You’re not that crazy about your job and where it’s leading (or NOT leading). Other jobs or careers interest you, but you prefer to avoid making the proverbial out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the fire mistake.
So what do you do now?
Speaking as a person who has made the frying-pan-fire transition at least twice and had 5 majors in 5 years of undergraduate study (I’m interested in everything!), this is not a simple question to answer, particularly when you are working full time. Or, when you are looking for a job full time.
My advice: Try, before you “buy!”
Having also been unfortunate enough to discover in the last semester of my 2nd senior year in college when my student teaching experience convinced me teaching high school American History or English was probably the last thing I wanted to do, trying a job before you are committed to it is smart.
So, how?
- Figure out what interests you. What would you enjoy doing to make a living?
If possible, take some career assessments to help understand yourself better. If you’re frantic to find a new job, you may be thinking I don’t have time for this!
The reality is that this is one of the best things you can do right now. If you don’t do it now, when will you do it? Take the time to think about where you’re going before you get there. What if you hate that next job and need to start looking too soon? How does that save you time?
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My two frying-pan-fire experiences happened when I was so interested in leaving a job I no longer liked that I didn’t pay enough attention to where I was going (new job). In both cases, I was job hunting again in less than a year – in one case, less than 2 months (turned out the “assistant office manager” was the one who was supposed to clean the toilets once a week). Who needs that aggravation?
- Once you have some possibilities in mind, talk to people who actually have those jobs.
Ask questions, like:
* What happens in a typical day? Typical week/month/year?
* What are best and worst parts of the job? What do they like/hate about the job? What are the toughest issues/situations? What are the most enjoyable aspects of the job?
* What is a typical career path? What options open up with this job on your resume?
* What job(s), experience(s), education would be the best preparation?
* Which are the best employers, and what makes them the best?
* What organizations are most helpful to people with this job?
* What education/certification is required/helpful?
* What experience is great to have as a foundation?
Take it all in, but don’t believe 100% of it – we all have our biases and very different backgrounds. What is a negative for one person (perhaps, all those pesky people asking too many questions) may be a positive for you (maybe, a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and learn new things).
Again, time for thinking and evaluating what you’ve heard and learned, and what you know about yourself.
DO NOT ASK THESE PEOPLE FOR A JOB! You are asking for advice and information, not a job, and YOU pay for the coffee or lunch or whatever if it’s a face-to-face meeting. Be sure to see if you can help them in some way. And, be sure to send a thank you, particularly if they’ve taken time out of their schedule to talk with you. Respect your network!
- Test-drive the job by volunteering, if possible, or by interning.
So many worthy charitable organizations, even political campaigns, need help! Find one you believe in, and see if you can help them in a way that also helps you. Thinking about changing from journalism to PR, offer to help with the organization’s PR. Thinking about changing from HR to marketing, offer to help with their HR. I know so many people who kicked off their Web development/marketing careers by working on their church’s Website or their kid’s hockey team or hockey league. It happens!
Of course, other big benefits from volunteering include filling an experience or skill gap in your resume, perhaps gaining a good recommendation, relevant to the field you want next, and – of course – expanding your network!
Bottom Line
Sometimes change is involuntary (read Involuntary Change Can Be Good), and even when it is involuntary, doing some solid research can help you avoid grabbing the first frying-pan-to-fire job opportunity you have.
About the author…
Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. Susan is a two-time layoff “graduate” who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. In 1998, her company, NETability, Inc. purchased Job-Hunt.org, and Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt since then. Follow Susan on Twitter at @jobhuntorg.
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[...] Career Change: Charting a New Course for Your Career – research and exploration to determine the best direction, the newest blog post by Susan P. Joyce, Job-Hunt’s Online Job Search Expert. [...]
Great article. Especially the point about figuring out where you want to go before you get there. Without that vision it is so much harder. One of my favorite quotes is from Deming who said that if you put enough effort into the first 15% of your project, you will attain at least 85% of your desired outcome. That is so true in making a career change. it really is a good use of time!
[...] Career Change: Charting a New Course for Your Career – research and exploration to determine the best direction, the newest blog post by Susan P. Joyce, Job-Hunt’s Online Job Search Expert. [...]