New year, new career. Now is the time for change!

We’ve all been there on New Year’s Eve, full of hope, full of aspirations and inspiration, (possibly full of champagne?!)... making promises to ourselves, our partners, and the universe that THIS is the year things will change. This is the year we will lose 10 kilos, read those books, climb that mountain, buy that home. This is the year we will take control of our finances, this is the year we will make a difference. But sadly, how often do we get to the following New Year’s Eve and sheepishly recall that not much has actually changed?

Well, it’s time to stop that cycle. It’s time to make a genuine change in your life that will have far reaching effects. It’s time to consider a new career – and the qualifications required to achieve that shift.

When is a good time to make a career change?

The short answer is, there is no answer. Everyone, and every situation, is different. Older Australians are generally more inclined to stay in a job or career for a longer period, due to requirements for stability, a sense of loyalty and comfort. Young Australians (Gen Y, Z and Alpha) however, are being touted as having upwards of 15 jobs across 5 careers in their lifetime. The increase of ‘gig’ work, remote work, and specialist contract work is also having an impact on the old notions of ‘time-in’ career advancement.

So, it’s hard to say exactly when is the best time to make a career change as it is very personal. However, there are some factors to take note of in your current situation which will alert you to the possibility of timing.

1. Job satisfaction – how happy are you in your current state? How fulfilling is the job? How comfortable are you in the existing environment? Are you dragging yourself in to work each day or are you content to be there? Are you satisfied with the work you’re doing each day? Are you being supported and given the chance to grow?
2. Personal aspirations – are you constantly looking at other opportunities and assessing your suitability? Are you seeking external validation for your efforts? Are you interested in studying new areas? Are you ambitious and looking for the next best thing? Are you repeatedly attracted to other industries/organisations?

If these questions have prompted some uneasiness in you, it might be time to contemplate a career change. But before you go jumping headfirst into something new, there are some practical considerations to ponder:

1. Know what your non-negotiables are: think about what you’re looking for in an organisation, a boss, a job, and what you absolutely won’t accept. It might be an industry you won’t work for (eg, tobacco, gambling) or conditions you can’t accept (eg. monthly interstate travel), or job responsibilities you’re not comfortable with (eg. sales or lead generation as part of a finance role).
2. Know what your skills are and what new ones you’d like to learn: your unique set of skills and experience is your best marketing tool. It’s what sets you apart from others with the same job title. Think about what technical and soft skills you currently possess (eg. leadership, negotiation), then what skills you might like to learn or practise to improve the viability of your next career move.
3. Do your research: if you’re considering a change of career/industry, you’ll need to do some research to understand what experience/qualifications are valued in that space, who are the major players/leaders, who are the companies to avoid and who might be a desirable leader to work for. If you need to upskill you’ll also want to assess the different training organisations who can provide industry-recognised qualifications.

So, whether you are just starting to think about your career options, or you have seriously itchy feet, consider what’s important to you in your next move and think about how you’ll acquire new skills to improve your chances.

If you’re considering moving into the accounting, finance or conveyancing industries, OR you already work in those industries but want to upskill, take a look at the NBIA list of courses available here. The best bit is that you can get started right away as all study is online and self-paced.