Six Figures Blog

Most of us rate our jobs and careers as a very important part of our lives. This is understandable given it is our source of income, contributes to our sense of self and self worth and provides a major platform for our ongoing learning and development.  While it is us, and us alone who is responsible for our work, this does not have to extend to our job search.  Chances are you, like most people embark on a new job search or career change as a solo project and it can be tough. Looking for a new job takes a lot of time and effort and also confidence. It can be a lonely time and one of much self doubt.   It requires dedication and tenacity to back yourself and to make the judgment call about the roles you are looking to apply for.

How do you know if you are being too cautious in the roles you apply for? Perhaps you are undervaluing yourself and your expertise. Are you applying for jobs at the right level or are you aiming too high or too low? Given there are no set rules, you have two choices; to go it alone or to enlist the help of a trusted party or parties to help you. Sometimes we need others to push us along and force us to be uncomfortable and aim a little higher. Which is why having a mentor and or past or current bosses we trust can be a great career asset. Learn more about the importance of having a mentor in Paul Stevens article “Why you need a mentor in all economic climates and how to find the right one” .

Having those you trust that you can call upon to run jobs by if you are not sure if your suited for can only benefit you, yet too many of us embark on a job or career change as a solo ordeal, which does not always have to be the case. Those who you have relationships with, are next to always willing to assist you in your ongoing development and career success. The key is to identity those around you who fit the bill, – those people whose judgment you trust, who know you well and who you are comfortable calling, emailing or meeting up with to get their advice.

Having this support when making a job or career change is invaluable and can certainly make the process a far more swift and pleasant one. These people know you, respect you and want to see you succeed. If you are professional and reasonable in your approach to them for their support they will rarely turn you away.  If you are in the process of making a job or career change, as the year winds down, now is a great time to make a list of those to contact to help you make a successful change in 2010.  In part 2 of this blog post we will look at “Identifying those who are best positioned to assist you in your job search”