Tag Archives: careers

It’s Never Too Late To Change Direction

January 22, 2021 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

*Collaborative post.

In life, it can be hard to know what it is that you really want in life. You can spend years working towards something that you thought you wanted, but then when you get there it’s not quite what you thought it would be. Even if that is the case, that doesn’t mean it’s too late, there’s no point in life where there’s no turning back when it comes to your career, and you should never let thoughts like that hold you back! 

Often people do what’s expected of them, or what they feel they need to do, so it’s not uncommon to be working in a job that doesn’t align with your dreams. You have to be creative with your ambitions if you want to know what it is that fits you.

How to know

Is your job starting to feel stale? Do you often fantasize about other careers wishing that you worked towards them instead? Well, if this is the case, it might be time to start looking into turning that around! That’s not to say you should just drop everything in an instant, finances need to be taken care of, but what’s stopping you from working on it? 

Age doesn’t matter

So you feel like it’s too late to turn back now, as you’re no longer in your twenties, maybe not in your thirties either; that doesn’t matter. There’s a popular Chinese proverb that says “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”. Think about it, how much happier you would be twenty years from now if you were to change direction now; there’s no time like the present!

What you can do

There’s plenty you can do to change direction, no matter what your dream job is! For some, if not all, it’s going to be a daunting path. The idea of going back to college or university with people a lot younger than yourself might feel silly, but it’s completely normal! You’re there to make the best of your life, and there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.

Even if you need to spend years studying for your dream profession, it’s worth the effort if you can commit to it! For example, you could apply for a doctor of education program much later in life than the other students. It might not sound like everyone’s dream, but graduates of this program are prepared for academic leadership positions, and for some that might sound like something worth turning their life around for!

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Don’t limit yourself to the expectations of other people, if there’s something that you’ve always wanted to do, you should start now.

Try new things

If you find yourself not enjoying your job, but also not knowing what it is that you want to do, not to worry! This just means you haven’t found what it is that you’re looking for yet, and it’s still never too late in life to find that! Now’s the time to be looking and experiencing new things, try to picture yourself in different professions! 

This doesn’t only apply for just jobs, hobbies and activities are a great way to find out more about yourself. Everyone needs a hobby, something that makes you feel good about yourself, and a creative outlet you can pour your time into! It’s never too late to pick up a new hobby either, you just have to remember to set aside some time for it here and there.

Why you should

If you dread going to work every day, but you think that it’s best if you carry on going to the same job in the same field, you might be wrong. Even if your current job brings in enough money to make you feel successful, you still need fulfillment and happiness to go with that. Money can’t buy happiness, but having a life that you enjoy is worth a lot more than all the money in the world. You don’t want to be living with the regret in the back of your mind, wishing that you’d just changed course at some point, when you can change course right now!

It’s not an easy decision to make, as you have to put in a lot of work to change your direction in life, but when you think about why you’re doing it, it can make it a lot easier. You only get

 

 

Signs You Could Be Wasting Time In The Wrong Career

December 5, 2020 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

*Collaborative post.

Are you suddenly wondering whether you may be in the wrong career? The fact that you’re even thinking about this could be an indication that you are. However, you shouldn’t go on this thought alone. Looking for other signs that you could be in the wrong career is a good idea. Below, you’ll find a list of signs that could indicate whether you are in the wrong career – take a look and see if it’s time for you to make a change:

  1. You Spend Too Much Time Complaining About Work

Do you spend a lot of your time complaining about work? If so, it could be a sign you need a change. Complaining every so often is ok, but if you’re complaining all the time and struggling to find things to be grateful for, then it could be a sign you’re in the wrong field, industry, or role. Examine what is making you unhappy and whether it is temporary or permanent. 

2. You have Work Anxiety

Having work anxiety is not pleasant, especially since we spend so much of our lives in work. Are you anxious about the workplace, someone at work, or an element of your job? You may be able to speak with your boss and sort this out, but if not, it could be a big sign that you need to move on. 

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3. You’re Not Sure Why You’re There Anymore

Maybe you started this career with the best of intentions, sure that you were going to do some meaningful things to fill you with purpose. However, if you’re not sure why you’re there anymore, it looks as if you may have grown or evolved as a person. Just because a job once filled you with joy and purpose, doesn’t mean it will forever. This is why remaining flexible is key. Just because you’ve put a few years into something, doesn’t mean you should continue to plug away at it when you’re clearly not happy. 

4. You Imagine Quitting 

If you sit at work and daydream about quitting and going off to do something else, this is a huge sign. If you know there’s something else you’d rather spend your time doing, but you’re not doing anything to work towards that, maybe now is the time to get started on an action plan.

5. Your Lifestyle Isn’t One You Enjoy

Your lifestyle is hugely important, and the type of work you do can impact it. Your work will impact how much you make, how much time you have off, flexibility, and so much more. If your lifestyle doesn’t suit you currently, it could be time to explore roles that offer lifestyles that do. You could look into driving instructor courses, as this role often comes with more flexibility than a regular job. However, it’s up to you to define the lifestyle you would like.

6. You Know Your Skills and Talents Aren’t Being Utilized

In any job role, skills and talents should be utilized for your satisfaction and your best work output. If you know that your skills and talents just aren’t being utilized, then you likely need a role where they are. What are you really good at, and what sort of role would help to enhance that? When do you feel most alive, and happy? When are you focused and in the flow? Define these moments and skills so you know what sort of things you need to be doing.

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7. You Have No Energy

Having no energy doesn’t always come from having a super busy job where you’re on your feet all day. You could begin to feel exhausted even if you’re sat down all day – jobs you hate can mentally exhaust you. Or, perhaps you feel exhausted physically and mentally because you’re giving everything you’ve got, but you’re not really getting anything back. In your ideal job, you may get tired from time to time, but you won’t mind much because you’ll feel purposeful.

8. You’re Sick All The Time

If you’re sick, either physically or mentally, it could be down to spending so much time in a job you’re not gelling with. Many people don’t feel mentally well in the wrong job. They can become riddled with anxiety and stress, amongst other issues. Plus, mental stress can lead to a lowered immune system, so the two go hand in hand.

9. You’re Just Bored

Maybe you’re seriously bored at your job. If it’s no longer a challenge for you and you want something you can get stuck into, it could be time to move on. Some people would never leave a stable job out of boredom, but where’s the fun in life if you’re going to play it safe constantly?

10. You Have To Focus On Extras Just To Get Through The Day

Maybe you’re not living in the present moment, and instead, having to focus on the extras just to get you through the day. Perhaps you’re looking ahead to a future bonus, a conference, a milestone anniversary, or a sales team trip. Maybe you constantly count the days until the weekend and dread Mondays. If you have to focus on extras to get through the day, you should definitely be elsewhere.

11. Your Values Don’t Line Up

Knowing your own personal values and what’s important to you can help you to pick the ideal job. You should work in a role that aligns with your values. Not only that, you should be working with a company that aligns with your values! For example, if you’re a vegan who loves animals, you wouldn’t want to work for a company that sells animal products. This would be at odds with what is important to you and would likely make you unhappy in one way or another. That’s just one example – make sure you know what your own values are! 

Have you figured out whether you’re in the wrong career yet? If you find yourself thinking about it all the time, then this is enough of a reason to move on. You don’t need a big reason for taking a leap of faith and doing something new. Life is to be lived, whatever stage you’re at and whatever age you are. Thanks for reading and leave your thoughts below! 

Fancy A Career Change? Here’s Three Tips To Help Get You Started

October 27, 2020 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

*Collaborative post.

While it is an unstable and uncertain time economically, and in the world generally at this moment in time, if you are currently unhappy in your job and professional life, you shouldn’t let this stand in the way of a career change.

No matter what you might think, and no matter what stage you are at in your life, whether that be twenty-five or forty-five, it is never too late to shake things up professionally. And if you need proof and motivation, look at all the success stories out there of both men and women who have found great success in life thanks to a change in career. A great example is JK Rowling, who famously started writing Harry Potter on a napkin in a cafe after being turned down by 12 publishers.

While it most definitely can be scary and overwhelming, a change like this could make your life better in a way that you might not even be able to imagine right now, and if the recent pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that life is too short to not go after what you want. Here are three tips to get you started down the path to a career change.

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Make sure you actually want a career change

When people hate their jobs and are dissatisfied, more often than not, it is the people that they work with, as well as the environment, that contributes to unhappiness rather than the actual field itself. Before you go off making any rash and drastic life decisions, really take the time to think about whether you actually want to change your entire career or just the job you are in right now – maybe you are down the right path, but simply in the wrong job. Even if you hate the job, maybe the industry is still a good fit and one that would interest you if you maybe had a slightly different position that was a better fit. Take the time and do some research into what other positions are out there that link to your current field and consider them first. 

Upskill 

With all of us spending more time at home, now is the perfect time to make use of any extra time that you have and invest it in yourself by taking up less-traditional ways of gaining experience to make the significant career change you want. Understand yourself, and get familiar with, your new chosen field, and do some research first. Look up job boards, like this pediatrics career search site, and look at what experience and skills are needed to be considered. Once you are armed with knowledge on the skills and qualifications that are required, you can look up online courses, and even degrees, that you can do either full time or in your spare time on evenings and weekends. Consider Rasmussen University if you’re thinking about an online degree program. They offer a wide range of affordable yet high-quality degrees for you to choose from. Not only do you get to gain more skills and qualifications, guaranteeing that you will be seen as a more desirable candidate, but it also gives you a chance to make sure you like the career path that you are choosing to go down and make sure you still want to follow it. Even if you don’t require any official qualifications, it never hurts to upskill to broaden your opportunities. 

Take care of your finances 

With any big life change, it’s essential to make sure that you are financially healthy first to ensure that you are ready for the change. If you are going to be starting a bit further down the ladder than your current position, you will need to accept that you will need to make some financial sacrifices, at least for now, and will need to give yourself time to create a financial plan and budget to be able to adapt to your new earnings. Learn about the salary structure and expectations of your new career as well, and what you can realistically expect to earn. Look at pay scales on the internet, do research and talk to people who are already in the field. Either way, you will need a very clear picture of both, and if finance isn’t your strongest area of expertise you can always talk to a professional for advice to get your money back on track, and of your mind, to allow you to focus on making the giant leap. 

 

 

 

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