I remember former footballer Gary Lineker saying that in order to be in a good place on the pitch you need to be in a good place off it. He was referring to the importance of being settled and content in other areas of your life apart from on the football field. If you are, he says you’re more likely to play to your potential.
I believe that this is the case with a career transition too. Sometimes people contact me, keen to get started with finding work they love, only to contact me again a few days later to say that there are other, more serious issues that need to be dealt with first.
You may feel that other areas such as health and relationships are all good but something is still holding you back. Well here are 6 reasons why you may be struggling to get started with making a career transition:
1. You have a negative perception of your capabilities
Perhaps you feel that you are a one trick pony and your skills wouldn’t be valuable to any other employer other than your current one. Maybe you’re a jack of all trades and master of none. Or maybe you don’t feel that you’ve done anything worth shouting about at all in your career so far.
You’ve forgotten that you do have achievements you’re proud of, even if it’s not in the workplace. Maybe you just need some help in articulating them.
2. You don’t have the support from loved ones
Even if you are desperate to change jobs, your partner or parents think it’s a crazy idea. After all, you’ve worked so hard to get to where you are and some people would love to do your job.
It can be incredibly hard to go against their wishes especially because they love you. But ultimately they want you to be happy, so it’s definitely a conversation worth persisting with.
3. You are not inspired by friends/family
Who do you know that enjoys their job? If you can’t think of anyone, you may well believe that this is just the way things are meant to be. Make it your aim to find someone who does love work. Trust me, they do exist. You may not want to do what they do but a good conversation with someone who leaps out of bed on a Monday morning can give you all the inspiration you need to get going.
4. You have a poor life balance
You may want a change but where will you find the time to network, research and job hunt. You don’t even have the time to do the things you love to do outside of work, never mind job search.
Maybe you’ve forgotten that contentment is about living a life that is in line with your core values. Your work life balance will tell you much about what is important to you. As you reflect on your daily activities, would you say that they are a true reflection of who you are?
5. You believe you’ll need to take a drop in salary (and you can't afford that)
Your beliefs will have an impact on the actions you take. Some are positive, some will be limiting. Limiting beliefs could be in relation to your salary, age or self confidence. The question is whether your beliefs are based on truth or perception. Only you can answer this.
6. You are not accountable to anyone
Without that person to ensure you stick to your goals, it can be incredibly difficult to get started and keep going. Some friends may praise you for taking a big step but there is a big difference between support and accountability.
If these 6 points do resonate, perhaps some adjustments need to be made before you’re ‘in the right place’. If the above points do not resonate with you, perhaps it’s time to get started. You’re ready for action! If you’d like to discuss you current career dilemma, please feel free to get in touch for a free consultation, especially if there's a doubt about point 6!