Making the right move
Many people envision a career change while on their summer holidays, but is this whimsical, rather than rational, thinking?
Thursday July 31 2008
You know the feeling: you’re on holiday and, after a few blissful days of chilling out, thoughts start creeping into your mind about your job and where it’s taking you.
You’re not alone. According to a recent survey from RecruitIreland.com, one in three people think about a career overhaul while on holiday.
But is your summer break the most suitable occasion to start re-assessing your career aspirations?
Greg Dalton, a career coach and general manager of Select Appointments, suggests holidays are not really the best time to contemplate a career move.
“To an extent, it can be irrational. It’s the Sunday evening or Monday morning dread. Your holidays should be a time of rest and relaxation and to take a break from your work,” he explains.
Conversely, Carol Moore, principal of Quo Vadis Solutions, says holidays are actually a good time to think about changing jobs because people have a lot of time to think and reflect.
Holidays, therefore, can trigger a worthwhile and in-depth self-analysis about where your career is heading and whether you should remain in your current role or not.
Dalton says the way to gauge whether it’s time to move on is by judging whether your work is affecting your personal development, your relationships with your colleagues and, most importantly, your relationships with your partner, family and friends.
“Consider what you can change within the workplace yourself. If you can’t change things, then it’s time to look at moving on.”
He says people should take a step back and analyse what they do and don’t enjoy about their job. “Look at it as a career rather than a job and build your cv on what you’ve achieved, what you like to do and what you’re strong at.”
Asking questions such as whether you enjoy the work, or if the level of challenge is right for you, is essential, adds Moore.
Other factors worth considering, she says, are whether you fit into a company’s cultural mindset and assessing whether you prefer sitting at a desk or getting out and meeting people.
Dalton says it’s also a good idea to talk to an independent advisor who has no ulterior agenda. “Ultimately, what you’d like to achieve is a defined career path.
“Identify what you enjoy. Look at people who are in those jobs. Arrange to meet them and discuss how they became successful,” he says.
For Moore, it’s key to ask yourself these questions and to know what you really want out of a job before moving. And with employers cutting back on costs, she says they may not be advertising right now. Therefore, it’s vital to do your research.
“A lot of people get into a situation they feel is impossible to change because that’s all they know. They may have fallen into a career,” explains Dalton.
“The only way to get out of the loop is to take a step back and consider what makes you tick and what makes you happy. Set yourself targets that are achievable.”
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- Carmel Doyle
