Choosing a new career direction
'Find a job you enjoy and you'll never work a day in your life' Confucius
How come you're looking for a new career direction?You may be reading this page because you’re experiencing the void that redundancy has left in your life, or maybe you’ve just survived the latest corporate cull and want to get some ideas before you’re next in line. Maybe you've achieved all your goals and want go to the next level, if only you knew what that might be? It could be that you are just fed up, and wonder how you ever ended up in your current job.
Well if you're standing at the career crossroads wondering where to go next and you don't want your next step to be as risky and random as a game of roulette - read on!
One of our favourite recruitment images was an ad the Royal Air Force ran some years ago. There was a close up of a small boy, totally absorbed in his own little fantasy world, imagining that he was a fighter pilot, using his outstretched arms as soaring wings. The caption read something like 'Because no one ever dreams of being a Chartered Accountant'. Well, frankly who imagined doing some of the bizarre things we end up doing to earn our crust?
So, what did you dream of being? Is it time to think again? Rediscover your old dreams? Think of some new ones? Apparently, Comedian Ricky Gervais always wanted to be a scientist, Fawlty Towers' star Prunella Scales wanted to be a ballet dancer, Radio 2 DJ Mark Radcliff always dreamed of playing drums on Top of the Pops, This Morning star Fern Britton wanted to be a dolphin trainer and sprinting legend Linford Christie wanted to be a pilot. Funny how life turns out isn't it?
Making career changes for the better
Anyway, an optimist (and you must be if you’re here!) will view this period of restlessness as an opportunity to make changes for the better. You may or may not have had a career plan before but you ought to create one now. As your knowledge of yourself and what you want evolves, your plan will evolve with you. It helps you to avoid becoming stale, cynical and stuck in a rut. It stops feeding your inner gremlins of unfulfilled need and dissatisfaction because you're going to do something positive to change your life.
Bad jobs can be like bad marriages
An IIP survey revealed that an alarming number of British firms believe themselves to be populated by, the charmingly titled, 'dead wood' . What a waste for all concerned, but it's easy to see why it happens. Bad jobs are like bad marriages, people stay in them because they think there is no alternative but they don't see why they should be the one to move out, they're not sure if they'll find anyone else and besides they need the money and the food's not bad!
In any event, whether you were/are a corporate high flier in your current/last job or you're a job seeker with little in the way of qualifications, everyone has something to offer a new employer. Your confidence might feel a little bruised if you’ve been made redundant or passed over for a promotion you wanted, but bruises (and dented pride) heal in time.
If you're experiencing the 'there must be more to life than this syndrome', you’ll soon look back and wonder why you were ever worried about your future, because you are about to take charge of it with a vengeance.
In any event, whether you were/are a corporate high flier in your current/last job or you're a job seeker with little in the way of qualifications, everyone has something to offer a new employer. Your confidence might feel a little bruised if you’ve been made redundant or passed over for a promotion you wanted, but bruises (and dented pride) heal in time.
If you're experiencing the 'there must be more to life than this syndrome', you’ll soon look back and wonder why you were ever worried about your future, because you are about to take charge of it with a vengeance.
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"You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing" Dale Carnegie |