Over four million Americans have been fired from their jobs in the United States so far this year. 44% of those workers are currently looking for a job.[1][5] Research from LinkedIn shows that 87% of people are open to finding better job opportunities, while another study from ADP identified that 7 out of 10 employees had contemplated a major career move this year.[2]
With the ongoing conversations around the “great resignation,” the “big quit,” and “quiet quitting,” the bottom line is this: Many people are on the lookout for their next career step.. And for a wide variety of reasons, it’s not surprising why people are looking for more.
- Worldwide, around 85% of employees don’t feel engaged at work.[3]
- 83% of U.S. workers experience work-related stress. 25% say their job is their number one stressor.[4]
- With only 33% of employees thriving in their overall wellbeing, most would say that they don’t find their work meaningful, don’t think their lives are going well, or don’t feel hopeful about their future.[6]
Some people are leaving due to toxic company cultures, bad managers, low salaries, and a lack of healthy work-life balance while others are looking for change – something new or different, greater fulfillment, a chance to give back, or that elusive “something more.”
I’m here to support those of you who are ready for change, no matter why. You are not alone, evidently.
Why is it so difficult to change careers?
You might ask: Why am I staying? Perhaps you feel stuck, or you don’t know where to start. You’re terrified of the what-ifs: what if you can’t find another job? What if it gets worse?
Perhaps you are suffering from imposter syndrome. You’ve lost your confidence; will anyone want to hire you? Do you have the necessary skills? Maybe you’ve been trying, but it feels overwhelming and daunting.
These are valid and real concerns. These are not reasons to stop you from moving. You are required To make.
Have you ever thought about the Other what-ifs? What effect does your current situation have on your life, your health, your relationships, and your well-being. What if your current situation continues to impact your life, health, relationships, and well-being?
As an executive, career, and leadership coach, I’ve worked with many clients who waited until the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” to leave. Sometimes, the straw is a broken marriage, unmanageable stress or a serious health issue that forces them to leave. My hope is that the right conversations – held BEFORE these drastic measures – lead you to a more fulfilled path.
Don’t wait. If you’re unhappy, stressed, overwhelmed, unfilled, or working in a toxic, unhealthy work environment, there’s no better time to consider a change.
However, people may have different ideas about what this change means. You don’t always have to leave your job. Sometimes you can make a change by looking for a job at a different company, a challenge, or a way to work.
Keep reading if you are looking to reinvent yourself, change your career, move up in your current job, or return to work after a long absence.
If you’re ready to join the millions of people looking for their next career move, here are five simple steps to discover YOUR next.
Five Steps to Find Your Next Career Move
Step 1: Go back one step
Before moving forward, it’s important to first step back, reflect, take stock, look at the bigger picture, and determine what you want. You can see things differently if you look at them from a distance.
Looking back will help you to better define your future goals. A clear goal or vision is crucial for your next career step.
Stephen Covey, in his own words:
“It doesn’t really matter how fast you’re going if you’re heading in the wrong direction.”
Now, what do YOU want?
- Are you looking for growth?
- What is your company’s culture?
- You want a place where you can use your talents and abilities fully?
- A better work-life balance
- Are you looking for more freedom and autonomy in your work, or collaboration with people you care about?
- Do you want to make a change? Get your confidence back, or have more stability?
- Are you looking for a role where you feel recognized for your contribution, or it’s a new, exciting challenge you’re after?
Let’s take Stephanie, my client. She was looking for a job. As a friend and colleague, she had believed that success meant climbing up the corporate ladder. After a midlife crisis, she realized the importance of work-life balance and contributing meaningfully to her cause.
The more detailed you are, the better. But don’t worry about making it Perfect. This is the first step. As you move through the process, much more of what you desire will become apparent.
Step 2: Take a closer look at YOU
A certain amount of self-awareness will help you to succeed in the next stage of your career. The idea behind this step in the process is to take a closer look at yourself – to go inward and reduce the clutter and noise of expectations and demands. To sort through the expectations and demands of others and find your true essence.
Knowing yourself deeper and making informed decisions will ensure that you are happier, more successful and more fulfilled with whatever you do next.
These are the Key Questions You Need to Ask in this Step
- What are my core beliefs? Life values typically reflect what is important to you – your priorities. What are your most fundamental beliefs, guiding principles, and ideas?
- What are my goals? What are your commitments? What are you most passionate about? How can you help others? How will others – Your company, community, or world – be positively impacted because of you?
- What are my passions What are you passionate about? What is your passion? What keeps you motivated?
- What are my strengths and talents? These could be tangible (H.R. Or consulting skills, or tangible items like H.R. Make a list of everything you can think of, then select the ones that you want to APPLY in the next phase. You may have many skills but don’t necessarily want to Use them As you move forward.
- What’s on your wish list? What are you looking for in your next career? What type of work environment would that look like? What type of people would you like to surround yourself with? What type of flexibility do your needs? What are the things that will help you succeed? These are the most important for you.
Brainstorm and create the Following
- I feel happy when…
- I feel proud when…
- I feel stressed when…
- I feel excited when…
- I feel valued when…
- I feel fulfilled when…
When you look back at your answers, can you see any themes in each of these items? What’s the overall essence or feeling you get reading it? What keywords or phrases stand out to your attention?
Step 3 – Identify the Possibilities
This step is about brainstorming all possible solutions. This is not about. The It’s not about being right, but about expanding your creative imagination and seeing opportunities that you may have never seen before.
We dive right into the search for the best. Right one and eliminate anything that doesn’t feel perfect. However, by expanding your options, you may discover something you hadn’t seen before or something you discredited because it wasn’t Right.
Here are some options that my clients thought of this year. Do any of these feel like what you’re looking for?
- Perhaps you’re looking for a complete overhaul of your career – a job in a new industry or starting your own business.
- Maybe you’re looking for a similar role, but with another company or industry that better aligns with who you are or want to be.
- Maybe you realize that you’d like to stay in the same organization, but you’re looking to try a different role.
- What if you love the company AND your role, but need a new challenge or heart-to-heart with your boss about what’s working and what’s not? Sometimes that’s the simplest and best choice, but just needs to be explored.
Write down all your options. Nothing is off limits…yet!
Which of these options make you feel most compelled? Drawn to? Which feels most natural? You should go where the energy is. Cross off any options that you know aren’t a great fit right now and circle the 2-3 options you feel and think could be best.
Step 4: Open the door
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s time to explore them in greater depth. The point is to explore what’s behind each (door) option. The more you learn, the more you will be able to. Imagine Experience You can imagine how your life would be in each scenario. The more information you have to help you make a decision.
This section will help you explore both your options and the pros and cons of each. intellectual An overview of the way Emotional way.
Online research, informational interviews and a review of required qualifications are some of the ways you can explore intellectually.
Explore this new career path from an emotional perspective.
- Do you think this is something you could do?
- How do you feel when you tell a friend about your job?
- What do you notice about the first day of work when you imagine it?
Your intuition and instincts are your best friends. What are they telling me?
You can let go of your worries Why?, You must, Should Connect with your subconscious. Find the deepest meaning of your best choice.
Have fun with this step – it’s often surprising what comes up!
Step 5: Bring It All to LIFE!
Okay, friends, it’s decision time! Once you’ve narrowed down and explored your options, it’s time to commit to something. This part can be tricky. What if it isn’t right? What if it’s not right? What if it’s the worst decision I ever make? Arrgghh!
All of these are Real Good Questions are fine, but they shouldn’t stop you moving forward.
Consider this: If you know you need to take the next step and you know you’re unhappy where you are, what is the bigger risk? Do you fear staying where you are or moving on to the next step and seeing what it brings?
“It’s better to rock the boat than to die sinking in it.”
You’ll inherently know the best option because it will be the one that feels most right or natural. It’s the one that gives you a sense of excitement or energy. It’s the one that you feel drawn to or even pulled by. That doesn’t mean you won’t be scared – you will likely still have fears and worries about this move. That’s alright!
This is a huge challenge Not To do what you believe you should Should You should do what is best for your health and not what other people think. Given Your circumstances and the work you’ve done in the prior steps, what do you Belief is the best belief Your future?
Each step you take will lead you closer towards your goal. Each step should be counted.
Final Thoughts
It’s not about the rest. This is about what’s NextAt this stage of your career and in your life. Many people feel paralysed by the idea that they have to do everything. They will live the rest of your life. Of course that’s stressful and overwhelming! Plus, it’s just not realistic or practical.
The average person’s life changes Jobs 15-20 times throughout their career, and people can change Karriere They can expect to be re-elected anywhere from 3-7 times in their lifetime.
My grandfather used to say, “A path leads to a path.”
However, you have to start walking. You won’t know what you want to do or how it will look until you start exploring. Get out there and start exploring. EverywhereIt will take you to the next level.
You must do something. This is not an inactive process. It takes action to make a difference. Take time to think about these questions and then work through the process. If you’ve read this far into the article, you are clearly seeking some form of change and your wheels may be turning. Let’s not be afraid to do that! Challenge yourself – but enjoy it, too.
Twenty years for now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by those you did. Get rid of your bowlines and sail off from safe harbor. Explore, Dream, Discover. – Mark Twain
What are you most proud of?
You are an amazing person. It is possible to feel stuck, low, or frustrated. Or, you might be looking for a fresh way to go. You are amazing in any way you look. You are brave.
Everything you need within you is there to make you successful in whatever endeavors you pursue. I’m not saying you won’t have fears or doubts – those are normal. You can still be yourself. can Do this. This will make you look good. can Make this change. Regardless of what someone else has told you or whatever self-doubt you’re experiencing, you’ve got this.
Saulo Mohana, unsplash.com, featured photo
Refer to
| [1] | ^ | McKinsey&Company: The Great Attrition is making hiring harder. Are you looking for the best talent pools? |
| [2] | ^ | ADP Research Institute: People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce Perspective |
| [3] | ^ | Gallup: Low Employee Engagement is a Sign Of Global Mismanagement |
| [4] | ^ | American Institute of Stress: Workplace Stress |
| [5] | ^ | CNBC: 44% of workers continue to look for new jobs. |
| [6] | ^ | Gallup: Global Workplace State Report 2022 |
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