Does the new year spell a career change?

So you are ready to make a move – but not sure what job you want, or if you want to change careers all together. Choosing another job, or making a career change, is daunting for most people but if you are juggling child care then it can be even harder. Life coach Glynis Kozma gives some advice on how to make the switch.

What is the best way to make that career move? How do you decide what to do? How do you stop yourself moving from one less-than-ideal job to another?

Start by making a list of what you value in life- don’t focus on the type of job you think you might want at this stage. Your values might include family, security, adventure, creativity, stability, and so on. Make your own list of what really matters to you. Ask yourself – are you are looking for a job or a career?

A job is something that fills the day and pays you at the end of it. You might not have any real emotional attachment to it, and be able to walk away as and when you find something better. It probably won’t offer you any career structure or further training, or if it does, it will be completely optional. A career will have a structure – if you want it- and the prospect of more responsibility. It might involve working unsocial hours, taking work home and further training. The upside is that you will have an emotional attachment and feel fulfilled!

Are you getting a better idea of what you want?

When you are trying to decide on a career change, think about what you would really like to do – if you had that magic wand. No matter how crazy your ideas might appear, they can give you an indication of what you might want to do. What makes you tick? Money? Power? Responsibility? Caring for others? Making your mark on the world in some way? Being creative? Working outdoors or indoors? Being part of a team or working alone?

Jot down your ideas and see what comes out of it all

And now the reality! How can you do the work you want and manage your home and family? Be realistic. If you want a demanding career, you have to be able to organize the child care, whether that is enlisting the help of your partner, relatives or friends, or nannies, au pairs and child minders.

If you are still struggling, think about consulting a careers’ coach for 1:1 help, or doing some psychometric tests, which might help you discover a bit more about who you are. But the most important task is to prioritise what matters most to you, and take your lead from that.

So go for it!? get that paper out and start deciding what you are going to do next!

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