Are You Ready For a New Career?
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Are you wondering whether you should make changes in your career -- and life, or stay put? You know that something’s missing but you can’t put your finger on it!



Are you satisfied with your job?



Respond "yes" or "no:"

1. Is your body sending you messages? Do you have lingering colds? Trouble getting up work days?


2. Are you constantly thinking, “I can hardly wait till Friday?”


3. Do you frequently daydream at work?


4. Do you call in sick when you’re not?


5. Have your performance and productivity slipped?


7. Do you have many disagreements with colleagues or superiors?


8. Will leaving the organization enable you to achieve desired goals?


9. Is your work damaging your self confidence, health, or other?





Two or more “yeses” suggest you may be dissatisfied. To nurture your career, act. If you're convinced a job move is in order, go for it!





Career Transition Tips





- Define and overcome barriers. Describe any blocks that are preventing you from making a move. Examples could be fear of losing a secure income, pension or other benefits; fear that you will lose power, prestige; fear of having to live up to an image, making a mistake, or being embarrassed; not knowing where to begin a new job search; or guilt that change may interfere with relationships.



- Know that you have many exciting options. These include changing departments in the same organization, shifting employers, changing occupational fields, becoming self employed, taking a sabbatical or going back to school for upgrading or retraining.



- Investigate options. Research and planning will reduce risk. For example, if you want to return to school or start your own business, and fear reduced income, you can learn to live on less, work part-time while pursing your goal and borrow money from family or the bank.



- Avoid guilt. Don’t worry about letting everyone down, or what others may think. Don't imourn a job that no longer meets your needs.



- Don’t stay in a job you dislike because of security. Security is wishful thinking. But developing positive attitudes, believing in yourself, working hard, and developing the will to risk will enable you to succeed.



- Realize that change involves tradeoffs. Change may involve some temporary personal or financial sacrifices. But most Questers agree that in the long term, their gains far outweigh their losses. Greater satisfaction, independence, flexibility and control over personal and work lives are some benefits acquired.



- Listen to your self. Don’t base your self-respect on what other’s think. Listening to your feelings will help you identify what you really want. If you make the move that’s right for you, you will succeed. Better relationships with family and friends are often added benefits.



- Don’t make excuses. Be honest. If you feel stagnant, deciding to stay can be as traumatic as moving. Staying in a job with no hope of advancement or satisfaction is self defeating and risky. Stress, illness, and loss of enthusiasm, self-confidence and employability may result.



- Don’t be afraid to fail. Setbacks are learning experiences. Successful changers eliminate much failure by planning and persisting. If they do fail, and they do, they say, “I’ve done my best. ... I’m only human.” Then they figure out what went wrong, modify their plans and try again.



- Additional tips may be found in "Questers Dare Change Your Job and Life."