Episode #8: How to know when it’s time to change careers
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This episode is all about how to know when it’s time to change careers as a Mum.
In this episode you’ll learn about what to look out for that could be indicators that it might be time to change careers.
The episode will also give you easy, tangible and practical steps that you can start taking today to help you navigate a potential career change.
If you haven’t already, grab your FREE Career Change Starter Kit today!
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TLC for Working Mums Podcast Episode 8 - Full Transcript
As a certified career coach for Mums, I've encountered countless mums who find themselves at a crossroads, questioning whether they're on the right career path or if it's time for a change. So, how do you know when it's truly time to pivot in your career?
Ok, let's start by exploring some signs that indicate it might be time for a career change:
You’re constantly feeling unfulfilled or unhappy in your current role
It just doesn’t excite you, it feels meaningless to you, perhaps it bores you a bit
Do you find yourself dreading Mondays or counting down the minutes until you get off work each day?
Persistent dissatisfaction can be a clear sign that your current career path isn't aligning with your values, interests, or skills.
2. You have stagnated in your role and there are a lack of growth opportunities
Are you feeling stagnant in your career, with limited opportunities for advancement or skill development? Or even if there are some opportunities for advancement, are those things you actually want?
For example, one of my clients was a lawyer in a team at a large company, but as she was one of the junior lawyers and there seemed to be several lawyers ‘before her’ that would go up to become senior lawyers, there wasn’t much opportunity for growth, at least not for many years. At the same time she felt really stagnant in her role and despite asking to go onto other projects, she was somewhat dismissed, which she believed was because she worked part-time.
If you've hit a professional plateau and there's little room for growth or progression, it might be time to explore new avenues that offer more potential for advancement and learning.
3. Your work or career doesn’t really align with your values or passions
Are you passionate about the work you're doing, or do you find yourself yearning for something more meaningful? So many of my clients say that this is one of the main reasons why they want to make a career change.
They want to make a difference in the world, make an impact and help others, and often the career that they are in, that they thought might give them this opportunity, isn’t what they thought it would be.
For example, I have several clients that are lawyers wanting to change careers. The promise that being a lawyer is noble and you’re helping make society a better place can feel very different when you’re actually practising as a lawyer.
So assessing whether your current career path resonates with your values and passions can help determine if a change is necessary.
4. This is a big one - your career is taking its toll on your health and well-being
Health and Well-being: Are the demands of your current job taking a toll on your physical, mental or emotional health?
Are you struggling with the demands of your job in conjunction with having a family and managing the household?
Feelings of overwhelm, stress and burnout are all red flags that shouldn't be ignored. Prioritising your health and well-being is crucial, not only for you but also so you can show up as the best version of yourself for your kids. Sometimes that means making the difficult decision to transition to a career that promotes and allows for more balance.
I have a client that struggled with chronic fatigue before she saw me - she had just put it down to having young kids and having a job. But really, her job was so stressful that she was not sleeping at night because she was so worried about everything that was going wrong at work - and it was taking a massive toll on her physical and mental health.
When we started working together she could see that it was her belief that she had to make it work that was actually causing her to feel so stressed. We evaluated whether she actually enjoyed the work, and when she came to the realisation that she didn’t, she was just doing it because she thought she ‘should’ - she was able to make a more conscious and intentional decision about what she could potentially do instead.
5. It’s not working financially
While money shouldn't be the sole motivator for a career change, financial stability is an important factor to consider. If your current salary isn't commensurate with your skills and experience, it might be time to explore alternative career paths that offer better financial prospects.
It’s so interesting because many of my clients think they’ll have to start from the bottom of a new career or industry and therefore assume they’ll take a massive pay cut, but often with us mums, especially when we’ve returned from maternity leave once or more times, I feel like our salaries are affected - we don’t get any opportunity for a meaningful pay rise while we are on maternity leave, so once you factor in two or more maternity leaves, that’s perhaps several years of having to see your career, and salary, stagnate.
This is an unfair disadvantage that us working mums have to contend with, so I just want to mention here that many of my clients that make a career change are surprised that they dont have to take any pay cut when they change careers.
Once you've recognised the signs that it might be time for a career change, the next step is to take action. Here are some practical steps you can take to navigate this transition:
Self-reflection: Take the time to reflect on your skills, interests, values, and long-term career goals. What are you passionate about? What brings you joy and fulfilment? Understanding yourself and what you want out of your career is essential for making informed decisions about your future.
In my Mum Career Change Program we work through the 3 C’s of a career change - clarity, confidence and capability.
In the clarity phase we uncover and create your very own career clarity compass, which includes all of your top career motivators, skills, strengths, priorities, passions and interests - this is the phase for self-reflection and my clients are often so surprised about what they uncover about themselves and what’s important to them in their career in this phase of their life.
Some questions that could help you get started include:
What are you able to do naturally, quickly or with joy that other people aren’t able to do as well?
What has given you the most satisfaction in previous roles/current job?
What are you passionate about?
What brings you joy and fulfilment?
2. Research and Exploration: Explore different career options that align with your interests and skills.
We work through this in our clarity and capability phases in my program.
We first do idea generation, where we generate ideas for your potential career change, and then idea exploration, which includes designing career experiments.
These can include conducting informational interviews, attending networking events, and seeking out opportunities to gain hands-on experience in fields you're considering. I like to say career experiments help you ‘test drive’ your ideas out in the real world.
The more you learn about potential career paths, the better equipped you'll be to make an informed decision.
3. Skill Development:
Sometimes us mums think that if I only knew more about X, or had a certification in Y then I would be able to change careers, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, so many industries and job functions prefer experience in an actual job vs having an additional certification on your resume.
Having said that, there are more online courses, workshops and certifications than ever before that you can invest in for your professional development.
But don’t do a course or get a certification for the ‘sake’ of it - rather think strategically about how it can help you move into your desired job function or industry.
4. Network:
I know - so many cringe at the term networking, but it isn’t a way to find a job, it’s the way to find a job these days.
And don’t worry if you’re a novice at this, this is my jam so I will help you learn to love networking - or at least get you to networking in an effective and efficient way - because that’s what will get you your next role.
It is highly unlikely (actually 2% chance) you’ll get a job by submitting an application on a job board.
So you need to leverage your professional network to uncover job opportunities and gather insights from individuals who have successfully transitioned into new careers - in your desired field and also in other fields. Networking can open doors and provide valuable guidance and support as you navigate a career transition.
5. Seek Support:
Don't be afraid to seek support from friends, family, mentors, or a career coach (hi) who can provide guidance, encouragement, and accountability throughout the career change process. Surrounding yourself with a supportive network can help alleviate fears and boost your confidence as you start making your career change moves.
Remember, navigating a career transition can be daunting, but it's also a huge opportunity for growth, fulfilment, and personal development.
It might not be easy, but nothing truly amazing ever comes easy.
You have the power to design a career that aligns with your passions, values, skills and aspirations, my amazing Mum!
OK so to recap. Here are some signs that it’s time for a career change:
You’re constantly feeling unfulfilled or unhappy in your current role
You have stagnated in your role and there are a lack of growth opportunities
Your work or career doesn’t really align with your values or passions
Your career is taking its toll on your health and well-being
It’s not working financially
And here are some practical steps to get you into action:
Take time to self-reflect - on your skills, interests, values, and long-term career goals.
Start researching and exploring ideas in the real world
Consider some skills development
Leverage your existing network - i’ll talk a lot more about networking in future episodes
Get support from others - friends, family, career coach (me!)
Remember, you’re in control of your career. No one else is. Your career is yours to shape – embrace it with confidence and courage.
