You are an expert in your field. You exceed every target that you are set in your job, and you feel like you have reached the pinnacle of your industry. So what next? You enjoy your work, thrive on the pressure of being in a role of great responsibility and relish the challenges that your job provides. However, more recently, these challenges have been few and far between. You are becoming restless and spend your days dreaming that you could find something to do with your life that is more satisfying. The itchy feet are becoming impossible to ease with a scratch. It’s time to consider your options. Take a look at these ideas to help rid you of your unsettled feeling and allow you to embark on new challenges in your chosen career.
- Find a new job
The most obvious way of seeking out new challenges within your field is to begin a new job hunt. This can fill even the most seasoned job seekers with dread. The key to ensuring a fruitful job hunt is to research your options before casting out your net. Take a look at the job market for your chosen sector. Is the job market buoyant or is it stagnating a little bit? Either way, you can still succeed in finding your next position even if it takes a little more effort. When casting your eye over the available job vacancies, don’t use a scatter gun approach and apply for anything and everything that may contain a keyword from your job search. Be selective and keep your search as narrow as possible to make sure that you are only applying for roles that extend your skills set and provide that further challenge that you’ve been hankering for. You don’t want a side move but want to set your job search on an upwards trajectory.
- Undertake A New Qualification
Seeking out a new challenge or wanting to take on more responsibilities in your work life doesn’t mean that you have to find a new job. You may love waking up in the morning and venturing to the office. You may have colleagues that have slowly morphed into friends. Your work environment may be relaxed and friendly. And on Fridays, you can leave the office an hour early to pick your little ones up from school. This unique job situation is rare, and you should think carefully before surrendering this to start all over again.
An alternative is to consider undertaking a professional qualification that enables you to secure a promotion within your current company. The Master of Data Science online course at James Cook University allows you to fit your study around your working hours from anywhere in the country. While studying, you will relight your enthusiasm for your role while, at the same time, enhancing your CV and improving your promotion prospects. This qualification will see you extend your data science and business knowledge bringing further skills into your company. By investing in yourself, you are future proofing your career.
- Branch Out On Your Own
If the itch on your feet is becoming insatiable, it may be time to consider setting up your own business. As an expert in your field, you will have a ready-made network of contacts, in depth industry knowledge and an unrivaled set of skills that you could offer to your clients. There is a trend for potential customers to actively hunt for a more personal approach to any services or products that they need. Rightly or wrongly, people are now tearing themselves away from the large conglomerate market leaders for the smaller sole trader who can spend more time getting to know their clients on a more personal level. This sole trader could be you, setting up your brand, marketing your business and developing a large customer base.
To satisfy your appetite for a new challenge, there may be no better option than branching out on your own. Working from home gives you more flexibility to set your work hours, employ your own staff and source your suppliers. There will be no greater job satisfaction than seeing your business idea transform into a thriving money making venture. This route to challenge takes a great deal of time, effort and hard work, but if you’re willing to put in the hours, the rewards could be lucrative.
- Take Some Time Out
If you are feeling a little disillusioned at work but don’t want to quit your job, consider whether you could ask for a sabbatical of some sort. Taking some time out for your own personal development can be as useful as dedicating time to your professional development. If you are a valued member of staff, your boss may be willing to offer unpaid leave for three, six or twelve months. Make sure you use this time wisely and don’t simply end up taking a pointless staycation. It’s time to go traveling, see the world, experience new cultures and meet new people. After your sabbatical, you will be able to return to your role reinvigorated and refreshed ready to take on the new challenges that your job has to throw at you.
You will be surprised just how much will change while you are away. Even if you are only venturing to a new far flung land for three months, new faces may have settled into your company by the time you return. You will need to forge new professional relationships once again and figure out how you best fit into the ethos of your team. This, in itself, presents a new challenge. After all, they do say a change is as good as a rest.
So it’s time to pluck up the courage and embark on a new challenge, whether this is a new job, professional qualification, the world of self-employment or some time for personal development. By selecting one of these options, you can be sure to discover the challenge that you have been searching for.
