I meet many clients who feel they want to change careers or want to get back into the workforce after an extended absence but are struggling to figure out what they want to do and how they will avoid getting into a job that they are unhappy and miserable in (again). Well, firstly I need to emphasis that there are no guarantees however you can take certain steps to help ensure that the job that you find will be one you enjoy and get satisfaction from. I am delighted to share with you a 5-step plan that a fellow life coach based in Dublin shared with me – Neil O’Brien of Timetofly some time ago that has proven very effective.

Step 1. Get a different perspective. Before you rush off making lists of great jobs that you think you would love to do, take the opportunity to get some different perspective on your particular situation. Ever notice how people close to you can sometimes know you better than you know yourself. It is time to harness this knowledge to help you get a little more insight into you. The challenge is: Ask 6 people you can trust to give you honest answers to the following 2 questions. Q1: What talents do I have that you notice I do well? And Q2: What job on this planet do you feel I would be perfect for, either real or fictional, it doesn’t matter? Ideally you should try and select 3 people who know you well in a personal context and 3 people who know you in a professional / work context.

Step 2. Approach the starting blocks. Changing careers or jobs is challenging and can be a daunting task so take time to build your own self confidence, get focused and motivated. Step 2 has nothing to do with your career as such but more to do with building your own reserves of confidence and commitment. Here is the challenge for step 2. Identify 12 things you would love to achieve within the next month. They can be anything you like as long as they are important to you. They may be things you have been putting off, they may be things that you have started but not finished or they may be things you would just love to do. 6 of these challenges should be easy such as make a phone call, write an email, clean your office etc and 6 should be more challenging such as paint the bedroom, run a mini-marathon, loose 5lbs. Keep score and after the month review how you did scoring yourself out of 12 by giving yourself 1 point for every challenge completed.

STEP 3. At this stage you should be motivated and full of confidence assured in the taught that you can do anything you set your mind to. Now is time to make some decisions. Based on what you learned from Step 1, select one career or job that you feel you might really love to do.

STEP 4. Take the career / job you selected in step 3 and complete the following 3 tasks. Research it by reading up on it, ask someone already doing it for his or her perspective and volunteer to do it for free. I met someone recently who wanted to get into organic farming so he has spent the last 12 months working part time on an organic farm on a voluntary basis. The experience he has gained has been invaluable to him and he has had a great time to boot. If you find during your research that the job is not all that you taught it was cracked up to be, pick another one on your list and repeat Step 4 until you find a career / job that appears to be a good fit for you.

STEP 5 and the final step is as the Nike ad professes – Just Do it! At this stage, all the research has been done, you are aware of all the potential downsides as well as the benefits so make a decision and take the plunge. And remember, if the job does not turn out as great as you would have hoped, consider how much you have learned by simply trying something new. There will always be another opportunity waiting for you around the corner as long as you are willing to keep looking.

Fergal O’Connor is a Business and Personal Life Coach working in partnership with his Business and Private clients providing a supportive, confidential, challenging and non-judgemental environment to make their ambitions and dreams a reality. Fergal can be contacted at Synergy Coaching Services, Tel: (061) 467287, www.synergycoachingservices.net