With the cost-of-living crisis, interest rate increases and a recession looking likely, isn’t the sensible thing to keep our head down and plod away? Whether we like our job or not?
Is it irresponsible to even consider career change right now?
Well, I want to make it quite clear that I am not about folks ditching their job and walking into a new career overnight. I have always said that career change takes time. Most of the women that work with me, do so to get greater clarity, momentum, and a plan for their career change. It is very rare that they would ditch their job without having one to go to.
Successful career changers will often have a transition period where they build skills, networks, and a financial buffer while they are still in their old career. They may reduce their hours a little so they can take on casual projects, volunteer or build a side hustle related to their new career. But only if it’s affordable for them to do so.
They may find ways to reduce their expenses or simplify their lifestyle to weather potential income dips. I find I’m not quite as desperate for exotic holidays now that I have a job I like. Successful career changers often find the same.
But one thing I will say, as a successful career changer myself, is that during tough economic times I am so incredibly glad that I did change career. I have a career that I want to be in for the long haul. A career that I am happy to keep developing in and progressing in. I fact, I don’t ever see myself fully retiring. Which is just as well with the size of my mortgage!
I am not about encouraging fanciful, unrealistic expectations. I am not about woo-woo and fluff.
I am about empowering women to have a life and career that works for them. A life and career that is strong and weathers any storm.
Nothing is stopping you getting started on your career change, even in the current climate. Nothing is stopping you from building those networks on the side, doing a short course or volunteering in your free time. The time is going to pass anyway.
But one thing we can be certain of is that there will be tough times again, whether its interest rate rises, global pandemics or a divorce, building a career that you love and that loves you back, is a robust insurance policy for whatever lies ahead.
If you’d like to get started on your career change then my Six Simple Steps to get Started on your Career Change worksheet will help you get ahead, whatever the economy is doing.