, particularly ones they acquire during higher-education studies, as it is a good start to becoming a serious candidate.
Consider an MBA
When you don’t lack hard skills, picking up new ones in marketing, operations, finance, and communication, will help you pursue a broader set of roles after completing your MBA, and ultimately boost your employability.
EMLV’s 12 months MBA programme is AMBA and RNCP accredited. It not only brings you a step closer to the heart of digital technology but supports you in building your leadership and entrepreneurial competencies, organizational management skills, as well as strengthening your research methods.
During your studies, you will also connect with fellow peers going through the same journey, alumni you can benefit from their past experience and potential employers.
The admissions and career departments et EMLV business school are familiar to career shifts and are always on standby to support your transition!
Acquire new skills and chase your dream career today!