CV Library writes for Off to Work...

Thought you’d struck gold and discovered your forever career, only to find it isn’t what you thought it would be? Has it become the polar opposite of what you had in mind and the thought of spending the next 30 years working in this industry is now akin to a jail sentence?

Fear not. You don’t have to panic, quit your job and start over from scratch. There are ways you can make a change without losing what you have put into getting to where you are now. So, if you regret your career choice, here are three ways to make a positive change.

1. Apply for different roles in the same field

If you did your homework thoroughly before settling on your current industry, chances are it isn’t the industry that you have taken umbrage with. It could be the field you currently work in.

So, rather than jumping ship and starting your career over in a new industry, why not take a step back and look at it again?

Consider these pointers:

• Write a list of what it was about the industry that initially attracted you to it.
• Think about all of your jobs to date, and write a list of everything you liked and didn’t like about them.

Now, consider the job you’re currently doing:

• How much of what you love about the industry are you currently doing?
• How much of what you do and don’t like doing, are you currently doing?

Most job adverts will have a job description attached to them, including a list of day-to-day responsibilities. Speak to your HR department or go online, and unearth the job descriptions of the different roles in your field. See if any of them meet your list of ‘would love to do’.

If they do, great, apply for them. You already have a wealth of experience in the industry after all!

2. Look for a job that requires you to wear several hats, not just one

If the daily drudgery of your job has become too much to handle and has made you question your life choices, don’t panic.

Large companies and organisations work efficiently because they hire people to fill a specific need. If you aren’t the type of person that can deal with doing the same work day in and day out, then you need to find employment that allows you to be continuously challenged.

Consider working for smaller companies or even a start-up. They tend to have much smaller workforces and, therefore, require their staff to cover more than just one base. However, they don’t have huge budgets to recruit staff, so you’re going to have to do the legwork to discover the gems.

Here’s how:

• Use LinkedIn and tap up your network for any potential start-up/small company leads. It isn’t what you know necessarily, but who you know.
• Look on Meetup for any start-up events in the industry you are interested in that you could go along to and start networking in person.
• Reach out to recruiters who specialise in startups or casual work.
• If you know of any startups or small companies that you would like to work for, send them a letter of introduction prospectively, and highlight the value you would bring to their company.

3. Consider moving sideways within your team

 If you like your boss and the team you’re working with, but your current role isn’t what you thought it would be, it doesn’t mean the whole industry is a bust. Nor does it mean the company you’re working for isn’t for you.

It could just be the job you’re doing. So, before you jack it all in, consider moving sideways within your team.

If you know your strengths lie elsewhere and there’s an opening available, speak to your boss or your line manager about how you’re feeling. See if there’s any potential to move into that different role, whilst staying in your team.

Remember, nothing is forever, and you’re the only one in the driving seat of your career.

So, if you don’t like the direction you’re going in, change it. There’s little point in spending your working life being miserable, especially when there’s so much opportunity just waiting to be uncovered.

CV-Library is the UK’s leading independent job board. For more expert advice on job searches, careers and the workplace, visit their Career Advice pages.