Change careers for the right reasons

Changing careers is usually one of life’s big steps. But change is good, and when you're faced with this decision, it’s important that you're armed with the right support and information.

To help you on your journey, we’ve highlighted the three top reasons for changing careers, and things you should definitely consider before you embark on the big move.
 

Changing careers is usually one of life’s big steps. But change is good, and when you're faced with this decision, it’s important that you're armed with the right support and information.

1. Work-life balance. It means different things to different people, and varies for different roles, industries and locations across the country. For some, it’s flexibility in hours and location of work, for others, it’s about securing work that doesn’t disrupt home life. Whatever it means to you, it’s an important consideration when undertaking career change.
   
   If you’re considering an industry change, SEEK research found that people working in Human Resources, Real Estate and Property, and Consulting and Strategy all ranked their work-life balance as good or excellent. On the other hand, those working in Procurement, Manufacturing or Transport, Administration and Office Support, and Design and Architecture, were considerably less satisfied, ranking their balance as poor or terrible. As for job level, SEEK found that work-life balance satisfaction usually corresponded with experience and seniority. 70% of those in senior or general management were happy, while those in entry level or graduate roles were less so, polling at 56% work life balance satisfaction.
   
   But whether an industry, role level, or location change is required, the research is overwhelmingly positive. More than one in two Australians changed jobs in search of better work-life balance, and 70% achieving it! So, if a better balance is what you’re seeking, it’s time to start finding.
    
2. You’re passionate about something else. When you’re working in a job that you don’t enjoy, or servicing people and products you’re not passionate about, it’s hard to see yourself moving forward in your career.
   
   Ask yourself what gets you up in the morning, what really gets you energised about work. Is it working with animals? Is it problem solving? Is it working in bigger teams, when currently you work independently? Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s worth establishing if your current industry can accommodate you. If a change of industry is necessary, ask people you know in that industry about their jobs, and get acquainted with relevant job descriptions on SEEK. Once you have a clear understanding of what’s required for these roles, spend some time assessing your skills, values and interests and whether they’d be suitable for the industry, and in what capacity.
   
   If you need more experience, or there are gaps in your skill list, check out SEEK Volunteer and see what opportunities are available. Volunteering is a great way to gain new skills, and further your career. Or, have a browse through SEEK Learning and see what courses could benefit your new career.
    
3. A better company, with perks tailored to you. Some companies are alluring because of the high salaries they offer, or maybe it’s the career development opportunities that have you intrigued? What about that great management you’ve read about?
   
   Considering what a company can offer you is an incredibly important part of changing careers. While you need to be prepared to show a new company the skills and experience you have,  establishing how a company can fit for you holds equal merit.
   
   Whatever you determine as the most important perk or benefit to pursue in another company, make sure you have a plan for transitioning into a new career before leaving your current job. An easy way to do this is to research companies on SEEK Company reviews. It’s a home for thousands of reviews from past and present employees, giving you a true insight to what it’s like to work there.