With the pandemic resetting the rules and “Great Resignation” everyone is talking about, there is an incredible amount of change in the job market. If you are dissatisfied with your current role and believe you need a new job, this could be the perfect time to make a move.
Since you already have a job, you are in the best place to search for your next big career change. You have the luxury of time to invest in yourself and your next move. You can look into things you’ve not thought were possible before. And you can ask for things that have recently become normal—remote work, flexible hours and at-home benefits.
So, if you’ve decided you need a new job, here are three helpful attitudes to adopt before you start your job search.
“I’m allowed to look for something else, no matter what anyone else thinks”.
If you’re like most people, you discuss what’s going on with you with family and friends. When you do, you might hear things like “You have a good job right now, better not do anything risky” or “You should just be satisfied with what you have”. Comments like that can make you feel guilty, as if making a career change on your own timeline is somehow the wrong thing to do.
Remember, it isn’t. Not everyone is in the same space as you, and while you respect people’s opinions, no one can tell you when it’s a good time to move except for you. People who love us often say things like this because they don’t want something to happen to you, or they think it’s safer to stay where you are.
But if you believe you need a new job, that’s all the reason you need.
“It’s okay for me to explore why I want a change.”
One of the reasons you might believe you need a new job is because you are burned out with what you’re doing today. When you’re burned out, nothing about your current career sounds attractive, and you start thinking about ideas which may sound crazy to consider. Consider them anyway!
While it’s natural for us to get into polarized thinking (Once a client who worked in financial services told me he wanted to sell everything and be a ferry boat driver between islands in the Bahamas—talk about the opposite!), that’s often a result of burn out. Give yourself some time to explore what’s really going on with you. Is it the work you dislike, or the environment? Does your team not gel? Is it the culture? These are all factors which can make you feel like running for the hills.
Bottom line, you spend most of your waking time at work. It’s totally fine to take time to think about what you really want, and how that can fit into your next role. (And he didn’t move to the Bahamas, after all; turns out, he didn’t like some things about his day-to-day life which could be reframed to reduce his burnout. His wife and kids aren’t investing in sunscreen yet.)
“I deserve to invest in myself.”
You may see roles you want that need a new job qualification you don’t meet today. If that’s what you really want, invest in getting there! This can be challenging to figure out when you have other accountabilities but making some sacrifices to get what you want serves you much more than holding yourself back thinking “what if”.
Look online at certification or other courses that can help you gain skills. Check if you have any work reimbursement programs to take advantage of for ongoing education. If time is in short supply, talk to your family about what you are thinking and ask for help.
Let other people support you to help you get there. It might require some vulnerability to let people know what’s going on, or they might be skeptical, but people love to respond to a call for help. Let them be a part of you getting to where you want to be.
Making a change in career can be a challenge. But if you believe you need a new job, it’s a great time to explore what’s out there and consider something different. By incorporating the three attitudes above, you’ll start your search in a strong position, and a great new job can’t be far behind.
