Vocational Goals and Changes
Are you tired of the stress of your job and want to leave it but you're feeling stuck? You've poured months or even years into your current job but you're just not feeling the appreciation or recognition that you deserve. Maybe you feel like you should be earning more for the amount of work that you're doing. Maybe this just isn't the right job for you, and it's making you miserable, but you're not sure how to find your way out.
Changing jobs or even careers is not always an easy task. If it was, maybe you would have already done so a long time ago. But it's scary. It feels risky. And the truth is, you need income just like anyone else. Let's look at some of the barriers that may be keeping you from feeling prepared to leave your current job:
Are you tired of the stress of your job and want to leave it but you're feeling stuck? You've poured months or even years into your current job but you're just not feeling the appreciation or recognition that you deserve. Maybe you feel like you should be earning more for the amount of work that you're doing. Maybe this just isn't the right job for you, and it's making you miserable, but you're not sure how to find your way out.
Changing jobs or even careers is not always an easy task. If it was, maybe you would have already done so a long time ago. But it's scary. It feels risky. And the truth is, you need income just like anyone else. Let's look at some of the barriers that may be keeping you from feeling prepared to leave your current job:
Age
People are often concerned that it is too late to start on a new path, however, people from their early 20's through their 50's still have lots of time to make a little investment in starting something new. The short time it takes to work toward building a new skill or gaining experience and tenure in a new field is a worthwhile investment. Depending on the type of career change you'd like to make, just compare a few months of job-searching, several months of training, or maybe 1-2 years of further education, to the next 15 to 40 years of more satisfying employment. It is a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things. Through Career Counseling we will work with you by helping you to determine what may be the most fitting steps or investments in your own plan for changing employment.
People are often concerned that it is too late to start on a new path, however, people from their early 20's through their 50's still have lots of time to make a little investment in starting something new. The short time it takes to work toward building a new skill or gaining experience and tenure in a new field is a worthwhile investment. Depending on the type of career change you'd like to make, just compare a few months of job-searching, several months of training, or maybe 1-2 years of further education, to the next 15 to 40 years of more satisfying employment. It is a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things. Through Career Counseling we will work with you by helping you to determine what may be the most fitting steps or investments in your own plan for changing employment.
Pay
It's taken you this long to get to the pay-grade where you are now, and you might be afraid that you would have to take a pay-cut when starting a new job from scratch. One important question to ask here is: what is the value of a good quality of life, both inside and outside of the workplace? Are you making lots of money but are stuck being miserable for 40+ hours per week to earn it? If you could pay money up front right now to feel happier than you are at your work place now, how much more open might might you be to giving some of your income up? Many people learn that once they're in a job that they love, that the money doesn't matter as much because life is good throughout the workday, which often translates to being happier outside of the workplace as well. This is a very important thing to keep in mind.
It's taken you this long to get to the pay-grade where you are now, and you might be afraid that you would have to take a pay-cut when starting a new job from scratch. One important question to ask here is: what is the value of a good quality of life, both inside and outside of the workplace? Are you making lots of money but are stuck being miserable for 40+ hours per week to earn it? If you could pay money up front right now to feel happier than you are at your work place now, how much more open might might you be to giving some of your income up? Many people learn that once they're in a job that they love, that the money doesn't matter as much because life is good throughout the workday, which often translates to being happier outside of the workplace as well. This is a very important thing to keep in mind.
Fear of the unknown
“What if the next job I take makes me feel worse than this one?” This is a very valid question! No one wants to jump from the frying pan right into the fire. This is especially where Career Counseling can be helpful. We use specific resources designed to help you identify areas of work that you are likely to enjoy, as well as areas of work that are important to avoid. We will also work with you to learn coping skills for all the different types of outcomes that can come from a job switch so that you can have the skills to feel more confident in making that job or career change.
“What if the next job I take makes me feel worse than this one?” This is a very valid question! No one wants to jump from the frying pan right into the fire. This is especially where Career Counseling can be helpful. We use specific resources designed to help you identify areas of work that you are likely to enjoy, as well as areas of work that are important to avoid. We will also work with you to learn coping skills for all the different types of outcomes that can come from a job switch so that you can have the skills to feel more confident in making that job or career change.
Doubt
One of the biggest things that can hold us back from making a great job or career change is second-guessing ourselves. We hear that little voice in our head saying, “no one will hire me,” “how could I ever fit their qualifications,” or “I can't do any better than this.” What we cannot do is predict the future. Trying to do so is a natural defense mechanism where we try to “fortune-tell” the bad outcomes that could happen in order to protect ourselves from potentially painful experiences. The problem with this is that we discount the potential positive outcomes that could occur. It's just as important that we ask ourselves, “What if I do get a new job that's less stressful?” “What if they decide I can fit their hiring criteria?” “What if there is someone out there that recognizes my natural talents and strengths?” Remember, everyone has strengths, including you. Even if at first you don't get a position that you had hoped for, it doesn't mean that all possible good outcomes are ruled out. It may just mean that the one you first hoped for just wasn't the right fit for you.
One of the biggest things that can hold us back from making a great job or career change is second-guessing ourselves. We hear that little voice in our head saying, “no one will hire me,” “how could I ever fit their qualifications,” or “I can't do any better than this.” What we cannot do is predict the future. Trying to do so is a natural defense mechanism where we try to “fortune-tell” the bad outcomes that could happen in order to protect ourselves from potentially painful experiences. The problem with this is that we discount the potential positive outcomes that could occur. It's just as important that we ask ourselves, “What if I do get a new job that's less stressful?” “What if they decide I can fit their hiring criteria?” “What if there is someone out there that recognizes my natural talents and strengths?” Remember, everyone has strengths, including you. Even if at first you don't get a position that you had hoped for, it doesn't mean that all possible good outcomes are ruled out. It may just mean that the one you first hoped for just wasn't the right fit for you.
With Career Counseling you and your therapist will work together to explore what's been getting in the way of you making the career change that you need, and we'll identify what steps you can take to move forward toward a job that better suits you, your personality, your skills and your values. We have put together a specific system for helping you identify your strengths, which we will use to help you find a career path that is more suited for you. We will also be there beside you to help you cope with the challenges or bumps that sometimes come along with making this transition. If you're still not sure whether you'd like to take this next step, try asking yourself the following questions:
1) Am I able to find and pursue another way of being happy while currently working in a job I don't like?
2) Can I find some value and reward in my current job to help me tolerate it more?
3) Is there a way I can communicate a need for changes in my current job requirements/hours/pay to help make it more worthwhile?
4) Could I be okay continuing at this job until retirement?
If you said "yes" to all of these, that's great! We encourage you to follow through with addressing each of these to make your work life better. If you answered “no” to one or more these questions, perhaps it's time to consider pursuing Career Counseling. Remember, you have value no matter where you are in life. Making the investment to improve your life can make a world of difference in how you feel.
1) Am I able to find and pursue another way of being happy while currently working in a job I don't like?
2) Can I find some value and reward in my current job to help me tolerate it more?
3) Is there a way I can communicate a need for changes in my current job requirements/hours/pay to help make it more worthwhile?
4) Could I be okay continuing at this job until retirement?
If you said "yes" to all of these, that's great! We encourage you to follow through with addressing each of these to make your work life better. If you answered “no” to one or more these questions, perhaps it's time to consider pursuing Career Counseling. Remember, you have value no matter where you are in life. Making the investment to improve your life can make a world of difference in how you feel.
