Opting for a new life may be just the job

Meet Alan, a successful media business developer with a fascination for the outdoors. Alan and two friends, one a software engineer the other in technical sales, now run a company that offer tailor made winter and summer outdoor holidays called 'Highlife'.

Meet Chris, who originally trained as a nurse. She lived in the US where she saw the benefits of relocation agents. Chris saw a niche in the Irish market for such a relocation service. On her return she set up her own company called 'Corporate Care Relocation'.

What do they both have in common? Both went through a career transition where they reassessed what they wanted from their careers.

For many a career transition does not have to be as dramatic as the examples already discussed. Some individuals change roles within their current organisation and experience significant increases in levels of job satisfaction.

Others stay in their profession and simply move organisation. In this instance it is the change of culture that makes the critical difference.

Others will enhance their professional qualifications and study with a third level institution. Adult education is continuing to grow in Ireland and the advent of distance flexible learning has opened up the educational opportunities available to all. A quick look at the Internet illustrates the thousands of distance courses available now.

But how do you know that you would benefit from a career change? Are there symptoms? For many it is the feeling that they are lacking motivation in their current job, levels of job satisfaction are no longer where they were and they are becoming increasingly frustrated with the organisation on a daily basis. Said simply, it is feeling like a square peg in a round hole.

Preliminary findings of the recent ERSI report (surveys on attitudes and experiences in the workplace) indicate that half of the Irish workforce is stressed and what is more concerning is the 30% of the workforce who are 'too tired to enjoy their home life after work'. Of these 30% how many are expending energy doing a job that does not draw on their natural talents, skills and interests?

Once you have come to the realisation that a change of career is needed what next? Alan Moynihan of Highlife evaluated what he was looking for. He was 'searching for a sense of fulfilment and pride in being responsible for growing something great that we own'. For Chris is was different. She was wanted to be 'able to work under conditions that served my family situation.' She sought more control over her career'.

So if you decide that you are going to make a career change what do you need to do? Identify what it is that is missing from your current job - skills used, hours worked, the work itself etc. Then on a more personal level evaluate your key skills, motivations and values. Ultimately recognise what career will give you the level of satisfaction that you desire. Through further analysis it is possible to identify whether your needs will be met in another organisation, through retraining or is it something that you will have to create yourself?

Where you are in relation to the life cycle will impact any career decisions you make. A recent UK survey by Reed showed that younger workers place more emphasis on 'career progress' but as individuals grow older and move further in their career 'quality of life emerges as a higher priority'. For many at this stage it is not about having an extremely well paid job, it is more often the need to feel fulfilled doing something they enjoy, if the euros come with this all the better!

So, when was the last time you stopped and considered what you really wanted from a career? When you were in school? When you graduated? Whenever it was, take time out on a regular basis to decide what it is you want to achieve through working. What is it that makes you get out of the bed in the morning? It might be financial rewards, peer recognition, or the balance it provides with your home life.

Whatever it is for you personally, being clear about your wants will be one of the strongest motivators you will ever experience.

So how are Alan and Chris doing now? Chris has been in business since 1997 employs 5 people and has successfully co-ordinated over 300 relocations of expatriates and their families to Ireland from the US, Europe and Asia. She also represents Ireland and Northern Europe on the council of her industry's professional body-EuRA. Asked if she has any regrets Chris states that she is 'very happy with the new direction and is delighted to spend each day doing something she loves instead of just "working".

Highlife were recently short-listed for the DCU Mallin-Invent Start Up award worth over €60,000. In their first year they sold over 200 holidays, this year they plan to treble this. Their aim is to be 'the main out door activities holiday provider in the country' in the next two years. Alan too has no regrets 'you really want to make it work and you'll stop at nothing to achieve your dream'.