Posted on 31/03/2017 by Ricolas Chan
I think it’s fair to say that not many people aspire to become a recruiter after graduation. In my family we were encouraged to consider more traditional careers and truthfully recruitment was not on the list! As an extrovert with a psychology degree, my dream was to become a clinical psychologist, a career that would allow me to make a difference in other people’s lives. Little did I know, I would one day become a recruiter, specialising in business support within the professional services industry, and love it so passionately that I can’t ever see myself doing anything else!
I made a significant career change in my late twenties and have experienced my fair share of self-doubt and frustration throughout the journey to get to where I am today. Like most people, I was worried that it was already too late to make a career change, and as we all know getting out of your comfort zone is never easy, but I think it’s a risk worth taking to ensure you’re happy and content in the career you choose.
I believe it’s necessary to take a leap of faith sometimes and it’s never too late to find a career that you love. Here are my top reasons for why you might decide to change career and I hope they help someone else to take the plunge:
1. You’re no longer passionate about your job or the industry you work in
- I truly believe that you have to love what you do in order to be good at it. Take myself as an example, I’m naturally interested in learning more about people and a big part of my job is to interact with candidates from a variety of backgrounds, and to try to understand how we may be able to help them, from a consultative perspective. Having said that, it makes going to work for me exciting, and ultimately, this excitement and passion will turn into drive, motivation and fulfilment. The passion I have in what I do gives me the ability to push myself so I can become a great recruiter, not just a good one. That’s why I think your career should always reflect your passion, if you want to be truly fulfilled and successful.
2. Your current career doesn’t unleash your potential or utilise your skills
- It’s not a great feeling to go home feeling unfulfilled after a long day of work. A lack of challenges means that you are less likely to give your undivided attention, because you don’t actually need to! One thing I love my about job is that it challenges and inspires me, and that requires me to be switched on and at my best, especially when we are speaking with clients. Prior to joining this industry, I didn’t know that I had the capability to problem solve in such a fast-paced setting. Fast forward three years later, I’m confident to say that I’ve discovered a new set of skills that I utilise every day in a role that I love!
3. You feel stuck on a certain path and think it’s impossible to change, so you’re just sticking with what you know
- It’s actually not as difficult to change direction as you think! Admittedly, changing careers means going from something that you are familiar with to something that is uncertain, so it’s bound to be scary but it’s not impossible and it can be very uplifting. It’s absolutely normal to be concerned by the unknown, however, you need to realise some changes are inevitable and don’t let your doubt hold you back. Additionally, it’s important to remember that you should never underestimate the importance of your transferable skills, which you can use to your advantage in a new career. More often than not, your past experiences have already built a solid ground to prepare you for what’s to come so take courage and go for it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advising that you suddenly resign if any of the points above resonate with you, but I am saying that if you are being held back by the fear of change then maybe it’s time to consider your options. After all, this could be one of the most important decisions you ever make! Assess your priorities, push your fear away and look at the bigger picture of the life you want to live. Getting out of your comfort zone could lead you to a career that you love, so don’t let your self-doubt stop you from finding your “true calling”. It’s never too late to change your career for the better, and I’m lucky enough to be talking from experience.
If you have had a similar experience or would like to discuss your career, get in touch with me at rc@charlottefrank.com