3 Questions to Ask Before You Jump into a Career Change

Do you feel like your career has reached a dead end? Or is it that you just aren’t motivated to do your job anymore or you find you’re not making best use of your full potential, talents, and skills?

There can be many reasons for a career change and the constant hope of finding your dream job—a job that you have a strong passion for—can actually make the process of a career transition seem all the more daunting. Here are three questions to ask yourself to help you decide if your career change reasons seem valid or if you’re not really ready to jump into a career change right now:

What makes me “me”?

Start by evaluating yourself. What do you have to offer? Make a list of what you like to do outside work—your hobbies or interests, talents, special skills that make you stand out, and even your values and beliefs. This will help you discover your areas of interest and serve as your passion guide to help you find the job that best suits you. The better you understand yourself, the more clear your career goals become.

Do I believe I will succeed?

If you don’t truly believe you will succeed, then chances are that you won’t. Being passionate and having the motivation for a job change is as important as believing you will find success in your new career. For you to be truly successful you need to have three key things: faith in yourself, influence to get things done, and skills. Your skills, knowledge, and influence can help you get ahead but without conviction in your own abilities you won’t get far.

Am I ready to do what it takes?

Understand that the perfect job opportunity is not just going to magically manifest. You need to make a constant effort to research careers that best fit your talents and interests. Start by making a list of top 10 companies you’d like to work for and check to see if they have openings. Use influence to get someone to deliver your resume with a special recommendation to a person of hiring authority. Don’t leave your job until the right opportunity comes by.

The final and most important question to ask when considering your career change reasons is, “Will I be happier and will my life change for the better if I make this choice?” If you answered yes to this question and all of the above but are still feeling anxious, don’t worry: Enlisting the help of a coach who provides effective career transition services can give you the clarity you need to realize your goals and keep you motivated—regardless of the reasons for your career change.