Career Change: Evolution or Revolution

At some point in our lives, many of us will face the question of whether to stay on our current career path or pivot and take a new direction. Making a career change can be daunting, but it can also present an exciting opportunity for growth and connection to greater meaning and purpose.

For some, the need or desire for a career change is clear; significant signs indicate a change is required. This is when a career revolution occurs. It’s an intentional choice.

For others, it’s a slower realisation and over time, you realise your career has evolved, perhaps without you making an explicit choice or even noticing. This is a career evolution. The change has happened organically.

Here are three essential steps to help you decide whether you need a career revolution or evolution.

Three Essential Steps

Whether you choose to evolve your career or revolutionise it, there are three essential steps - the 3 R’s. No, not Reading, (w)Riting and (a)Rithmetic! Instead, Reconnect, Revisit and Re-engage.

Reconnect with your values.

If you’re feeling stagnant or stuck in your career, it may be time to reconnect with your values. When we feel stuck, unmotivated, or our career feels off track, it’s often because we have become less deliberate in ensuring our actions and work are aligned with our values. When you can identify which values you have been neglecting and take action to address that, you feel more aligned, regain your intentionality, and boost your career satisfaction too.

2. Revisit your purpose

Within your current career, job or role, look for ways to align your work with your bigger purpose and interests. This may mean taking on new responsibilities, volunteering for stretch or development projects, learning new skills or seeking out opportunities to work in areas and on projects that excite you. By focusing on small changes, over time, you will evolve your career AND find greater enjoyment and satisfaction in your work.

Embracing your strengths means you are be paid to be you

3. Re-engage your strengths

Another vital aspect of career satisfaction is identifying and embracing your strengths and leveraging them in your work. Firstly, take stock of your skills, abilities, and accomplishments, and examine how you already use (or not) them within your current role. Consider how you could use your talents to add value to your current job or to pursue new opportunities. You can build a fulfilling and meaningful career by focusing on what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and what comes effortlessly to you. And you’ll move towards being paid to be you!

Once you’ve reconnected with your values, revisited your purpose and embraced your strengths, you’ll be better positioned to know whether you want to evolve your career or if a career revolution is required.

Career Evolution: Organic Change

For most of us, our career evolves over time. Thus, a career evolution is epitomised by the small steps, those tweaks to the dial rather than wholesale change. A career evolution can be subtle, with movement occurring over time without an explicit decision made on your behalf to do so. Career evolution can also be seen in the organic shifts during your career. These include where your circumstances change, or there is natural growth or change in your interests, skills and strengths, and may include changes or adjustments that impact your career industry-wide.

Stepping stone approach

If you are happy with your current career but looking for the next step towards leadership, increased pay or greater responsibility, consider your next move as a stepping stone. Think about the skills and experience you want to gain, and look for opportunities to help you reach your longer-term career goals. Options can be found within your current organisation or with another. By taking intentional, strategic steps toward your desired career goal, you can evolve your career in an aligned, deliberate and purposeful way.

2. Seek a greater purpose

If you love your work and career but are looking for a greater purpose, consider ways to give back within your workplace or community, such as mentoring younger team members or volunteering with a community organisation. By sharing your wisdom and supporting others, you can find a more profound sense of meaning and engagement in your work. Additionally, pursuing volunteer opportunities can be an ideal way to use your skills and expertise to make a difference.

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A Personal Example

Whilst my career is still primarily as a career and life coach, I have been increasingly focused on more expansive content creation. I have written blog posts since my first days as a career and life coach, as well as newsletters.

But over the last year, I’ve added content creation in the form of the Two Booked Up podcast and my e-book., The A-Z of Career and Life Confidence.

By embracing my strength of creativity and focusing on curating and creating before consuming, I have undertaken an organic career evolution.

Career Revolution: Wholesale Change

Sometimes, a career evolution isn’t enough, and you may need more substantial, wholesale change.

Career Revolution can involve Retraining or Additional Study

One of the critical distinctions between a career revolution versus a career evolution is that with a career revolution, there are indicators that you need to make a change. Sometimes those indicators are signs you notice yourself. Other times, they are signs you only see retrospectively. Either way, a career revolution usually has a level of discomfort associated before the shift is undertaken.

If you’re unhappy with your current job or career path, have completed the 3Rs (reconnected, revisited, and re-engaged), and still feel dissatisfied, it may be time to consider a career revolution. It is worth noting that a career revolution can involve dramatic changes, such as retraining or returning to study to pursue a new field or starting your own business.

There are two critical drivers for an intentional career change, that is, a career revolution; they are intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external).

Intrinsic (internal) reasons include;

You’ve had enough of your current job or career.
You feel a desperate need for change and have at least a few of the tell-tale signs.
You want to do your own thing.

Extrinsic (external) reasons include;

Your career or role is no longer available or is being moved.

Let’s explore each of these a little more.

When might a Career Revolution be what you need?

You’ve had enough of your current job or career.

Feeling this way is more common than many of us realise. Talking to a career coach (that’s me!) can help when you feel this way. When working with a career coach, you’ll be supported to consider your interests and how your skills and strengths could be applied in a new field or industry.

2. You feel a desperate need for change and have at least a few of the tell-tale signs.

Sometimes, we simply want something different, and the desire for a fresh start or new challenge can feel overwhelming. We can’t think of anything else! Being aware of the signs is important. A desperate need for change can occur when you feel unfulfilled, unappreciated or under-utilised in your current job. Or, it can happen when you realise your best strengths are not being used in your current career. Speaking to friends, family, or a career coach about your options can be a great first action.

3. You want to do your own thing.

If you've always dreamed of being your own boss or pursuing a passion project, and you keep returning to that dream, now may be the time to take the leap. Choosing any of these can involve retraining or returning to study, which can involve a substantial investment of time and resources, so it is generally a career change undertaken with considerable thought. But doing so can open up new opportunities and provide a sense of direction and purpose.

4. Your career or role is no longer available or is being moved.

In this situation, your career revolution is due to external circumstances. For example, your position or job is no longer required, or the industry is closing in your location or town. This includes where your employment conditions change. For example, your hours are reduced, and your pay is impacted. Whilst other options may exist to continue in a similar role, the personal cost (such as a very long commute, lower pay rate or relocation) is often unfeasible.

Career Revolution - A Personal Example

My most significant intentional career choice, or career revolution, occurred in 2015. After several months of growing discomfort, I realised the work I had been doing no longer suited my needs. There had been signs for months, which I only saw once I became aware of my discomfort. When an incident occurred, the situation came to a head, and I realised it was time to make a substantial change. To do so, I needed additional training in my new chosen field. One year later, having completed my training and certification, I was my own boss and a newly certified life coach.

Evolution and Revolution

Evolution and revolution are opposite ends of the same spectrum. The dynamic of career change shifts from evolution to revolution when you acknowledge the organic growth and start taking intentional action to progress it. Awareness and taking advantage of the opportunities when they appear migrates your organic evolution to a more intentional revolution.

Are you ready for a career change?

Using the information presented here to determine your next steps for a career change is a great place to start, but sometimes a more tailored, custom approach is required. And that’s where working with a coach (that’s me!) comes in. With one-on-one individual support, coaching can make all the difference when you are either thinking about or experiencing a time of change or wanting to feel clear and confident in your career, business, and life.

A confidence package, which includes six individual coaching sessions, starts with a complimentary consult where we can determine if coaching with me is right for you. Get started today – simply book your call.

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