Average Length of a Job Search ... HOW MUCH OF A CHANGE DO YOU PLAN TO MAKE?
If you are making a move within the same industry to a similar function, your search will be shorter. Total re-careering usually involves training and the establishment of a new network. This can take from six months to several years.
WHAT STAGE OF YOUR CAREER ARE YOU IN?
The recent college graduates and the entry-level job seekers generally have the shortest search (unless they are have no sense of direction or are pursuing an obscure job target.) Mid-level professionals and senior executives generally require six months to one year to go from the inception of their job search campaign to the point where they have several offers in hand. The length for the search is greatly effected by industry trends, economic conditions, geographic location, willingness to relocate and the marketability of the job hunter.
WHAT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB WHILE YOU ARE WORKING FULL TIME?
Obviously your search will take longer if you cannot devote all your time to it. But, do not give, up your day job too quickly! Working (even in a job we dislike) keeps us productive and tends to elevate self-esteem. Unemployed job seekers are encouraged to work part-time or volunteer in a "job related" capacity to keep their spirits up.
Is it time to make a Career Change?
Do any of the following sound familiar to you...
| · | Your work has become routine and predictable. |
| · | You feel down on Sunday as Monday looms nearer. |
| · | You come home drained of energy after a day at the office. |
| · | Your work lacks purpose or a sense of importance. |
| · | You see little or no room for advancement. |
| · | You know that there is work you would be better suited to but you just do not know what it is. |
These are the signals that you are at the DISCONTENT stage in the career cycle. It is likely that your values are not being met by the job and/or the environment you are working in. As a result, you feel restless and are beginning to contemplate making a change.
At this point, you enter a creative time of discovery. It is a natural, healthy process that occurs when internal or external variables impact your job satisfaction. It is inevitable that you will periodically re-evaluate your fit with your job. It is a good idea to remain “career resilient”, ready to create new opportunities and challenges.
Your job is constantly evolving. Corporate politics, economic shifts, mergers, personnel upheavals and other unexpected “work quakes” cause unexpected changes. Your duties, stressors and opportunities can flourish or diminish seemingly overnight.
At the same time that the world of work is changing at warp speed, you are also experiencing shifts in your internal life. Your values, needs and expectations develop as your life evolves. A marriage, a new child or relocation can change your work requirements dramatically.
You have natural talents that yearn to be expressed. You have unmet goals, both personal and professional. If your job has stalled, you will feel the loss internally. It will nag at you in quiet moments. You say to yourself, “there must be something better for me out there.”
Unfortunately, because you fear change, often you do nothing. You convince yourself "it is not so bad." You shift your energy to hobbies and non-work activities. You figure you will “wait till things get better.” You sit passively, fearing the unknown. You are in the REALM OF RISK.
The answer is to pursue a career assessment process. You move into the next stage of the career cycle, which is EXPLORATION. You may find that a few minor adjustments within your current job will make the difference. It is always easier to improve the job you have rather than pursue a new one. Consider talking your frustrations over with the boss or getting a transfer to a more rewarding area within the company. Develop skills that will make you more desirable to your employer. Take stalk of your own performance and see if you really need an attitude adjustment, not a job overhaul!
If you have done all you can with your current job and you still feel you need a change, do not let fear stop you! The longer you wait, the more likely obstacles will grow. Debts will pile up as you get your needs met outside work. Stress may impact your health and you significant relationships. Your performance in your current position is likely to decline, which could lead to serious consequences. You always want to be the one who chooses to leave.
Be pro-active and preventative. Face your fears and see this as a new beginning. Get the support you need to succeed in today’s dynamic world of work.
I like my job! So why should I change?
If you love your job, you have much to contribute and need to ensure that you continue your high level of satisfaction. First, you are a role model for other employees. Be there to help others along. Let them know how you found the job that is right for you.
Also, think about your longer-term goals. Be sure that you are still growing and learning in your position. Minor efforts towards self-development can keep you fresh and vibrant. You are like a plant that needs nourishment. While you may be planted in the right soil now, it will become depleted over time if neglected. Reflect on your career development each year and enjoy your job!
Do you still wonder what you want to do with your life?
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