When is the perfect time for a career change?

Do you feel stuck in a rut at home or at work?

Maybe you love your job but it isn’t working with your lifestyle. When deciding whether to change your career it’s good to make a list of the pro’s and con’s.

If you enjoy your job but something still isn’t ‘right’ then there are still some good reasons to stay.

Pro’s

●      Job security (if the company is stable)

●      Comfortable in your work and day to day tasks

●      Familiar with colleagues

●      Set working hours so you can plan childcare etc

However, when looking at the cons there are a few things to consider.

Con’s

If you feel your career isn’t working with your lifestyle it could be for a number of reasons:

●      Rigid working hours with a lack of flexibility

●      Long commute times at peak hours of the day

●      No option to work from home so you’re out of the house for long periods of time

●      Or, on the opposite end of the scale you are now working from home with little to no interaction with others

●      Your work schedule doesn’t fit with your home schedule (Out of the house at the crack of dawn and home once the children are already in bed)

●      Lots of travel which means more time away from home

Other reasons that your career isn’t working for you could be lack of money or progression.

If you like your job but still don’t feel fulfilled it could be because:

●      There are few career progression opportunities (small team of long-standing employees)

●      You have been in the same roe with no progression or increase in salary

●      Your manager doesn’t encourage growth or progression

●      Despite working long hours your salary doesn’t allow you the lifestyle you would like to enjoy

●      You don’t feel supported in progressing within your current role

What’s The Alternative

If you have weighed up your options and decided that your current role or career just aren’t working for you then you have a few options.

Apply Internally

If you enjoy the atmosphere at your current place of work you can look around internally. Perhaps there are roles you could take a side-step into or even step upwards. If you have a supportive colleague or manager you could discuss this with them. You then need to find out the job spec for any role you are interested in, take into account any additional training you need to do and write a strong application.

Look Elsewhere

If you feel opportunities are limited at your current place of work, you can begin to look elsewhere. However it’s important that you don’t jump from the frying pan into the fire. You don’t want to make a career change only to discover that the reasons you were unhappy at your old job still exist at your new one.

Therefore it’s important to do your research. Look on job sites and check the reviews section. Sites like Indeed feature reviews from applicants and employees and can reveal a lot that you wouldn’t see on the surface.

Try Something New

If you’re looking for a complete career change then you can look into retraining. Adult apprenticeships are now a lot more common and will allow you to retrain in a completely different role whilst still earning some money.

Alternatively, there are courses available via places such as the Open University that you can complete whilst working in your current job.

So, if you’ve always fancied leaving your job in finance behind and retraining as a florist then now could be the time.

Start Your Own Business

Many women become disillusioned with their career and the pressures that it puts on them both physically and mentally. Not to mention the adverse effect on their home and family life.

Have you dreamed of leaving your corporate career behind and starting your own business?

Lots of women do just that, especially in their 40’s and 50’s. They have often built up a mass of experience and knowledge and feel they want to do more with it than just show up to work everyday. Additionally they are often in a more secure place in their home and family life.

Self-employment offers a level of flexibility that isn’t attainable when in employment. Aspects such as working hours and schedules are entirely created by you. Day to day tasks and responsibilities are also determined as a result of the decisions that you have made. You are no longer dictated to by your employer.

So, What Are The Options?

Stick to what you know

First of all you could use your skills and knowledge from your current career to start up your own business in the same field.

For example, if you work in HR in a corporate role you could set up your own HR consultancy advising other businesses. Similarly if you are a designer you could start up your own agency and develop your own brand.

Develop your hobby

Alternatively, you can use a skill that you have developed recreationally and make it into a business. Perhaps you have developed skills in floristry and enjoy creating designs for yourself and friends. Why not make it official and take a qualification and set up your own premises?

Franchise

Another option when starting your own business is to franchise. This means that you work with a brand that you love and start a business using their business model.

Many very successful businesses are run as individual businesses by franchisees. Companies such as McDonalds and Subway are all owned and managed by individual franchisees who own that particular branch.

The best thing about franchising is that whilst you have all the freedom and autonomy of being self-employed, you also have a tried and tested business model to rely on.

Additionally you can speak to other franchisees and benefit from their experience and advice when it comes to developing your business.

Start Your Own Business With WIBN

We offer women the opportunity to start their own business with WIBN by becoming a franchisee.

It’s a great way to be your own boss whilst using our tried and tested business model.

All of our WIBN groups are run and owned by self-employed women just like you. We are a great team of likeminded women who have been where you are and want to help.

If you are looking to:

✓ Take control of your career

✓ Decide your working hours and holidays

✓ Receive the benefits of your hard work

✓ Support and raise up other women in your community

Then a franchise with WIBN could be just the career change you are looking for.

Training & Coaching

When you join WIBN as a franchisee, you receive coaching and training on running a small business. Plus we provide specific training on how to run successful WIBN women’s networking groups.  And you get coaching and ongoing support from other experienced businesswomen.  That’s because, as well as receiving support from head office, you also become part of an inclusive team of franchisees who continuously offer support to each other and share ideas.

Build a Women in Business Network in Your Area

The Women in Business Network (WIBN) has enquiries every week from prospective members across the UK who want to join but don’t have a group in their area.

If you think it’s the right time to try something new then we would love to talk to you. You can find out more about becoming a WIBN franchisee here Find out more about becoming a WIBN Franchisee

*Image credit Canva