Looking at making a career move? What to do when you don’t know what to do.
We have all been there. You wake up every morning and you’re hit with this overwhelming sense of frustration. Like a weight sitting on your chest.
Whether it’s because you’re frustrated with your job, in between jobs, having to quit your job because your spouse got a promotion and you’re moving cross country or some other reason — as we all know sh*t happens.
Well-meaning friends, and even co-workers, will look at you and say things like “things will start to look up soon,” or “you can get a job working anywhere” While this advice is most likely well-intentioned, it isn’t very helpful. Problems don’t just fix themselves. This is the point where you might start to get irritated and maybe even panicked. What do you do?
1. Define the Problem.
This might be the easiest part of the process. What is causing the issue? Do you feel like you have plateaued in your current position? Did you just have a child and need a job that is more flexible? In my case, I married an Army Officer and needed a job that could travel with me. It’s not always easy to stare your problem in the eye, but you need to define the issue before you can start to deal with it.
2. Make a list.
Yes, I know this sounds like advice straight out of a self-help book. While it may seem silly, writing things down will help you think things through — thoroughly. Make a list of what you need from your next job: better benefits, part-time schedule, etc., and what type of job you want. Once you have your list, rank things according to priority. This way you will know what you absolutely must have and what you can live without. For example, if working a part-time schedule is the most important thing on the list, then maybe you can overlook the fact that you’re not able to take five weeks of vacation a year. Unfortunately, we can’t have everything we want.
3. Outline a Plan.
After prioritizing your list, it’s time to create a plan of action. In what city are you job hunting? If you want to work remotely, what tools do you have that will make this possible?
This is also a good time to freshen up your resume, LinkedIn, and clean up any other social media accounts. Make sure your resume and online presence represents your recently defined goals. Don’t just put “Seeking a job” on LinkedIn, be more specific. Perhaps you could say “Seeking a part-time job in Atlanta, GA” or “Seeking a full-time job in the marketing field”.
4. Take Action.
Now that you have the problem defined, have set priorities, and outlined a plan, it’s time to put the plan in motion. Reach out to your network and start putting your feelers out. Depending on your situation, it might behoove you to connect with a recruiter.* Look outside of your current industry. You never know what you might find. I started out in radio/media and am currently working in the talent solutions industry. While you’re putting a strategy together you should also think about your intermediate plans. Do you want to find another job before you quit your current one? If you’re moving because of a spouse, you might be without a job for a while. This means you would need to be able to explain a gap in employment. While that’s not ideal, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
When in doubt, refer to your list. If you really worked on prioritizing it the answer to some of these questions might be staring you in the face.
*Disclaimer: I work for a recruiting firm.*
While this advice may seem overly simplified, it does help to follow the process listed above. I know from personal experience. Rather than spend another day frustrated about your job situation (whatever it may be), try and define the problem and take action. After all, what harm could it do?
Amanda Davis is a millennial and a special projects & marketing manager at a leading talent solutions firm.
This article was originally published on apdavis.com.
