Looking to Reinvent Your Career? Here Are 7 Tips To Revitalize Your Professional Life
Let’s talk about how to reinvent your career. Don’t feel like reading? Listen here!
If you’re like most people, you feel a bit dissatisfied with your job from time to time. But there’s a difference between being annoyed at a particular project or boss and feeling like your career is stifling your potential, like you need to do something else to achieve your goals, or simply like it’s time to move on.
It’s a new year, so there’s no better time to see what the new you is capable of. If you’re looking for a fresh start for your professional life, read on—we’ll break down seven tips you can use to revitalize or reinvent your career in 2023.
Signs It’s Time To Reinvent Your Career
What if you’re unsure whether your current mid-career crisis is from your job or something else? Luckily, there are a few telltale signs that show you may need a change in your professional life, including:
- Every time you show up to work, your mood takes a plunge. If just the thought of going to the office instills dread or anxiety, it’s a good sign that you need to go to a different office each day.
- You can’t summon any motivation for office events, projects, or meetings. Simply put, if you don’t have fun or aren’t interested in what your company does, it might be a sign that you need to work somewhere else or do something else entirely.
- You’re always tired and yawning. If you feel like you have to take a nap at work all the time, even after getting a good night’s sleep, it’s probably because you aren’t mentally stimulated enough.
7 Tips To Reinvent Your Career
Of course, refreshing one’s career means something different to everyone. You might want a completely different job, to go back to school, or just some more responsibilities at your current company.
Whatever the case, keep these seven tips in mind so you can refresh your career the right way and take your life in the best direction for your personal goals.
Take a Break
First and foremost, take a long break. Don’t just take a weekend—take at least a week off so you can rest, recharge, and consider your professional future.
In many cases, it’s tough to know exactly what you need to do to regain your confidence and happiness—especially if it’s related to your career—without getting the mental space for that work. Take a few days to relax, hang out with your friends and family, and participate in your hobbies.
Once you rebuild some extra energy, you can turn it toward the most important task: figuring out what you should do with your career going forward.
Peer Inward
After taking a decent break, take a long, hard look inward and ask yourself:
- What do I want to do with my life?
- Am I currently achieving my original dreams or ambitions?
- Do I feel like I make a difference or that my career is worthwhile?
By asking and answering these questions, you’ll learn whether you should stay in the same career or industry or make a bigger, sweeping career change.
For example, if you got into the marketing industry because the job matched your college degree, but your real passion is art, asking these questions can help you realize the latter interest and provide guidance for your next steps.
Imagine Change and See What Excites You
For many people, the thought of change can be scary and intimidating. That’s doubly true if you live a pretty comfortable life! But at this stage, your best bet is to imagine change and determine what excites you. This is the best way to refresh your career in a smart way.
Imagine living in a new city—does that excite you? Or imagine working with new people or tackling different projects. Does starting a new LLC sound like a winning dream? If what you imagine sounds exciting or whets your professional appetite, you now have additional insight into where you want to take your career over the coming years.
Look for New Challenges at Your Job
If you’re mostly satisfied at your current position but are bored with your responsibilities, it’s time to ask for a promotion and new challenges.
This is a great way to safely freshen up your career in the new year. It doesn’t require you to work for a new company or go through the labor of job interviews. Instead, put together a promotion packet for your boss, sit down with them during a meeting, and tell them that you want to do more ASAP.
Many executives love to hear this from their employees, especially those dedicated to company success. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and the assertive employee gets the promotion!
Consider Workplace Trends and New Opportunities
If you’re looking more toward new horizons outside your current company or industry, you may not know where exactly you want to work or what you want to do.
To solve that problem, consider external workplace trends or new opportunities in other industries. For example, if the idea of getting into computer science or coding sounds attractive, remember that there are lots of coding boot camps and college programs you can now take.
By considering the up-and-coming trends and industries in the wider world, you might also find the perfect avenue to reinvent your professional path.
Take a Class or Program
As noted above, many classes and programs are available to working professionals who want to pivot in their careers or start a second career after achieving everything they set out to do in their first.
The right classes and programs can help you figure out what new interest you want to pursue if you are currently undecided. Even better, tons of college programs and classes are available on part-time schedules. For example, you might be able to go to school in the evening or on the weekends, so you still have time to work your job and provide for your family.
Apply for New Jobs (Before Quitting Your Current One)
If you’re sure you need to start a new job to feel professionally satisfied, go for it! But it’s a good idea to search for new jobs and secure a few interviews before quitting your current position.
There are few things more stressful than financial insecurity, especially considering the average American holds around $96,371 in debt. By keeping your current job while searching for a new one, you can stay safe and financially secure while broadening your professional options.
Now is the Best Time to Reinvent Your Career
In the end, only you can decide whether it’s time to pack up your current career and embark on a new adventure. For many, there’s nothing more exciting than starting a new career or taking on a new job at a new company. Variety is the spice of life, as the saying goes—why not embrace it to see what the future has in store for you and your family?
