Your Mind Your Body

The current unemployment rates and the financial hardships that many Americans are facing makes us all wonder when things will get better and what are viable options. Most of us know someone or of someone who is currently unemployed and not by choice. During these tough economic times, you may be considering returning to college to either gain more skills in your current field of work, or to retrain in a new direction with the hope of finding a different career path.

Before you make a career change, there are several things to keep in mind:

• Take your personality into account: Knowing yourself well is the first step to making the right career move. If you enjoy working with others, and yet find yourself in a job that is isolating or with limited social interaction, you might find that your social needs might undermine how satisfying you find your job. On the other hand, if you get overwhelmed when you are required to be interacting with others on a consistent basis, your job responsibilities might take a toll on you and curtail how fulfilled you will feel by your career choice.
• Be aware of the work environment that best fits you: Do you prefer a fast-paced, time-pressured work environment or would you rather work in a steady, predictable atmosphere? You might find that you work better when you have deadlines and have to make in-the-moment decisions. Conversely, you might feel better when you have ample time to make decisions and to get things accomplished. Since most of us spend the most productive hours of our days at work, it is crucial that we know the kind of environment that best fits us. Otherwise, you might find yourself regularly distressed or bored to death.
• More education is not always a must: Find out if your new career path requires further education (like a new degree) or if your skills are transferable to your new vocational interests. Do not undersell the skills and abilities that you already have acquired and utilized in your previous jobs. If needed, talk to someone who can help you objectively assess your skills and help you to articulate them in a manner that makes you marketable.
• Test the waters before you jump ship: It might be beneficial for you to do volunteer activities or shadow someone in this new occupation before you commit to making a change. You might learn factors not otherwise found through other sources that can help you make a well-informed decision.

There are no jobs without some challenges. However, choosing a job in which you do not mind taking care of the problems that arise may just be the best career choice for you.

Filed under: Lifestyle & Behaviors, Relationships, Resilience, Stress, Work/Life