Work isn’t everything of course, but our jobs are a huge part of our lives. It’s where we spend a massive proportion of our day, and so it’s no wonder that it can define who we are. What’s one of the first questions you ask someone when you meet? Usually, ‘what do you do for a living?’ There’s a reason for this, a person’s job can say a lot about them. If you’re currently working in a career than no longer fits you, that you don’t enjoy or that leaves you feeling unfulfilled- it can be a big problem. Feeling down or unsatisfied about this is likely to rub off on other areas of your life, and so to be a happy person you need to find that passion when it comes to work. If a career change is on the cards, here are a few questions to ask yourself first.

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Why You Want to Change Career?

Your first question to ask yourself is why you actually want to change career? Are you just going through a bad patch that will pick up again, or are you in a bit of a rut that could be solved? Are you not getting along with colleagues? Maybe you feel stagnant- even asking for a promotion could be the answer. If you’re thinking about a career change because you dislike the line of work you’re in, or because you believe your calling for work lies elsewhere then these are very probable signs that you will need to start fresh elsewhere. But don’t jump into anything or give up years of hard work over something that can be solved, if that’s your reason for wanting to switch.

Will Improving Your Skills and Education Help?

Before quitting your old job, it could be worth improving your skills or education before taking on something new. This means that instead of going in at entry level, you might be able to get something higher up and therefore better paid. Check out the best colleges in your local area and enrol onto a course that will help you achieve your goal. You may have to undertake some voluntary work too, that way you have some real life experience in the field you’re planning on working in. Meaning landing a job (or a better paid job) is easier.

Is Being Your Own Boss The Way To Go?

If you know you want a change of career but aren’t sure what changes to make- perhaps becoming your own boss could be the answer? It allows you to escape the rat race, and build something yourself that you’re passionate about. Getting a business off the ground is hard work and takes a lot of determination, but if you’re fed up of earning lots of money for big corporations why not put your energy into building something great yourself. You could take an evening or weekend course in business before quitting your current job to give you the foundation knowledge needed. You could save, and put things in place before leaving full-time work. That way you give yourself the best start and aren’t waiting around for too long for the profits to come rolling in.