There are some factors that you should consider to ensure that you are making the right decision.
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There are many times we feel unfulfilled in our current careers leaving us disoriented and we lack motivation to move on. We therefore choose to either remain disoriented or make career moves to something better. The move may aim at getting better compensation terms, career advancement or doing something that will get you excited about your career again.
However before you make that move or change there are some factors that you should consider to you ensure that you are making the right decision. Here are the pointers you should factor in before you make a career change:
1. Purpose for change
One of the things that you need to clearly define is why you are making the change. People shift careers because of peer pressure, money or just curiosity. You first of all need to evaluate if you need to make a change or it’s just a want.
A clearly defined purpose will assert if you are making the right decision or not. Purpose should be guided by long-term goals. Ensure you make a change that matches your skills and interests for future career advancement.
2. Advancement Opportunities
You should vet every company that you want to join and see if there are opportunities for growth. A good example is working in an SME as compared to established companies. According to entrepreneur.com “A large company often has a complex structure whereas an SME has a more flexible work policy. This allows an SME professional to contribute more to his company than someone of an equivalent designation in an MNC.”
An SME may not offer you a tantalizing compensation package but you will grow in your skills and knowledge because of the room for growth offered.
3. Future of work
You need to gauge the future of the particular profession. When the internet came and people started sending messages via online platforms it rendered many who worked in the postal office redundant. As a result those who had skills and made their careers in the technology industry started being poached.
Ensure that the career you are going into will remain relevant years to come and that there is room for growth.
4. Flexibility
This is where you consider how much flexibility the new career will offer. How much work hours will you be putting in? Will you have opportunities to study and acquire more skills to improve your portfolio? Question if you will have more time to engage with family, go on vacations and other recreational activities.
A Harvard Business Review study revealed that flexibility is one of the benefits that most jobseekers deem most desirable.
