ALT-1 Trouble with Changing Jobs
Why are career changes so difficult? That is a tricky question to answer because there is no one easy answer to give. Career changes are very complex transitions in the life of any adult. However, there are a few possibilities as to why it might be so hard to change careers. What are a few of these reasons that it can be hard to give up one line of work in favor for another line of work?
The first factor that goes into it is the unknown that comes with a career change. Are you really ready to dive headfirst into a new career? Are you sure you have what it takes to make that change from a corporate leader to a 3rd grade science teacher? Change in itself can be scary and make a career change a lot harder than simply taking on a new challenge in life.
Career changes can be difficult because you are probably going to take a step back in terms of authority and seniority. You could have been a major leader in your former career, but are relegated to an entry level job in your new career until your prove yourself. Maybe you were a regional manager for a shipping company, but have to start out as a night manager for the retail store you just got hired to. Working your way back up can be a challenge.
No matter how much you prepare yourself for a career change, you might still have a lot to learn. The classroom will only teach you so much about what you can expect. You have to be willing to accept the fact that you have a lot of ground to make up in terms of experience. Only experience can give you a feel for how to act and how to tackle the challenges that come from that particular job that you are doing now.
There could be different hours and expectations of you in your new job. A teacher works Monday-Friday during the months of September to June for the most part. If you left that field to join the police force, your hours could be radically different. It can be hard to adjust to a flexible schedule and increased expectation that you do the best job possible. Some careers don't allow you to make many mistakes.
A career change is more than just switching jobs. It can involve a whole new set of expectations which you may or may not be ready for. You have to adjust to new surroundings and the fact that you don't have a whole lot of experience for the most part. Will others respect you as much as they did in your old career? Those are all reasons why career changes can be hard.
