Four Ways to Ditch Your Zombie Career This Halloween

Do you wake up feeling unmotivated and tired? Do the work days all blur together as you wait for the weekend to roll around?

If that all sounds familiar then it’s time to face the terrifying truth: you’re stuck in a zombie career!

Now, some people like to make their resolutions in the new year, but here at Career Navig8r, we believe it’s never too soon to make a change. That’s why this spooky season we’ll be sharing our top four tips to kick those low spirits, say goodbye to brain drain, and find a job that really speaks to you!

1. Explore Your Options

If you’re looking to change jobs, then you should always start by exploring your options. You’ll need to set some time aside on your days off and do some proper job research.

The aim isn’t just to find out which jobs you can do but also which jobs you want to do. After all, the last thing you need is to trade one bad job in for another.

It’s also important to remember that Google isn’t your only avenue for research. When considering new career paths, try asking friends and family for ideas, have a poke around on social media, or even just try browsing job sites to see what’s listed. Remember that this stage isn’t about finding your next role straight away, but getting yourself set on a career path that will make you happy for years to come.

All that being said, you should never dismiss what you already have. Be sure to make a list of all the jobs you’re already skilled/qualified for. Even if they’re not roles you’d like to work, it never hurts to write your options down so you can ensure you’re making an informed decision.

2. Communicate With Your Employer/Manager

This one is a little trickier and will depend a lot on your relationship with your employer and your personal situation.

If your problems at work are related to something fixable (i.e. issues with a coworker, problems with your hours, etc,) then the professional thing to do would be to discreetly bring this up with your boss. If they can, most bosses would rather fix a problem than lose an experienced employee and even if there’s nothing they can do, you shouldn’t get into trouble just for communicating that there is a problem.

That said, if the problem is more general then it may not be such a good idea to raise the matter with them up front. Unfortunately, if your employer knows that you dislike your entire job role or that you’re intending to leave the company when you get the chance then it may have a detrimental impact on your employment.

On the other hand, you should never be afraid to negotiate, particularly where issues of money and hours are concerned. If you like a job role but you’re not happy with your current employment contract, then you shouldn’t be afraid to make this clear – so long as you do so in a professional manner.

If your employer refuses to negotiate, then it’s time to start applying for other roles. Wait until you have an acceptable offer from someone else and present that as leverage.

3. Consider a Career Change

Of course, sometimes it’s not about the money or the hours – sometimes it’s about the specific job role, or even the wider industry. In these cases you should absolutely think about new directions you can take.

Many people underestimate their ability to change careers. Over the course of a career, people often become increasingly specialised, leading them to assume that it’ll be impossible to break out of their niche. Although changing niche is hard, it is definitely doable, especially if you can demonstrate a wide set of skills and experience.

When researching your career options, always make sure to take into account how your existing skills could be transferred to new jobs. And again, never be afraid to ask around. If you know someone working in a field you’d like to get into, ask them how they did it. That’s how you start putting together an action plan.

4. Become a Mentor

And of course, let’s not forget our favourite job here at Career Navig8r: mentoring!

Escaping your job doesn’t have to mean changing industry altogether. If you’ve got years of experience, then why not take advantage of them to kickstart your career as a mentor. After all, just because a job wasn’t right for you, that doesn’t mean it won’t be right for someone else.

With online mentoring, you could earn money by helping other people find their dream job, all while working as your own boss in your own time.

Don’t let your job eat your brains! Join Career Navig8r today and say goodbye to your zombie career.