Questions To Consider For Any New Career Change

OK... If we're going to consider jumping ship, then we've got to be sure that the new ship is seaworthy. So, what factors do we need to consider? After many years of working with adult career-changers, we've found that these are the 6 golden questions:

1. Is there a real and genuine need for the new career or job that you're considering?

It's completely pointless getting excited about a career that's not in demand. As a general rule; if there are only limited jobs available and they carry fairly average salaries, then that field is not exactly booming with growth! Don't be duped by a 'glamorous' or fun-sounding job, only to find there's no real work available.

2. Is there enough room in the industry for me to get a job?

If the industry is saturated with workers or requires you to be at the top of the ladder to be a reasonable success, then it probably isn't practical. For example: The film industry might need good directors, but how many of us are genuinely going to be the next Stephen Spielberg! It's great to have lofty goals; but make sure that there's a dash of realism in there too.

3. Is that industry need likely to continue through to my retirement?

Even if there is a genuine need for a particular skill at this moment in time; will it last?

None of us have a crystal-ball, but we can make an educated guess whether or not that business will still be around in the future.

Many jobs have gone the way of the dodo, and many more will follow over the next 10-30 years.

The honest truth is that there are very few future-proof industries. We can't always expect a career change to last our entire life, but we want to make sure that we get at least a decade or two, just so we can justify the time and energy required to make the change.

4. Will it give me long-term job satisfaction?

This is a hard one. There's no real way for most of us to truly know what it's like to do the job we're considering. But, we can look at what others are doing and see if they're getting the rewards that we're looking for. We can also discuss it with people who know the industry well. Most of us are actually quite similar when it comes to achieving job satisfaction:

• We'd like to think that we're making a difference.
• We want to be well rewarded.
• Most of us want to feel that we've put in a good day's work of value.
• We'd like to be recognised, both financially and by our peers & bosses.
• We'd like to enjoy the work we do. (If we can enjoy it 80% of the time,
  then on balance, we're doing pretty well!)

5. Can I make enough money for some of the nicer things in life?

Life is expensive. The only people that don't honestly know that are kids. As we grow up and gain responsibilities, we discover that it is far more expensive than we'd ever imagined! The cost of living is universally soaring; just look at food, petrol & house prices etc.

For most of us, just being able to afford one decent holiday a year while running a reasonably nice car is about the most we can generally hope for. We all dream of having enough to actually save for those little (and not so little!) extras.

Whatever your motivation and passion; whether it be treating or educating your children, holidays and travel, cars, motorbikes, boats, technology or eating out, you simply can't indulge the 'fun stuff' without the bank balance to support it.

And before the niceties kick-in, can we afford to make this months rent/mortgage or car payments comfortably?

A career that builds towards a significantly higher than average income is obviously going to benefit us and our families, and make life that extra little bit easier.

6. Is there enough variety in that market for me to find something that suits me?

Does the market we're considering have a variety of roles and options down the line. Are we locked into one defined career path only, or are there multiple routes that we can take, as we grow older and our interests and priorities change. Just look at the decisions you made at 20, 25 & 30 (if you're old enough!) - you'll see that your entire outlook on life has moved and changed as life wore on. Make sure that you leave yourself room to evolve and change.

Next: Which New Career?