When is the Right Time to Make a Career Change?
Just 30 years ago, seeking a long-term career was considered smart planning. Phrases like “getting ahead” and “climbing the corporate ladder” and words like pensions and tenure were all motivators for being on a job for the long haul. You went into a job thinking about career fast tracks, partnership, and building a nest egg the traditional way.
Fast forward to today, with the rapid changes in technology and the growing need for employees who can adapt to those changes, career journeys and expectations have become more fluid over time. For many employees, the desire for seniority and leadership opportunities has been supplanted by job flexibility, more perks, and better benefits.
In many circles, career fulfillment has even been prioritized over job security. So where does this leave you? How do you know that it’s the right time for you to make a career move?
Do any of these statements below describe you?
You no longer feel motivated at work.
Your productivity is low.
You are showing signs of burnout.
You run a lot of “what if” scenarios in your head about a different career.
Despite your education, you still haven’t found the perfect role.
If you answered “yes” to any of these statements, then it’s definitely time to at least look into your options.
Ultimately, your satisfaction will be found when you uncover the activity that gives you wings and the best company out there (even if it’s our own) to help you to fly.
One of the reasons personality tests are so popular is because they give us an objective look at what makes us tick. There’s a feeling of security that comes with understanding who we are, and the insight gained from these types of tests can be helpful.
Assessing our strengths and weaknesses before choosing a career is a smart move, but in order to make the best choice, it’s important to find an assessment that goes below the surface.
Many of the free or generic personality assessments available online are great for entertainment purposes, but you generally won’t get an in-depth evaluation. Most of the results will be things that you already know about yourself. But, what about those traits that run just beneath the surface—the ones that perhaps others see in you, but you are too close to see in yourself?
At SuccessDNA we believe that the best way to discover where you “fit” is to understand how you function. Your likes and dislikes are important, but often what motivates you to take action is a better indicator of the best career choice for you, and this is not always readily apparent.
To help our clients move into the deeper layers of discovery, we use the Successfinder tool to assess the following areas:
Health, Relaxation, Learning, Career, Social, Security, Loved Ones/Family, Community, Environment, Wealth, Fraternity, Power, Humanitarianism, Service, Adventure, Complexity, Recognition, and Purpose.
Unlike generic personality tests, the Successfinder tool assesses a full spectrum of areas that impact your career decisions. The tool was originally created to support Human Resource departments in their hiring process, but we found that the far-reaching analysis also made it the perfect tool for job seekers and career transitioners.
Successfinder’s unique ability to assess your behavioural traits and compare them to the collected data of high performers helps our clients uncover which areas are strong indicators of success.
If you are considering a career move and want proven data to back your choice, contact me for more information on how SuccessDNA can support your career journey.