Making your next career move

Making a career change is one of the most important decisions you may ever make, especially if you have been in a particular industry for a while. These changes may be because of your desire for a new environment, learning new things or simply because your career feels stagnant. I spoke to Mel Kelly - Network Finance' Branch Manager and she had this to say about career change.

Bridget Maoko: Is there a threshold at which one can change their career?

Mel Kelly: No. If you are passionate and willing to put in the work, a career change is possible anytime in your career. There could, however, be hurdles such as qualifications that you would need to attain, or internships/ bridging programmes that you would need to complete, which may be barriers to change due to lack of financial or time resources such as raising a family or other commitments. Should these be in place, and you feel you up to another learning curve, there should be no threshold for changing your career.

Bridget Maoko: What are some of the common signs that suggest it may be time to move on from a career?

Mel Kelly: I don't think people in general move on from careers. Rather, they may move on from positions or companies. Obvious company related signs to move on would be retrenchments or severe financial instability. During interviews, personal reasons are often cited as the reason for seeking career growth and further career exposure. This usually translates to boredom, or inability to progress in the particular organisation within a reasonable period of time.

If salary is your main motivator, you should not let it cloud your judgement in what is best for your career in the long term. There can be times where you will be faced with the decision of a short-term loss for a long-term gain. 

Bridget Maoko: How does changing careers affect ones social status, career stability and reputation?

Mel Kelly: There is a great deal of subjectivity when it comes to this question. If you are someone who values material progress, a move for a better salary will attract you and afford you a better standard of living, and you will experience higher material status.

If you value the development of people, a move for greater leadership responsibility will be attractive. You could even feel better about your reputation by moving to a position where you can genuinely help other people, and this may give you a sense of higher status and reputation. It comes down to what you value.

Career stability, translates to job security and this is largely linked to the stability of the company you join.

Bridget Maoko: Should employees tolerate a career that is rewarding monetarily even though they are not happy? 

Mel Kelly: What you will tolerate is subjective, and linked to what you value most. If you value monetary gains, you may find tolerable what another person, with different values, may not. Ultimately do what makes you happy, and what is good for you. If you are earning handsomely and are genuinely miserable, it would seem obvious to me that there are other values which you may need to prioritise, and you may need to make a financial sacrifice. I firmly believe that your level of happiness at work directly influences your happiness in many other facets of your life.

Bridget Maoko: What is the importance of having meaningful work, and what role does it play in having a successful career?

Mel Kelly: The word "meaningful" means different things for different people. I believe if you are doing work that is honest and allows you the ability to achieve the things you value, you can be happy. Being happy in what we do can lead us to feel our work is meaningful, and a happy employee is usually more motivated - with the right motivation and hard work, success is almost guaranteed.

Bridget Maoko: What career mistakes should people avoid in order to succeed?

Mel Kelly:

• Making decisions with a short-term focus, but which could hamper future attainment of your long-term career goals.
• Involvement in anything that could lead to reputational damage or disciplinary implications must be avoided.
• Lastly, being scared of growth. Always say yes to a promotion - trust the vision of your leaders, and trust yourself to step up to the new challenge.