Top Questions to Ask Yourself When Making an Important Career Change

Change is inevitable. What you wanted yesterday may not be what you want today. The same applies to your career. Changing career paths is a risk, yes, but if you do not feel fulfilment, then it’s time to move on and #SEEKBetter. Before you take that leap, you have to make sure that you’ve checked out all possible options. Ask yourself the following questions before you make a career change.

Questions to Ask When Making a Career Change

1. What do you want to change about your current job?

So, you’re not satisfied with your current job, but have you figured out what’s causing you to feel this way?

• Is it the company culture or the people you work with? If this is the case, a career change might not be necessary. You can look for other opportunities within the same industry and stick to your current role.
• Is it the salary? If you feel you deserve better compensation, you can talk to your boss and ask for a raise.
• Is it the nature of the job itself? If you find yourself in a career rut, then a change may help you seek the growth you want.

2. What are the risks when making a career change?

While a career change will benefit you in the long run, it can also be risky when you leap without looking. As with every decision, you should plan your move and be ready for whatever happens. Here are some things to consider in making a career change:

A lack of experience

It may seem unsettling, especially if you’re shifting to a completely different industry. Starting from scratch will be a formidable challenge, but you must prove to your employer that you’re up to the task. Remind them that you have soft skills that will be very useful in their organisation, regardless of your lack of technical knowledge. For the latter, invest in courses that will teach you more about the role. The government’s career conversion programmes might be a good place to start.

Making new colleagues

Whether you’re moving to a new role, a new organisation, or a new industry altogether, there’s always uncertainty about fitting in with the people in the workplace. The company culture where you work should jive with your values, as it will motivate you to keep working and inspire you to do better. To help mitigate the risk, look up the company you’ve applied for and read about their vision-mission and purpose. You can also ask about the company culture in your interview to see if you’ll be a good fit. Also, if you can get in touch with current employees and ask them for their feedback, that would give you a better picture of what you’ll be getting into.

Starting a new network 

A network is necessary for your career growth because you can connect with and learn from professionals in the same industry that you’re in. Changing careers will mean you might have to find new people that will enrich your network. But here’s the thing – networks comprise diverse connections. Maybe your existing network can help you reach out to people in the field you’re interested in and might even open up opportunities for you.

It might just be a passing fancy.  

What if you find that you’re not really into the career you want to move into? What if you get bored of this new path? Mentor Coach Marion Tilly recommends you give yourself six months to get to know the job or industry you’re interested in. During this time, conduct research, reach out to people in the industry and gain some perspective. Once you have all the information, ask yourself again – are you still interested? 

3. Are you financially stable to make this career switch?

A career change also means an income shift. If you’re moving into an entirely different industry, your salary might be lower than what you’re used to. Make sure that you’re ready for the reality check that comes with your new paycheck by:

• Calculating your budget: How much do you spend on utilities, food, transport and other bills? Will you still be able to continue your current lifestyle if you take a pay cut?
• Checking your funds. Do you have enough money saved up if you resign now? Your emergency fund should be around 3-6 months’ worth of expenses.
• Assess your debt situation. Check if you can continue to pay off debts on a lower salary before you file for resignation.

4. How much adjustment in your salary will make the career change worth it?

Research how much you can expect to receive in your potential job. Find out the realistic take-home figure. How long should you wait for your salary to be at the same level as your current job? If there is a possibility of earning more, find out what you need to do to land that offer. Maybe you need to be certified? Perhaps you need advanced studies? Whatever it is, it’s best to find out now while you are still planning.

It will also help to visit websites that can tell you how much people in that field are already earning. Use our Explore Salaries tool to see what your actual paycheck will be when you change careers. With the information you know about salaries – as well as what you’ve discovered about yourself – ask yourself if the career change is worth it.

5. Do you have a support circle for your career change?

A career change is an ideal time to ask for objective advice from the people around you. You may have friends or family who changed careers. Ask for their help when you don’t know how to move forward. Ask them what they think are your strengths. They might be able to tell you something about your work experience that will be helpful for your career change. They may have questions about your plans and choices, so listen to what they have to say. Their ideas and tips are quite valuable to you at this point.

A career change will involve sacrifices. Get as many people as possible to support your plan. If you happen to be a trailblazer in your circle, read articles about people who have done what you plan to do. If you can find people who have been successful at it, all the better. It will make you feel more courageous and validated with your career change.

6. How can you make your resume attractive to a potential employer?

It is never too early to prepare your resume for that career change. Print out your current one and apply these tips to make your profile better. Afterwards, revise it to make yourself so compelling that your potential employer will want to interview you.

Highlight the transferable skills that will be an asset to your future industry. These qualities are not industry-specific, so you can craft your competence in a way that catches the eye of the hiring manager. If the future industry will require you to lead a team, talk about your leadership skills. If the role you are aspiring for will need much attention to detail, talk about your project management experience.

Changing your career path can be daunting. It comes with risks and can give you that uncomfortable feeling of being uncertain. Make sure to prepare yourself for what lies ahead to help minimise risk. In the long run, if this is truly what you want and will make you happy, then all the risk would be worth it. 

Check out our Career Resources page or download JobStreet’s app available on the App Store and Google Play to learn more about pursuing the career that’s right for you.