Around a quarter of Australians are actively seeking career changes. We chat with career coach Marina Pitisano about what’s involved in taking the plunge.
Considering a career change? Here’s what you need to know
ARTICLE
11 August 2021
4 mins read
4 mins read
When COVID-19 shut down the world in March 2020, how we worked changed forever. Remote working became standard. Zoom calls replaced in-office meetings. And many employees suddenly had the opportunity to reassess what was important to them in their professional lives.
A recent survey from Gartner, Inc found that around 24 per cent of Australians are actively seeking other employment. But deciding to quit your job – or change your career path – is a big step.
Before you start drafting your resignation letter, career coach and trainer Marina Pitisano suggests considering a few things.
1. Think about what you really want in a job
COVID-19 has given people time to reassess what they want from the workplace. While working from home presented new challenges for some, others discovered they were thriving under the new arrangement.
“[Some] people have identified that they enjoy the flexibility of working from home,” Marina explains. “Their stress level has reduced because they’re not going into the office, and some have re-evaluated that the workplace they’re in, or the job they’re doing, isn’t giving them the satisfaction they want, or aligning with their values.”
Ultimately, many people realised their priorities have changed, they’re no longer satisfied and they’re not fitting in.
“Think about what you’re passionate about, what you love to do, what your non-negotiables are, and what your ‘why’ is,” says Marina. “They’re all triggers to start searching for something else.”
2. Do you want a job change or a career change?
Do you want to change your job – because you’re dissatisfied with your role, your manager, or due to taking on more unpaid responsibilities – or your career?
“A career change is when people are completely re-evaluating their life,” Marina says. “They may have gone through a loss or trauma, and now they’re looking to make a complete change to do something they’re really passionate about or will make them happy.”
3. Create a future career map and do a skills analysis
Marina suggests creating a future career map as a way to drill down into what you want from a role. List what you want, what you want to achieve, and what your values are – then set some new goals.
Then, do a skills analysis: What skills do you have, and which ones can you transfer to a new industry?
If you’re considering transitioning into a new field, it’s wise to invest in training and development, along with researching the industry you’re interested in. Look at the types of roles available, and then make a plan for building relationships and networks. That might mean attending industry-specific events and forums (LinkedIn is a great resource for these) or leveraging your existing relationships to find someone connected to your field of interest.
“I always encourage people to get a mentor in the industry they’re keen to move into,” Marina suggests. “Find someone and see if they’ll mentor you through the process.”
4. Be prepared to take a step down
Taking on a new role often means starting all over again. You need to learn new systems and procedures, and you’ll likely feel like a small fish in a very large pond. If you’re used to a level of seniority at your job, ask yourself honestly whether you’re comfortable with starting over in a more junior position.
This could involve taking a salary cut too, so it’s important to prepare for that.
“If you’ve quit your job before getting a new one, you might be out of work for a while, so it’s important to plan financially,” Marina explains. “It’s a good idea to figure out how far your funds will run before deciding to take the leap.”
5. Chat to a career coach
If you know you want a change, but don’t know what that change is, talking to a career coach can help. Just don’t expect to have that light bulb moment straight away.
“A lot of people come to me and think I’m going to give them all the answers, but this is a journey that takes longer than one meeting,” Marina laughs.
But a career coach can help you map out what you do and don’t want in a role or industry, and provide advice on what sort of skills, training or further education you might need to get there. Then, once you’re fully prepared – you can open a new chapter in your life, knowing you’re equipped meet the challenges of a career change head on.
Staff Writer
Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstance
Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
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