Thinking About Changing Your Career: Why?

Why do workers want to change careers?

Many career choices that individuals make reflect their interests, talents, stage of life, and values.  Workers seek to change careers to find meaning in their work life and to attain work flexibility that incorporates their lifestyle and personal needs.  It encourages a realignment of their work/personal and spiritual values.

Many workers who are well qualified, possess a range of skills to utilise in a role that includes the technical job skills, communication and interpersonal skills, and work interests, which may also reflect their personal interest.  Workers want to utilise their skills and attributes to find meaning in what they do at work.

With changes and challenges in the labour market that impact on individuals, there is now a culture of loyalty to an occupation and role, rather than to an organisation.  This is due to many reasons that include:  casualisation of the workforce, organisations outsourcing roles, restructuring that can lead to redundancy, or moving off shore.  It has led workers to feel distaste and disappointment in their employer and organisational culture.

So why do workers switch jobs?

• Internal organisational changes such as restructuring within an organisation that can lead to job insecurity. Or, end of a work contract leading to cessation of work
• Higher pay and improved working conditions
• Enhanced opportunities and security

What does this mean?

Workers have greater career options that they previously may not have had.  Some may have entered careers that provide financial stability, rather than reflect their passion.  For example, an individual with a passion for work in television or film may seek a teaching job as it is a ‘safer’ option.

With an aging population and individuals considering and moving into retirement, they are seeking a range of work options that reflects flexibility and lifestyle options.  It may include work as a consultant, casual or mentoring roles.

An individual, no matter at what stage of life, will need to plan their career and next step carefully to help make the correct choices.  A career counsellor can help with honest analysis and feedback, support to determine the next step to attain professional goals, work through barriers and issues, and design strategies to achieve goals.

A supportive career counsellor/coach is an integral partner to assist you in the process at all stages of your career to attain your professional goals, and help you reach your full potential.

Career counselling

Career change statistics suggest that the average person will be making a career change approximately 5-7 times during their working life.  About two in three workers (63 per cent) want to make a career change, while only 14 per cent say they are in their dream job.

With an ever increasing number of different career choices on offer, about one third of the total workforce will now change jobs every 12 months.  By the age of 42 you will probably already have had about ten jobs. 

There is a difference between making a career transition and changing jobs.  A career transition is a change from one career to another.  For example, a manager can transition into another career that matches his or her hobby, such as wine making.  When you are changing jobs, you are working in the same occupation and role, but for a new organisation.  An employment consultant can counsel clients with a different provider.  A teacher can teach in a different school or sector such as tertiary, or in a different capacity such as casual.