Thoughts of any change can be equally exciting as well as daunting. Changing jobs or careers is no exception. Whether you initiate change or change is imposed upon you, change does not come easily to most. There are many stages you may want to consider as you consider making a change in your work.
Pondering. This is when you recognize that your current work situation is no longer serving you or fulfilling you. You see the benefits of changing jobs outweigh the negative consequences of staying. However you may not be sure you are up for changing jobs, you may not have the time or energy or you may not believe there is a better job out there. In this stage you are daydreaming about better days and pondering “what if?”
Considering. This is when the idea of change moves from daunting to exciting. You start to think of possibilities in a more concrete way. You may seek out the counsel of someone who has made a similar change before you. The idea of change starts to materialize however still lacks a clear goal, timeline and game plan. Your thinking moves from “what if” to “why not?”
Planning. This is when you start to gather concrete information, mobilize resources and create a project plan for tackling change. Sometimes this stage can be overwhelming given the myriads of information available and not knowing what information is most relevant to you. A plan provides the road map for career change, ensuring more likely success in transitioning to something new.
Implementing. This is the stage when it’s time to move beyond thinking and planning to making change happen in you career. This is embarking on sustainable activity that moves you closer to your goal. It is about addressing and overcoming set backs and obstacles. It is where you are committed to the belief that change can and will happen.
Recognizing these stages of change are fundamental to realizing rewarding careers.
