For better or for worse, the era of spending a lifetime in a
single job is, for the most part, long gone. In recent years, a much more
dynamic labor market has emerged, with regular job changes over the course of a
person’s working life rapidly becoming the rule, rather than the exception.
Employment statistics confirm this trend: today, it’s
estimated that the average worker will hold seven or more jobs over the course
of their career. Still, the mere fact that job changes now occur more
frequently than they once did does not make the process of switching jobs any
easier or less intimidating. Indeed, many of the same challenges that you face
landing your first job will still apply when you’re looking for your fourth or
fifth.
Even so, if you’ve reached a crossroads in your current role
and you’ve got the urge to explore a new professional path, it may be time for
a change. According to job search guru Ron Krannich, author of Change Your Job, Change Your Life: Careering
and Re-Careering in the New Boom/Bust Economy, you could be harming your
long-term prospects by lingering too long in a position you’ve outgrown or a
field that no longer inspires you.
If you’ve taken the time to consider all of your options and
you’re convinced that it’s time to make a change, you can equip yourself for a smooth,
successful career switch with these basic guidelines.
- Consciously Adopt a Winning Attitude.Mid-career job hunters who have been around the block a time or
two know that the search for the right role can be a trying process marked by
setbacks, reversals, and disappointments. You probably won’t approach the
process with the same wide-eyed optimism of your first professional job search,
and according to recruitment coach David Jensen, that’s probably a good thing.
Jensen counsels his clients to deliberately take on an attitude that combines
confidence, optimism, and realism in equal measure in order to weather the
challenge.
- Remember that Good Things Come to Those Who Wait. As a mid-career job hunter, it’s
likely that it may take a while longer for you to land your dream job,
especially if you’re seeking to enter a new field or area of specialization.
Take the time to be selective about which leads you follow, and try not to be
too impatient. Experts caution that a mid-career job switch can take anywhere
from four to six months to pull off successfully, so plan your transition
accordingly.
- Big Picture, Baby Steps. Craft a road map of the professional path toward the ideal
long-term outcome of your career change, and then identify any obstacles that
are standing in your way. Don’t have enough experience in the field? Look for
an after-hours internship in your preferred area of specialization. Lack
applicable education in your dream field? Sign up for an introductory night
class at your local community college. Chip away at the obstacles standing in
your way little by little. Before you know it, your persistence will pay off
and you’ll be well-positioned to enter your new chosen field as a qualified
applicant.
- If You’re Dragging Your Feet, Double-Check Your Goals. If
you find that you just can’t muster the focus or energy to mount an active
search for a new position, take the time to analyze potential sources for your
avoidance. Are you really ready to leave your current role? Does the career
change you have in mind reflect your true interests? Sometimes, your resistance
to the prospect of a job change can be a signal that the time isn’t right to
make a switch.
If the timing’s right and the job market’s cooperative,
making a mid-career job switch can be just what you need to perk up your
professional life and reconnect with your passion. As long as you approach this
challenge with the right attitude -- along with a healthy dose of patience,
realism, and flexibility -- you could find your career on a completely
different trajectory in the span of a few short months. Good luck!