Career

Changes

8 Factors to consider when changing your

career

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

Changing Careers – Where to

startIt is important to classify exactly what you are looking for short term and also where you want to be long term. Let’s start with the following and make a list:

What is your objective

What type of Organization

Supervisory or not

Salary

Type of Employment

Location

New Technologies

You and/or your family

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

What is your objective

Are you looking to gain new skills

Do you want to move into a leadership

position

What technologies do you like working

with the most.

Where do you want to be in 5 years and

what will help you get there

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

What type of organization Is there a specific industry you are interested in, ie

finance, manufacturing, health, government

Would you be interested in a large national/international company where there is room for transfers to other locations

How about a start-up. Do you have the skills that could take a start-up to the next level? Or just like the excitement of new and innovative environments.

Do you like the bureaucracy or are you more comfortable in a family environment?

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

Supervisor or notSome people are made to be in a supervisory position other people find it very challenging. There is nothing wrong with either side. It is important for you to analyze yourself and decide if you like and want the extra challenges that go with supervising people.

Do you like a challenging puzzle, If you like getting involved in a puzzle then supervising might not be for you.

Supervising means making time for people and their problems and idiosyncrasies.

You have to be tough and soft and fair.

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

How important is Salary Is money the most important thing in your life

right now. No shame in admitting this. Money makes the world go round and helps you buy a house, go on a vacation, or pay off a loan.

Is learning a new skill more important than the salary.

Is this a good time to add extra experience and education to your resume and not worry as much about the salary? Sometimes a long term career path means not necessarily going for the big pay cheque.

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

Contract or Permanent Do you like the security of a permanent position?

Scheduled raises, health benefits, vacation time, possibility for advancement. Your job is like your family.

OR

Are you more comfortable being a contractor and being your own boss. Like having control of your salary and where the write-offs go. The larger salary compensates for time off between jobs. Do you like the idea of being able to take a summer off or travel for 4 months. Do you find that new people, new systems, new companies enhance your work experience or do they stress you?

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

Location – to commute or not

Commuting is a big deal breaker on my list.

Do you like to drive?

Are you and the company close to public transportation?

How about the expense of car, parking, public transportation?

How long does the commute take? Are you going to be happy with needing an extra 2 hours for transportation?

Don’t forget to think about those long Canadian winters when you factor in commuting.

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

New and Innovative

TechnologiesAre you comfortable with the technologies you are using or do you want to train with the new technologies on the marketplace.

Keep up to date on new/emerging technologiesand what companies/systems are using them.

What’s hot, What’s not. Cobol, Java, Hadoop. What companies offer training in the new technologies.

Read industry publications to keep up to date on emerging technologies.

Do you need to go back to school or take a course/certificate?

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

You and Your FamilyTimes change and so do you. Just graduated, no family ties –then long hours and travelling with your job are great. Add a family into the scenario or have an older parent you need to help with. Your needs change and so do theirs. There is nothing more fun than coaching one of your kids at

yours/their favourite sport. Will the new job provide the opportunity to get home early enough for that.

Does the new company have a day care centre.

Health Benefits can make a huge difference in your life style.

Older parents, spouse’s career, are you at an age when you would like a little more time off. These are all factors that you have to analyze when you are looking for a new position.

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

What factor is the deal

breaker for you?

Everyone has different needs. As you grow in your career your needs will change. It’s important to analyze each factor for each time in your life. Be honest!! Changing careers and companies is a hard decision and not something you want to regret.

Start with these 8 factors and analyze each one. Let me know which factor, either one of these or one of your own that made the difference in your decision.

Planet4iT – First Contact for IT

www.planet4it.com

We are an IT Recruitment company based in Toronto, so give us a call if you need some help or advice

www.planet4it.com

@planet4it

416-363-9888, yes we still use the phone

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Good Luck Job Hunting