Thinking About a Career Change? Here’s What You Need to Consider Before Making the Leap

It’s estimated that a third of our life is spent at work, this means that the everyday interactions you have with your colleagues, the projects you work on and your job satisfaction are likely to have a massive impact on your quality of life and wellbeing. In the UK, it is estimated that less than two-thirds of employees are satisfied with their jobs. The strain of being unhappy in your work life can flow over into your personal life and have long-term negative effects on your mental and physical health. Yet, we are often so busy in our day-to-day lives that we don’t always sit down and weigh the options of a change.

Many of today’s thriving industries did not exist even a decade ago, so it’s likely if your formal training was a few moons ago, that you would not have even considered some of the options that are now on the table. For many of us, career changes are an inevitable part of life, with the average person changing careers between 5 and 7 times in their lifetime. We will try our hand at different skills and sectors, sometimes, this may be a roaring success, but other times, perhaps not quite so much, either way, each of these equips us with lessons and knowledge that will help us on our next voyage. It’s important to note that having the ability to change careers, especially to follow a passion, is a privilege in itself and not afforded to everyone. If you are in the lucky position to do so, be sure not to take this for granted, and if in the future you can support someone else in making a career change, whether through words of advice or other means, be sure to pass on the goodwill.

The way we work has also dramatically changed over the years, and as flexibility has become a key aspect of many industries, many practicality barriers have disappeared, opening up new opportunities that may not have been viable before. The full impact of COVID on different sectors will not be known for some time, but one thing it has taught us is that many more jobs can be done remotely than was perhaps previously realised. This means that if your dream career is for a company on the other side of the world, you may now be able to pursue this without upheaving your life.

So, before you jump right in, what do you need to consider? The first important question is, 'What are your motives for a career change?' If you are fully aware of your reasons for a change in career, then you are set up to ensure that your change is going to meet these expectations. It’s also vital to understand what you might be giving up, weigh up the pros and cons and take the time to explore all options available to you. We have a world of knowledge at our fingertips, so take advantage of this, research, research and research. You can also reach out to people in that career and find out their first-hand experiences. What do they love about their career? What don’t they love?

Image credit: Canva

A career change can be an exciting vantage point of a new beginning, however, it is also not a decision to take lightly, you want to do everything you can beforehand to set yourself up for success. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan,” and this is true when it comes to your career, it’s important before you leap that you’ve put in place a plan and a strategy to get to where you want to go. This will mean something different depending on your desired goal, but a good start is to consider training or courses available, attending networking events, building contacts in your soon-to-be sector, finding a mentor and seeking out advice. The truth is, this is life, so things may not always go to plan, but it’s important to have a plan to begin with.

For LGBTQ+ professionals, the inclusivity of a sector is also likely to be of importance. Although a lot of progress has been made over the years, more than a third of LGBTQ+ employees still say they have hidden their identity at work, so ensuring you’re able to freely be yourself in the industry you’re about to enter is a must. At the same time, as an LGBTQ+ person, you are also a member of the incredibly supportive LGBTQ+ community. This is a community with a legacy of unity and support, so take advantage of this and utilise your network of fellow queer people. myGwork now has over 750k LGBTQ+ professionals, branching across all sectors, many of whom are happy to connect and answer any questions you may have about their industry – don’t be afraid to reach out.

So, you’ve done the research, made new connections, come to a decision and planned your roadmap to success, what’s next? It’s time to make the leap. Although it’s important to consider the timing of a career change, remember there may never be a perfect time, as Stella Mowen said, “I used to think timing was everything. I have since learned that now is the time for everything”. There will always be a risk, but the reward of waking up every day in a career that you love makes it worth it. Remember to give it all you’ve got, and good luck.

Sign up now to our free-to-attend panel 'Pathways to Reinvention: How to Navigate Changing Your Career' and take the next leap in your career. Taking place Wednesday, 16 August at 4:00 pm BST.