If you have stumbled upon this blog post, chances are that you are wondering if it’s time for you to change careers.

 

Do you work in a bank, but find yourself daydreaming about being an artist? Do you feel like your life is stuck in a rut? These are just some reasons why you may need a career change. We’ll investigate these and some more reasons in this blog post!

 

Is it time to change careers? 4 reasons why it might be

 

You feel like you are not making a difference

 

The average Canadian works typically for nearly 40 hours a week. If you feel like you are not making a difference in this huge chunk of time, then you might need to call it a day with your current job.

 

Make a list of your primary job duties, and consider how the company would do these duties if you were not there. If there are some distinctive things that you do that nobody else in the office would be able to, there might be a reason to stick it out with your job.

 

However, if you feel like you could be easily replaced, it might mean that this job is no longer the right path for you, and your fate lies elsewhere.

 

You dread Monday mornings

 

Everyone looks forward to the weekend. However, if you feel yourself pining for Fridays all week and then get a sense of pure dread every Sunday evening, it might be time to shake things up and seek a new line of work.

 

Make sure, however, that you take the time to assess whether you are just feeling some weekend nostalgia, or if you are seriously unhappy in your line of work.

 

If you just feel a bit tired at the thought of going back to work, and wish you could spend another day doing as you please, that might be a sign that you’re just enjoying your weekend life. If you quickly adapt into ‘work mode’ once you’re on the way to work, this might show that your work life is actually ok.

 

However, if it’s a struggle to get through Mondays, and the dread of going to work occupies most of your Sunday, it may well be time to make a change. 

 

You have a hobby that you wish you could spend more time on

 

Most people have some hobbies, that’s true – but some people manage to make a job out of their hobbies.

 

For example, avid photographers might take the plunge into selling some of their prints, and eventually become a self-employed photographer.

 

If you have hobbies that you think you could monetize and find yourself wishing that you could spend more time on them, it might be worth taking a gamble and leaving your job.

 

Your job isn’t worth the money any more

 

Some people stay in jobs for the money, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. For some people, it is essential – especially when they have mortgages to pay off, student loans to pay back, and families to feed.

 

But, if you are comfortable enough in your financial situation, and you can’t motivate yourself to go to your job for the money alone, it might be worth taking the plunge and changing careers.

 

Many people who change careers end up accepting a pay cut but are happy to trade it for more job satisfaction. As long as you don’t rely on the money, it might be worth putting your happiness first.

 

Conclusion

 

If you resonate with any of these signs or are just troubled with the idea that your job may no longer be suitable for you, it might be time to change careers. If you would like some advice about changing careers and are based in Vancouver, British Columbia, please reach out to us.

If you feel unsatisfied in your professional life, whether that be because you are job hunting or if you feel like you are not meeting all of your career goals in your workplace, you could try hiring a career coach.

 

A career coach is a trained professional who will be able to look at how you work and make actionable tips on improving. Through detailed discussions with you, they will discuss your work blocks, and together you will decide the best path forward.

 

In this article, we will look at the benefits of hiring a career coach and when you should think about hiring one!

 

The Benefits of Hiring a Career Coach

 

There are untold benefits of hiring a career coach if you are in a rocky careers patch and need guidance. Here are just a few of them!

 

Understanding yourself better

 

One of the main benefits of hiring a career coach is that you will understand your professional self better. Career coaches will work with you to pinpoint what kind of employee you are and how you work best. You can use this information to assess what jobs you would like to go for in the future.

 

Finding the right employer

 

It’s essential to find employers that you will mesh with. By working with a career coach, you’ll be able to discern which employers will suit you best and then prioritize applications for these certain businesses.

 

Settling into a new role quickly

 

Career coaches are incredibly valuable when it comes to settling into new roles. Not only will a career coach help you find a suitable job, but you can use their advice to manage your time, meet people, and feel more comfortable in your new position.

 

Helping manage your expectations

 

Knowing what you expect and need out of a workplace is crucial to achieving workplace success. A coach will give you a good idea of what you should ask for in the workplace, and what you shouldn’t expect as a norm.

 

When to hire a career coach

 

• If you are entirely switching industries, you might benefit from speaking to a careers coach to get some advice on transferring your skills to your new job.
• If you keep having unsuccessful interviews. You should work on interview skills and first impressions, which a careers coach will be able to help you with.
• If you don’t have a career goal. A career coach will help you to work out what you want to do career-wise, and work out an actionable plan with you about success in your industry.
• If you feel negatively towards work. This might be because of a bad exit, whether that be a dismissal or quitting, from your last company.
• If you are job searching and feel lost about what to do, particularly if you have never searched for jobs before or have not done it for a long time.

 

As you can see, there are so many benefits to hiring a career coach – and a lot of times in your professional life when you may need one! If you are based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and feel like you could use career advice, please get in touch.

How to Stand Out from the Crowd & Move Beyond the Job Boards by Networking

 

Networking is one of the best resources for professional success and career development. A good network can help provide possibilities for advancement, job leads, and opportunities for personal improvement.

 

In fact, according to a recent survey, 85% of critical jobs are filled via networking, so it’s essential to be highly networked for both employers and job seekers. How can you step outside the unproductive cycle of job boards and network with new people? Check out our top tips below to stand apart from the crowd.

 

Attend Events

 

The easiest way to network with other people is to attend events in your community. Ensure that you pay attention to the events that local businesses or organizations are hosting in your city, and try to attend as many as possible. Bring some business cards so you can introduce and connect with new people. Events create a comfortable, laid-back environment where you can connect without any pressure.

 

Create Events

 

If you find that your city is not providing any community events, you could host your own events. You could create a workshop, host exhibits, happy hours, or host a panel of business speakers. Not only is this a powerful tool for your entire community, but it’s also something you can add to your resume or use as a talking point.

 

Prepare Your Elevator Pitch

 

The best way to leave a lasting impression when networking is to create instant interest in your business and projects. The first question people will likely ask when they meet you is, “What do you do?”. If you can’t answer that clearly in under one minute, you’ll lose interest. Know what you want to say beforehand, so you can easily connect with others.

 

Volunteer Your Time

 

Volunteering allows you to meet people who share your passion, while helping others in toye community. Pick a cause that’s important to you and find ways to volunteer your time. There is no pressure to network in a volunteering situations, so you can form genuine connections with the other volunteers around you.

 

Open Door Policy

 

Networking can start in your own office. If you have a private office, try to keep your door open as much as possible. Make it clear to others that it’s okay to stop by and say hello. By making yourself available to others, you’re literally opening the door to networking opportunities and deeper connections.

 

Offer value to others

 

The easiest way to network with others is to offer value to their work. Once you find out what they do, check your network to see if you can connect them with someone who may help their business. Providing value to others will help create meaningful connections and help you stand out from other people.

 

If you’re still feeling stuck when it relates to networking, your career path, or your current job search, you’re not alone. At Pursuit Career Coaching, I will help you stand out from the crowd, uncover your purpose and teach you to negotiate to rake in thousands of dollars. Ready to make a change? Let’s chat!