Feel trapped in your job?
Posted by Diana Needham on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
On a scale from one to 10, how hard was it to get out of bed this morning?
If you feel trapped in a career you no longer enjoy, but cringe at the thought of job hunting (especially in this economy), don’t despair. Hope does exist, despite the downturn.
The truth is the economy doesn’t have an on-off switch. Even during a recession, many of the businesses that are laying off people also are adding jobs. We should always have an eye out for our next opportunity.
A word of caution: Anyone thinking about taking the leap into a new career should do some serious soul-searching first. This begins with an honest assessment of what you do not like or enjoy in your current job situation and why. If it is related to conflicts with the boss or coworkers, it may be possible to transfer to another area or division.
Job seekers need to know exactly what they want out of a career and then do a lot of research about the top companies in a desired field.
Don’t be discouraged by lofty job descriptions. One well hidden secret is that companies often post job descriptions written for the ideal candidate, fully well knowing that the ideal person likely does not exist. If you meet 80 percent of the requirements, you will likely be a strong contender.
At the same time, be honest and objective about your skills and don’t apply for jobs when you do not have many of the qualifications.
Filed in Career, Career Planning | No responses yet
