If you’re not looking to do a regular nine-to-five but instead looking for a more freelance role or creating your own company, then try speaking to experts. Track down others who have done what you plan to do and invite them for a coffee (real or virtual depending on COVID-19 rules).

The ability to pick someone’s brain is invaluable. Ask them what they struggled with, how they built their business, what steps and procedures they took. You can also find plenty of information online from industry experts to help you feel like you’re not batting in the dark.

Once you’ve discovered exactly what you want to do, it’s a case of getting started. Then, to master anything, just keep doing it.

“Through practice, gently and gradually, we can collect ourselves and learn how to be more fully with what we do.” – Jack Kornfield.

Mastery is about becoming more present and knowledgeable about the work we do. No matter what career you decide to do, try to infuse joy and mindfulness into it. That is sometimes more important than certifications (unless your dream is to be a doctor).

When we set times and dates to learn a new skill and reach our goals, it makes it feel more real. Try and create a timetable for each step of the job change process. Tips on changing jobs will usually advise that if you need more notifications or pop-ups in your life, set reminders on your phone of what you need to get done. But we think actually writing it down on paper can psychologically help solidify these plans, so get a notepad ready!

Here are a few things to look out for just before changing jobs:

1. Gain extra skills at your current work to boost your appeal
2. Refresh your resume and wardrobe
3. Sign up for alerts
4. Talk to recruiters in the industry you’re interested in
5. Your network of friends can be helpful when job seeking
6. Your social media should be a professional hub (Employers will check it all)
7. Create a portfolio if you’re in a more creative field
8. Once you land an interview – hand in your notice of leave to your boss
9. Prepare for your new role!

Advice on Salary When Changing Jobs

A good rule of thumb is usually 10% to 20% more than your previous job. But if you’re going into a job where your role has more or less responsibility, then this can vary. Sometimes the money doesn’t matter anyway – if it’s something you genuinely want to be doing. A top tip on changing jobs is to start small and become the expert over a number of years (then you’ll earn more.)

Changing Career vs Changing Job

A complete career overhaul can worry us into thinking we are going through a mid-life crisis (at any age). But it can be the best decision ever made if we put our intentions behind it, and figure out how to change jobs effortlessly. Whether it’s a job or a career doesn’t make a difference in the advice. Either way, you will need to look inside and ask yourself questions to discover what you genuinely want. If you’re somehow not aware of the platform LinkedIn, then that’s impressive! LinkedIn is a platform that acts as a jobs board and networking tool. You can use it to add people and expand your network, or you can use it to browse jobs in your chosen field. Another bonus is that LinkedIn has recruiters who scout the website for perfect matches. So, go on there and create a stunning profile, add your previous work and a professional photo. If you have no idea what to write, then look up others in your field for inspiration; probably wouldn’t copy and paste it though. Getting ready to switch jobs means heading to the shops, the hairdressers, and practising the classic questions: “yes, my weaknesses are interviews and first impressions.” Start by getting some nice outfits, then sprucing up your appearance. Not just because the world is a bit shallow, but because it will boost your confidence in an interview. We feel good when we look in the mirror and look nice. That can subtly affect your body language, the way you speak and help you land the dream job. You’ll see a lot of articles on tips on changing jobs that talk about getting your friends and family to practice through questions with you. Although that could be handy, it also never feels as nerve-wracking and as real as a proper interview. So, instead, think of the first few interviews you do as practice! Because it’s completely normal to need to go to a few before landing the perfect job. Go into it with the mindset that it is a practice run, prepare for it beforehand and remember to take a deep breath and maybe some water. If you’ve been in the same job a while, then you’re going to need to dust off the old resume and add all the new information. There are so many amazing online programs you can use to create eye-catching CV’s. For example, Canva is a great place to grab a template and then make it your own. A top tip is to use the same template as your CV for your cover letter, which you can easily do on software like Canva. If you’re super prepared for your interview, statistics show that you should get a job offer after 2-4 employers. It can take time, and it’s not necessarily your fault. Jobs usually have many applications sent in – even getting an interview is a fantastic sign. Don’t lose hope that you will eventually change jobs. Sometimes we want desperately to leave the company we are at, but the truth of the situation is it’s a waiting game. All you can do is keep trying to find the perfect position for you. Sometimes what other people want for us in life can cloud our judgement. Other times survival does. The need to earn to live can stop us in our goals. But if we are honest with ourselves, we know we are capable of anything we truly put our mind to. We have the power to shape the future we want – all it takes is thought coupled with positive actions and steps towards it. (and these tips on changing jobs?) By learning what jobs are on the market, investing in ourselves, discovering our talent, practising our skills, putting a timetable together, we can make changing jobs look easy. Remember one thing – employers invest in people. If you’re warm-hearted, well presented, and have the skills, then you’re ready for success. Whatever that success looks like to you.