Taking Your Career In a New Direction

Last Updated: 

March 10, 2023

Discover Real-World Success Stories

Some people know exactly what they want to do for a job from a young age and follow a logical process of steps to get to this end goal. Some people are entirely unsure of what they want to do and jump between numerous different roles until they find what best suits them. Some people feel settled and change their mind years into a specific career path. There’s no right or wrong way to go about finding a job that works for you. What is important is that you do make efforts to find what you want to do and to make your way to something that makes you happy. At the end of the day, the average person will spend eight hours a day, five days a week working, so it’s important that you spend this time doing something that makes you happy - or at the very least, doesn’t make you miserable. Here are a few different options that might help you on this journey!

Switching Roles Within Your Current Company

Often, people don’t want to leave their current role because they love the company they work for, but the position they’re currently occupying isn’t exactly what they want to do or fulfilling. This can be an understandable predicament to be in. You may find that your company has good benefits, a great team, nice facilities and perks such as flexible hours, remote work, commission  or other bonuses that you don’t want to leave behind. It’s always worth discussing this with your manager or HR department.

They may be able to transfer you between departments or into new job openings rather than you having to leave and find similar positions elsewhere. Most companies liketo promote or hire from their current team anyway, as they already know thatyou are reliable and a good team member.

Most companies like to promote or hire from their current team anyway, as they already know that you are reliable and a good team member. However, broaching this topic can be challenging for employees, who may be too afraid to rock the boat. There’s a right and wrong way to explain your interest in another role, and this Lensa article can show you the best way.

Switching Companies

If you don’t like the company you’re currently working for, it’s important to remember that there endless other companies out there that you can work for instead. You don’t have to stay in one place. You also don’t have to quit your job before applying anywhere else. Instead, make sure to routinely browse the job market until you find positions advertised that appeal to you. You can apply to these roles and interview for them while still generating your current income and hand in your notice if you do get offered a preferable position. This is a good way to explore and test the waters. You can always weigh up the pros and cons of different options available to you and never have to accept a new job offer if it doesn’t turn out to be all you thought it was going to be.

Setting Up Your Own Business

Ever thought of setting up your own business? A lot of people think this is a far off dream, but it is achievable as long as you have a good idea of a product or service you want to sell. Take some time to think of what you want to sell. Does it fill a gap in the market? Does it offer something better than what’s currently out there? Can you sell something that already exists with a better brand or a more appealing price? If the answer to these questions is yes, chances are, you’ve got an idea on your hands that can sell.

Work with someone who can provide business plan help and they’ll be able to tell you what you need to consider to get things off the ground. This will give you direction, help you to set goals and will guide you on your journey. You will also need some sort of funding to get things started. Some people use savings. Some people seek out investors. Others will take out business loans.

The best option for you will depend entirely on your indivdiual circumstances and preferences. Next, you need a brand. This will give your business a name that consumers can connect with. Then, get your product manufactured. Most small businesses find outsourcing this process is best.

Finally, it’s generally recommended that new start ups selling products try out e-commerce first. Set up a website and see how well your products this sell. This cuts out the costs of running a commercial premises, reducing pressure on initial sales for success.

Freelancing

If you’re tired of working for other people and want to work for yourself, but without the pressure of setting up your own business per say, you can consider freelancing. Freelancing is when you sell a skill or srvice that you are able to provide to clients with contracts or on one-off projects.

You need to make sure to register as self-employed and remember to deduct money for your earnings to put aside to pay your own tax bill at the end of each fiscal year. But other than that, this is a very free and simple way to work. You choose who you work with, how much you charge, your working hours and other elements that give you a lot more control over your own work and work-life balance. Common roles to freelance in include copywriting, graphic design, accounting, web design and more.

As you can see, there are a lot of different options out there for anyone who’s considering switching up their career somehow. Hopefully, some of the ideas outlined above can appeal to you and may guide you in the right direction towards a job that ticks your boxes and meets all of your needs. You don’t always have to dive in the deep end. You can test the waters of different options and see how you get on!

Related Articles: