Stuck in a work rut or need a career change?

Are you stuck in a career-rut? Do you have a job that no longer inspires or delights you? Here is some inspiration from our wise friend Megan Dalla-Camina.

By Megan Dalla-Camina.

You have lost your inspiration

If you are no longer inspired by your job or just flat out bored, then perhaps it’s time to look at what the next stage could bring.  It’s important to not make this decision in a fleeting moment, so resist any urge to throw it all in when you’re having a bad day or week. If you feel a sense of restlessness that comes when you’ve lost your mojo over many months, keep reading and take some positive steps forward.

There is nowhere left to grow

Often in our careers we can reach the end of our growth curve. To be stimulated by work we need to be challenged. If you have established yourself, are looking for more opportunities and there is just nowhere to go – perhaps it’s time to consider your next move.

Your job is making you sick

I see so many women literally sick and tired of their current career. They are somewhere on the burn-out spectrum between ‘tired and over it’, to ‘hanging on by a thread’. If work is making you sick, you can’t find balance no matter how hard you try and don’t see a way out – then time for an exit strategy pronto!

If you can relate to any of the above points, then here are some things to consider as you plan your next move:

Dig into your passion and purpose

Often when making a career change after 40, we need to stop and think about what we are passionate about and where we find purpose. These things change over our career and lifecycle. Children grow older or they leave home altogether. Priorities change and so do our needs and wants.  As you start working out what your next phase looks like, make sure it is linked firmly to your passions so you feel like you are doing good work in the world.

Get a mentor

One of the best and easiest ways to fast track your career change is to get a mentor. No matter what you want to do, guaranteed there is someone who has done it before. By reaching out to people further down the path than you are, you will gain insights, learn from their experience and have support in making the changes you seek. Don’t hesitate to do an online search for a mentor, ask to buy them a coffee or send them an email with five key questions you have. Most people are more than willing to help when asked with kindness and respect.

Build your transition plan

For most people a career change comes with much needed planning.  There are few people who could leave one job today and start a new career tomorrow without much thought. Start by working out where you are now, where you want to be and in what timeframe. Then look at skills you need to build, support networks you need to access and how much money you need to have saved before making a change. This is especially important if your career change involves leaving paid employment to start your own business. Getting a plan in place will make you feel much more secure and give you direction to where you’re headed.

Hopefully these tips will help as you consider the next stage of your career.

If you would like more information on how to achieve balance and wellbeing, download my ‘12 Rules for Balanced Women’.

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