I Need a Career Change Now!

I'm hearing it more and more from people who feel stuck in their traditional, corporate careers: “I need a career change now!” A couple of years ago, individuals may not have liked their jobs, but they felt like they couldn't complain because so many people were losing their jobs thanks to the global financial meltdown of 2008. Now that the economic recovery is really taking hold, those same people are becoming incredibly anxious, especially as they see their peers taking advantage of new opportunities. They want to make big changes, and they see themselves in careers that are much more fulfilling. Unfortunately, changing careers is just as daunting today as it's ever been.

How do you feel about your career? Are you one of those people described above? If so, you're probably fed up with the corporate environment for one or more of these reasons:

• You feel like you're just a cog in a machine

• Your responsibilities simply don't challenge you anymore

• Promotions continue to elude you

• Your compensation doesn't match what you're giving the company, and it doesn't seem as if it ever will

• Leadership at your organization fails to recognize your efforts

• Management doesn't have a clear idea about the company's direction and your role within it

If any of these criteria apply to your professional life, it's no surprise why you're fed up. Maybe you've looked at making a career change, but just couldn't decide how to go about doing it. Perhaps you've started to resign yourself to a life of work that will never fulfill you professionally. Maybe you've decided that you have too much to lose by leaving your current career. There are probably thousands of solid justifications for staying in a job that doesn't make you happy. But if you're not happy with how you're spending your time, what's the point?

Tackling the Career Change Process

If you've decided that a career change is necessary for you to find happiness and fulfillment in your life, though, you're probably cautiously eager to start the process. Taking action quickly and decisively is the best way to attack a problem, but proper preparation is essential if you're making a change to your career. That's why you should investigate every possible professional avenue before you hand in your resignation. However, you don't want to get bogged down in your search for new career options – researching the alternatives to your current career can become a full-time job in itself.

So, now that you've said to yourself, “I need a career change now,” how should you begin?

• Take an inventory of your skills, talents and experiences

• Picture yourself in what you would consider to be the ideal work environment

• Open yourself up to opportunities – you never know where they'll come from

Consider Consulting

Once you have a solid grasp on what you have to offer and you can picture the type of work that you would enjoy doing, it becomes easier to identify the best opportunities for your career change. That being said, I think that most people can shorten the process by considering what a career in consulting can do for them. If you're motivated to leave the traditional corporate world and you have knowledge, talent and experience when it comes to driving results, it's really the perfect career choice.

I was once in your position, and I leveraged my experience and knowledge into a consulting career that has lasted for decades now. I could have stayed in the corporate world and lived a comfortable life, but I knew that that life wasn't for me. Today, I'm consulting all over the world, plus I'm helping others who are interested in joining this field.

Do you need a career change now? Are you ready to make a move? Then do what I did and consider independent consulting.

If you're interested in learning more about changing careers and becoming a consultant, Ex3 Matters has numerous resources available. Get started by downloading a copy of Buddy Hobart's eBook, “Experience Matters.” If you're interested in diving deeper, our free consulting guides are also packed with great information.