Gone are the days when you went to work for a company and stayed there until you retired. The relationship between employer and employee was based on loyalty in exchange for job security. You would always have a job if you did a good job. That world no longer exists. Today, the average worker makes a career change every 4.1 years.
Today, we live in a world of constant change that rewards flexibility, resilience, and the willingness to learn new skills that a changing workplace demands. It’s comforting to know that although your job may end, your skills go wherever you go. The knowledge you’ve gained, the abilities you’ve developed, and your natural talents are yours to keep. A job title does not define you.
There is a difference between changing jobs and changing careers. A job change is when you stay within the same profession and industry but change who you work for. A career change is when you take a job doing a different kind of work in a different industry. A job change is easier than a career change because you’ve already proven your ability to perform in a profession and industry. A Career change takes longer because you must clearly understand your transferable skills and convince a potential employer that you can apply your skills in a new profession or industry.
Sometimes, you have been in a job for so long that you don’t think about your options beyond finding the same job with another company in the same industry. You have other options and different ways of positioning yourself in the job market that you may not have considered. The list below contains five of those options and the risks associated with each one.
- Same Company/New Job
The benefit of this choice is that you understand the company culture and the industry. You’ve built relationships and trust within the company that can be beneficial. The downside is that you may have become too identified with your current role, and it’s difficult for people to imagine you doing anything else.
- Same Profession/New Company
- You’ve proven your ability to be successful in this profession. If you’ve been active in professional associations, you’ve made contacts that can open doors for you to change companies. The risk is that you may not fit in with the company culture.
- Same Profession/New Industry
- Like Option 2, you’ve proven your ability to be successful in your profession, but how knowledgeable are you about other industries that may be growing faster and have more opportunities than yours? Understanding the typical culture of that industry is required to make the best decision. For example, working in the high-tech industry differs from working for a government agency. Which is best for you?
- New Profession/New Industry/New Company
- This choice requires research and preparation, but if you think your profession may be replaced by technology, no longer be in demand, or you’re just sick of it, consider this option. Give yourself time to research the requirements for the profession you are transitioning to. What company do you want to work for, and what contacts do you have at that company who can recommend you?
- Same Clients/New Company
- This is an option you may not have thought of. Having deep experience working with people in a particular industry, profession, nationality, location, or demographic can be a selling point to another company that works with the same clientele you have been successful working with. Which of those companies would you like to work for?
Whatever option you choose, your most essential skills are the willingness to learn and the ability to manage change.
Any of the choices described above will trigger a time of transition when you question every decision you make and convince yourself that it is wrong. Changing jobs or careers is like changing your grade in school or changing schools. You have a new teacher and new friends, and you doubt you’ll succeed because you have so much to learn.
But just like you did in school, you will learn new skills, build new relationships, expand your knowledge, and prepare to climb to the next rung in your career ladder.
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