Does your job leave you unfulfilled or dissatisfied? Maybe you’re unhappy about your pay, the workplace is too demanding (or not challenging enough), or you’re looking for a promotion. If yours no longer feels like the right one for you, it could be time to change your job.
But that change doesn’t have to be as major as switching careers. Making changes to your job can be enough to turn things round and may be easier than moving to a whole new career. Here’s our 10 easy suggestions for shaking things up.
1. Take on new challenges
If you are unhappy with aspects of your job, organise to do more of what you like and less of what you don’t like.
You can also change your job by by moving it into exciting new directions. Try taking on different challenges or investigate how you can expand your skills.
Maximising your skills and interests will make your work more rewarding. It will also benefit the organisation you work for, and could bring you to the attention of others (in a positive way).
2. Look for other opportunities
Does your role have natural boundaries and set tasks that can’t be shifted? Research and volunteer for other opportunities within the organisation, such as project work or secondments. You might enjoy the temporary work so much you decide to make it permanent.
Another option is to consider retraining for another role if you currently don’t have the skills.
3. Propose a new job for yourself
Maybe the job you want to do doesn’t exist in your workplace, but you believe such a position would generate or take advantage of new business opportunities. You can suggest your organisation creates this role for you.
Bear in mind that circumstances may prevent the job being established, even if you put forward excellent reasons.
4. Make a career ladder move
Promotion will give you more responsibility or new skills, higher pay or status. If there’s a lack of career advancement opportunities, ask your line manager or HR where you can grow within your current employment.
If you want to change your job but not take on more responsibility, another job on the same level could see you performing different tasks. You could consider a different business unit or working with different people. If you are not coping with your responsibilities or you want to cut back your hours and work stress, move down the promotion ladder.
5. Change your environment
Sometimes you may like your job but the work environment is unsuitable or colleagues are making it unpleasant.
In these circumstances, rather than just putting up with a bad situation or even resigning, ask your management to either resolve the situation or to be seconded or transferred to another office or department.
6. Get an additional job
A second job or voluntary work can ‘fill the gaps’ in your current job. It can provide additional money and more fulfilment to your work, an opportunity to be more creative or meet new people.
7. Take your time to think about it
When life seems dull and work is boring, it can be tempting to imagine things would be better if you worked in a different profession. But how genuine are these desires? Resist doing anything major if you’re just having a bad week.
After thinking about a career change, you might decide your current job is fulfilling enough or it might not be a good time to be changing jobs. You can always change your mind later.
8. Find a new employer
Staying with your current employer may not be an option for you and the only thing to do is move on. Even in times of economic turmoil, long gone are the days of one job for life.
However, find out as much as you can about an employer, before you make the move, to ensure you make the right choice and get what you want in the new job.
9. Become self-employed
If you want to be your own boss, remember there are risks in running your own business and make sure you know exactly what you’re doing. Running your own business can also be lonely and time-consuming.
10. Change your job with a career coach
Career coaching can help you define your values, skills, talents and passions and make important career decisions which can be hard to do on your own.