If your gut feeling is to change careers, if it’s been on your mind for some time, it’s probably the right decision. Trust that feeling. Although, if your still still stuck with a bit of uncertainty, read on as maybe this will help you come to the right decision.
1. Know your Why
When you outline a clearer picture of what is important to you in a job, you will be able to see more clearly if your current job matches what’s most important to you or if you’re in a losing situation by staying.
Before you get into a different career, start by putting each of the following in order based on importance to you at this time in your life:
- Financial – you’re looking to build wealth for financial growth and stability
- Growth – You’re looking for a career in which you can learn and grow from
- Giving back – you’re looking to serve in a meaningful way
2. Consider your circumstances
Your circumstances do not define you, but at the same time, they are worth taking into consideration by asking yourself the three following questions:
- Am I in capital growth or capital preservation mode?
- What are my current and soon to be expenses?
- Do I have capital to invest in a business with higher start up costs?
The last question is one to consider, but not the be all, end all. Resources can be found if you’re resourceful, have belief in your idea, and some salesmanship.
3. Rate your current job
By the end of this exercise if you move to a place without distraction, grab a notebook and pencil and seriously ponder and answer the following question, you should be able to move from a gut feeling, to knowing that the right decision is to trust your gut and more forward
- Do you feel appreciated?
- Are you happy?
- Are you continuing to grow?
- Are you paid according to the workload?
- Are you paid according to the value you provide?
- Have you been there longer than 6 months?
- Is the environment healthy for you?
- How is this job serving you beyond income?
- Is the income enough to cover your basic living expenses and save what you need for the future?
90% of the time you will make and grow more by taking your experience to a new job, then you will by asking for a raise with your current employer.
Also, consider the fact that if you don’t enjoy the environment of your current job and you ask for a raise, that can be even worse, because then you may feel stuck there and unhappy for longer…
Closing:
If you read this article top to bottom, pondering along the way, then my gut feeling tells me that your gut feeling is that you’re ready to look elsewhere.
Yes, it can be a little scary, but like anything, once you start, it’s not so bad. And like any endeavor, if the result is worth the difficulty in the end, don’t give up. Keep going.
On the other hand, if you absolutely love your job, the environment, the freedom, the cause, and the only negative factor is compensation, then the power and practice of of negotiation may be more of what you need at this time– or maybe not, because once again, when it comes to finances,
You are highly likely to make significantly more by moving companies and asking for a higher starting income then you are by asking for a raise with your current company.
Up next:
Today was all about answering the question of whether you should start the job search from your current. Keep a lookout for my next article which will outline more clearly 5 steps that you can take to change careers once you’ve made the decision to do so.