Think hard before making the move
As you start thinking about making a career move, it is important to weigh all pros and cons, suggest experts. While it is easy to get carried away by your interests, the decision to quit your current job should be well thought of.
“Any mid-level professional looking for a career switch should ask the following questions to himself. Does the new career excite me enough? Will the new career help me in getting closer to my long-term goal, provide a higher job satisfaction and make an impact to the business? If the answer is yes, one should go ahead with the change,” says Pankaj Bansal, co-founder and CEO of PeopleStrong HR Services.
According to Bansal, the perception about switching careers has changed in the last few years as people no longer have a traditional mindset of ‘one job for life.’ “A career change at midlevel is no longer an unthinkable proposition. With the start-ups gaining ground, work is more about making an impact for the organisation rather than remaining in the clichéd boundaries of defined roles,” he says.
Elaborating on the trend, Bansal says: “As per the Best Companies Survey, more than half of the working population is looking for better career and growth opportunities. This is also reflected in the number of people looking for a career switch. A large portion of people now look for cross-functional experience – people moving from operations to business roles (or vice-versa), followed by another section of people who are ready to take a plunge into the start-up world. Another unique trend is with women returning to work for a second innings post motherhood. They often prefer roles different from the previous ones.”
Nilay Khandelwal, regional director, Michael Page India, a specialist recruitment firm, says, “Once you’ve reached a mature level in your career trajectory, chances are that your overall market value may depreciate. With the average age within Indian organisations slowly decreasing, mid-level is an opportune point for professionals to switch careers.
“It’s important to find a link between your current job and the one you wish to pursue and to identify elements of your personality and job role that will match your new career path. For example, we see a trend of sales professionals moving into HR roles. With the HR function evolving into a strategic business partner in India, coming from a sales background is beneficial, as one is attuned to the people and engagement level required. One must keep in mind that the attributes of a job are essential,” adds Khandelwal.