Beat the Back to Work Blues Part 5

Sometimes a break can change your outlook.  Being at work day in day out becomes a grind that you become blind to and having a change from that makes you see that more clearly.  If you are not feeling motivated when you go back to work then something is wrong and you need to address that.  Let's face it, the pay cheque is always a big motivator, but it shouldn't be your only reason for staying in a job.  Find something you love doing and you will find going to work and doing your job so much easier.

Be honest with yourself about what really motivates you and then focus on it with everything you have

Understand your career personality. 

Look back at your career and think about times when you have felt most energised and useful. When you look closely at the skills you were using, the environment and the relationships, there are likely to be some common themes between the times you enjoyed and those you didn’t. These common themes are often good predictors of what is going to work best for you in the future.

Get motivated. 

There are usually a number of options that could help bring about the career improvement you are after. Some will be easier for you to achieve than others, but whatever you choose, you have to genuinely be motivated to do it, otherwise it’s likely to fail. Potential new employers will easily spot if your heart’s not really in it. Be honest with yourself about what really motivates you and then focus on it with everything you have.

Talk to people. 

A career coach can be a great help but friends, family members, business and social connections can also be a great source of advice, feedback and information when you are thinking of changing career. Family and friends will also be able to help you work out if the change you are planning will actually suit you, as well as supporting you through setbacks and celebrating your successes.

Make a career action plan. 

Set goals and timelines, identify the resources you will need, monitor your progress and share your plan with others to make yourself accountable. Career change doesn’t happen overnight but a plan will help keep you on course. Your time management is also going to have to go up a gear. You are going to have to find time in your busy schedule to make it happen. When people get the kinds of careers they want it isn’t just “lucky”, they’ve made it happen.

Take calculated risks. 

Research the job market and talk to a recruitment agency to get example job descriptions, find out what employers are looking for and what they are paying. Most importantly, talk to people who currently work in those roles. Making any career change is a risk, but then staying in a job where you’re not happy carries its own risks. If you feel as though it’s the right decision for you and it seems to be achievable, go for it.
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