Today’s job market is tough. Millions of people are looking for jobs for thefirst time in years.  They’re looking for jobs that don’t seem to exist.Recruiters don’t return phone calls. Job seekers are fed up and frustrated.They wonder if all the effort is ever going to pay off and if it’s time tochange careers. You might be wondering the same thing. But, it seems so riskyin this economy. 

If you are experiencing these feelings, it might be time for a careerchange:• You’ve always been interested in other career areas but went withthe “safe” route and now you feel burned out• You don’t enjoy your workanymore and you wonder what other options are out there for you• You feelstuck and stagnant• You are finding fewer and fewer jobs available in yourindustry• You’re over-qualified for the jobs that are available in yourindustry• You feel the effort to get a new job in your industry is morethan you want to undertake

How do you know if now is a good time to change career direction?

The reality is that job loss and job creation are natural components of theworld of work. It happens all the time to varying degrees.  So thereprobably isn’t one perfect time to change jobs or careers. The decision dependsa lot on your personal situation.

Before launching a job search or career change, though, there are severalimportant steps to take which I also outline in my career guide and audioprogram, FastTrack Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work YouLove.

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Gaining Personal InsightBefore you change careers, you needto figure out what you want. By assessing your current situation you candetermine what you need in your career to be satisfied. Analyze your values,skills, personality characteristics, interests, and lifestyle preferences. It’salso useful to take inventory of your financial situation, especially if thecareer you’re considering might require additional education and training orrelocation.

Getting a Reality CheckA critical mistake in making acareer change is making the leap without getting enough career information. Byexploring career possibilities you’ll be able to identify options that are bestsuited to your personal attributes and preferences. There are online and printresources you can use to learn about job outlooks and industry trends. Thepeople in your network can also be great sources for information about trendsand opportunities in various career fields. In addition, they can makeintroductions and give you referrals.

Charting Your Career PathAfter you’ve done someself-assessment to learn what you want in a career and done career research togenerate options, you have to make a decision about next steps. Your transitionand job search plans will guide you to successfully getting the job you wantand expanding your professional network. You’ll also need to update yourresume, cover letter, and other support materials and fine-tune yourinterviewing and networking skills.People change jobs or careers in search ofgreater satisfaction. By following the steps outlined above, you  willincrease your chances for finding a career that better suits your personalgoals and uses your talents in meaningful ways.

If you’re thinking about a career change, purchase the The Fast TrackYour Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love career guide and audioprogram today. You will go through a step-by-step exploration and planningprocess by completing several exercises, so you can get clear about your careerdirection.

Special thanks to Andrea Delgado for contributing to this article. For morethan 10 years, Andrea, was a program manager at an international developmentorganization during which time she held multiple positions involving programand grant management and administrative support.  Andrea has beennetworking to find employment opportunities and has considered a career changeinto the private sector. Her dream job would take her into the internationalfinancial arena analyzing economic policy and regulations. Andrea has her M.A.degree in International Political Economy and Development from FordhamUniversity; a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Politics & Public Policy fromthe University of Massachusetts at Boston and a B.A degree in Political Sciencefrom the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.”

Andrea can be contacted on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrea-delgado/10/3b6/717

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