The average person changes jobs every 7 years, and they will change careers an average of three times in their working lives. Why? Because many people are chasing someone else’s dreams instead of their own. I have many friends who were pushed into careers they were not truly invested in by well-meaning parents. While most of these parents simply wanted to help give their child the best career and thereby best life possible, what they did not realize was that each person needs to determine for himself what he needs to do with his life.

Thankfully, my own situation is an example of the opposite. I grew up working in a family business, a small retail operation. However, my parents never pressured me to follow in their footsteps. In fact I was discouraged from doing just that. Instead they pushed me to go out and get a liberal education so that I could see all the world had to offer. They understood that the most important thing in life was to be doing something that would make me happy, to find a calling rather than just a career. I happened to find that in teaching, which is what I have been doping for 14 years now- 11 of them in the same school.

I could have ended up running the family business, making more money than I do now, and having the opportunities available to me that are exclusive to business owners. But along with those advantages would have come the required risks: the uncertainty of income from one year to the next, the reliance on the national and local economy, and the stress of running a multifaceted operation. Both my parents and I realized that these were not my strengths and that I would not thrive, personally or professionally, under those types of circumstances. Therefore, I was never pushed in that direction but was allowed to find my own path.

Most people I know do not look forward to Monday mornings, as it signals a return to a job or career that while financially rewarding, is not personally fulfilling. I am fortunate not to have that problem, as I have found something that I love to do and can do well. The self-satisfaction that comes from doing something you know you were meant to do is honestly hard to explain.

We live in a society that often puts too much stress on financial success and not enough on personal well-being. Because of this parents understandably can over-focus on guiding their children towards a lucrative career rather than giving them the time and space to find their own path in life. In the long run if you are doing something you truly love, then you will find ways to make that financially rewarding. Most importantly you will have that sense of well-being that only comes from finding a calling rather than just a career.

People see the nice house you live in and the new car in your driveway. They see you pay your bills every month, and you can buy the luxuries you want, when you want. So, it looks like you have a dream job.
Yet, deep down, you know this isn’t your dream job. It might have been so a few years ago, but now you may be feeling like that once-upon-a-time dream job has turned into a bit of a nightmare – and it’s getting worse. Sure, it pays well, but, actually, you realize you hate your job.
Time for something new and looking for a change
Look at these reasons for a job change and see any of it fits in your situation:
1. Challenge- Your days at the office could be long and boring, and you are lacking something to get excited about. Been there, done that. People need challenge to stay motivated and be productive; otherwise, they’ll drag their feet. Changing careers can put the spark back in loving your job.
2. Dependence- if you are depending on your present job for the health insurance for you and your family, you sure will have to rethink about your decision. This is because it can prove expensive if you have to change all the plans due to a change in job. Another thing to be considered in here is that you should be sure that you have a few jobs lined up in case you quit the present one. This is because; it would become very difficult if you are not sure about your future prospects.
3. Learning- You may be the type of person that enjoys learning and gets motivated about new things. If your job is boring and a routine that you know like the back of your hand, a change of jobs to something new could be a nice switch.
3. Fulfillment- Many people enjoy jobs that leave them feeling a sense of accomplishment or having helped someone. Many jobs are ones that seem to have no purpose or effect on the world at large. Changing careers for a job that gives you a sense of fulfillment can help you feel like you make a difference.
4. Location- Commuting is rarely considered a good part of a job. Your time traveling to and fro is wasted time that accomplishes very little besides getting you from point A to point B. Also, commuting long distances or through heavy traffic can be wearing, tiring, and stressful. Changing jobs to have one closer to home may leave you feeling more relaxed and happy, as well as giving you more spare time to enjoy life.
5. Personality Fit- A job isn’t just something we do. A job is part of which we are and should be a reflection of what we’re good at. If your job is about aspects that don’t fit your personality (like math or working in the public), then change it! The relief you’ll feel at doing something you like better, is definitely worth it.
6. Personal Potential- Many people enjoy seeing just how much they can do or how far they can go in life. If you have always dreamed of being something more or playing a much bigger game bigger, staying boxed into a job that doesn’t go anywhere can feel like a cage. A job switch can open up plenty of opportunities for growth.
It doesn’t take much to sit down, in a quiet moment, to identify which of these above things is the trigger. What may take a little longer is to consider how important to you it is to do something about it.
And only you can do that, by finding out more about what you can do next to move your job and career on to something better – a true dream job.

Are you one among the millions around the world who are brooding over their field of career? Are you looking forward for a change in your field of work? If you are one of them, just make sure that you are really clear about what you are going to do after that because each career field has its own set of ups and downs. This is one of the several factors which you ought to consider while making a shift of your field of career. The other factors which need to be kept in mind while making such decisions.
All career fields and all jobs are not the same. Hence, make sure that you do not form any assumptions on your own regarding a career field about which you are not very sure. Make sure you collect enough information about the new fields you are going to change to and gather as much knowledge as possible about the field in every way possible. You can take the help of various websites relating to the field or you can even refer to journals and magazines and make use of the local library. You need to know about the pay packages offered and the prospective growth opportunities in the field.
Once you have decided about the career field you have planned to switch to, you should start looking out for job positions according to your qualifications. You will then have to examine the pay package, the growth opportunities and future prospects in the field etc. you will have to look out and identify the most prospective job positions available according to your qualifications and experience.
In addition to the pay package, you should also study few job openings so that you can make sure about what you have to do once you join a job in that field. It might include qualifications like your education, previous work experience, training required so on and so forth. Such information are easily available as they are mentioned mostly everywhere where advertisement for job opportunity is made. This would help you in deciding whether you have the caliber to take up the job or not. Once you get all these information you can make a decision regarding quitting your job or not. You can also consider taking training for a few days before quitting your present job.
If you are sure that the change in career field would benefit you in more ways than one, you can also consider taking training classes or courses for the same. They come in a variety of ways to suit your requirement, your qualification and level of interest. For instance, if an individual is planning to jump over to the accounting field, he can start with the basic things such as maintaining the books of accounts, learning taxation methods etc. However, the duration of the training would largely depend on the field of career you are planning to enter.
The internet and the local newspaper may be of great help if you are really planning for a change in career and are ready and willing to take up training classes for the same. This is because, almost everyday, there are a variety of advertisements published in them regarding such matters. You can also take the help of vocational centers and colleges in your area for this purpose. However, you will have to pay for such courses and hopefully, the end result would be you successfully entering into the new career field of your choice.