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We’re more than halfway through the first month of 2023. This is usually the time when your new year’s resolutions have either solidified into good habits, or have gone by the wayside.
In the past few weeks, I’ve met with several potential clients who’ve decided this is the year they’re finally going to stop putting their career goals on hold.
I’m excited for them! Most of them said they’ve been thinking about doing something new or different in their career for a long time, but never acted on it. Now, they’re ready to pull the trigger.
For some, it’s been a bit of a forced readiness. They’re now feeling the squeeze of burnout and boredom, whereas before it was just a matter of indecisiveness.
Is 2023 the right time?
It’s often difficult to know when it’s the right time to make a career move. There are so many factors to consider, both professional and personal.
This includes what the current job market’s doing, your current skill set versus required skill set, and job availability in your chosen geographic location. It can also include factors such as current financial situation, stress level at your job, age of your children, and other family dynamics.
There’s nothing that says you have to make your career move this year. But, if it’s something you’ve been considering, 2023 might be the right time to start exploring the feasibility of a move, and then taking action steps toward it.
In fact, as a career coach, I don’t recommend making sudden career moves without spending some time planning and seeking advice from a coach. But if you know you’d like to make a move in the not-so-distant future, don’t wait to start planning!
The last thing you want to do is wait until you find yourself suddenly forced to make a change, such as in the event of a layoff. And, you also don’t want to wait until you find yourself stuck in a situation where you’re so burned out you a) no longer have the mental or physical energy to stay, b) don’t have the financial means to leave, and/or c) don’t have the energy to conduct a job search for a new opportunity.
If you’re considering a career move but are comfortable in your current job, now is the time to start taking some action steps. Don’t let comfort in the here-and-now cause you to have to frantically scramble in the future.
Action steps to take NOW in 2023
Let 2023 be the year you start developing some healthy resolutions and habits for your future career. Here are some things you can do this year to start preparing for the next career move.
1. Communicate your thoughts with your family
Get into the habit of discussing your ideas with your spouse and family. Have a conversation with them about their questions and concerns.
Take some time to dream a little about possible scenarios. Then, look realistically at your finances and your life goals for your family. See which scenarios might best match up with your family situation.
2. Talk to your network
Connect with your network, as you should already and always be doing. Bounce some of your ideas off of them, and pay attention to their responses. Do they encourage you, or do they see red flags you may have missed?
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, don’t be afraid to share your idea with your trusted contacts. You don’t have to worry too much about someone stealing your idea. Most people won’t have the same level of passion for your idea as you do, at least not enough necessary to get the idea off the ground.
3. Re-evaluate your skill set
Find out if your next career move will require learning new skills or updating your current skill set. Start looking to see what programs are available to learn these new skills, how long the programs last, and their admissions requirements and deadlines.
4. Research the industry
Look specifically at the current trends and issues of the industry you’re exploring. Find out what direction the industry is moving in.
The best way to do this is to become a member of the industry’s professional association, join online industry groups through social media platforms, and talk to people currently in the industry.
5. Dust off your resume and update your LinkedIn profile
If it’s been a while since you last had to have a resume, especially if it was prior to the pandemic, it’s time to update it to include skills and accomplishments gained while working through the logistics and nuances of a pandemic.
Also, if you haven’t done anything to your LinkedIn profile since you first set it up, it’s time to make some overdue updates.
At the very least, get a little help
If you need help sticking to the above resolutions for 2023, paNASH is here for you! I can give you tools, resources, tips, and suggestions on how to best accomplish your resolutions, so that when the time is right, you’ll be ready to make your next career move, even if it’s not until 2024!
To take action now, click here and complete the paNASH intake form. You can also subscribe to the paNASH newsletter for tips and resources.
Happy new year!
