If you’re sat at your desk thinking that you are not enjoying your career, then what can you do about it? You might feel stuck in what you’re doing and that having this job has got to be better than having no job. But if you’re constantly feeling tired, stressed, and dread going to work, then it shows that this job is not a good fit for you. Unless there are changes you can make to enjoy it more or get a better work and life balance, then something’s got to give.
When you’re a mum as well, it can be tricky as you have to think about a job that can work around the children or still stick to the same schedule as the childcare plans that you already have in place. But you need to stop, and remember that you can do it. Don’t stay in a career that is making you miserable or stressed. As the old saying goes, when you love what you do you never work a day in your life. And isn’t that the dream for us all? To do something that we love that it doesn’t even feel like a chore to be there?
Changing career will just need to be taken step by step, and you’ll get there. So here are some of those steps, so that you can start reinventing your life, yourself, and your career, today.
Discover What You Want
In order to understand what career would work for you instead, you need to figure out what it is about this career that isn’t doing it for you. Are the hours too much or is the work too pressured? From there, you can see what would fit in and what solutions there are. If going part-time would be the solution, then that could be something to discuss with your employer, before you start looking for other things. If it is the line of work that you’re in that you just don’t enjoy anymore, then what thing does excite and inspire you? Once you’ve found your passion, you can find options for your work and life balance that will work for you.
Identify Your Skills
Often as a mum, we can forget about what we are good at. Life can be so busy chasing after the kids and making sure that their needs are taken care of, that we often forget about ourselves and we can lose ourselves along the way. But to change career, you need to have an honest discussion with yourself about what you are good at. You will have developed some skills in your previous career that can help you, no doubt. But there are plenty of skills that you can acquire in your life as a mum that shouldn’t be forgotten about. Are you amazing at sticking to a budget and looking for ways to save? Are you organised and can plan anything with military precision? Think about what skills are transferable and make sure that you shout about them in any applications that you make.
Consider Working For Yourself
If flexibility is something that you’re after, then many people will consider working for themselves. Of course, that can be quite a scary thought. But in reality, it can give you the freedom and life balance that you might have been looking for.
If this sounds like something that you’d be interested in, then you need to do your research, especially if it involves having to retrain for something. For instance, before deciding to do a personal trainer course, then you need to ask yourself, how much does a PT earn? The same goes for any business or self-employment that you might be thinking about; how much can you earn? If it is going to be comparable to what you are already earning, and you have the skills and know-how to do it, then what is stopping you?
Have a Stellar CV
A lot of job applications will be made through sending off a CV, along with a cover letter, and then going from there. But as this is going to be your only point of contact for a lot of your applications, then you need to make sure that your CV is on point, and quite frankly, gets to the point. Outline your career history, and some relevant points for the role that you’re applying for. As much as you think you might be able to send the same CV to everyone, you really can’t. So think about what you can adjust for each application.
Share some of your personality in it too. What do you enjoy? If you have something quite unique to share, then it can be a good way of standing out from others on the page.
The Interview
If you get to the interview stage, then that is the time to shine and show how your skills are transferable to the new role. So plan out some answers to common questions, like why you think you’d be good at the job, for example. Think of times when you’ve had to do something that could be familiar in most working scenarios so you can share what you did. Often how you’ve reacted to something can be just as important as the skills that you have on paper. All in all, you have to show them that there is personality behind you. They are people that you will be working with, so they will have to envisage you working with them and fitting in with their team.
If you are thinking of changing career, then don’t be put off or get defeated at the first rejection. If you persevere, focus on the things that you do well, as well as making yourself the most employable, then it can be quite easy to change career and do something that you will love. Have you got any experience with any of the above points in the post? It would be great to hear what you think.
