You are ready to change career when the thought keeps coming back and you are willing to do something about it, even if you have no idea yet what the new career looks like. You do not need to know what you want first. Working that out is the first part of the process. If you are only tired, a break or a better manager may fix it. If the same thought has been coming back for six months or more, it is usually worth taking seriously.
I spent 20 years in senior commercial roles at John Lewis, Disney, Amazon and Sainsbury's, finishing as Head of Commercial. I have been in the rooms where promotions, redundancies and hiring decisions get made, and I have coached working mums through career changes since. This is the test I use.
Five signs you are ready
The thought keeps coming back. It has survived a holiday, a good month and a new project.
You are curious about what else could be out there, even if you cannot name it. You do not need a job title. You just need to be willing to explore: talk to people, try things and question what you assumed you had to do.
You have already tried to fix your current role. You have asked for the project, the promotion, the flexibility, and the feeling has not shifted.
Your skills are bigger than your job. You are doing work you could do in your sleep, or work that nobody sees. You never thought you’d say it but, you’re bored.
You could make a move in the next six to twelve months, because of your finances, your childcare or your energy.
If you ticked three or more, you are probably ready to start.
Three signs you are not ready yet
You are exhausted and need rest more than a new job. Fix the exhaustion first, then decide.
You want to leave one person, not one career. A difficult manager is a different problem from a wrong path.
You would not take the next step even if someone handed you the perfect role. That usually means fear, and fear is workable, but it needs naming first.
What readiness looks like in real life
One of my clients, Melanie, came back from maternity leave and was offered her old role back, which she nearly took. Instead, she stopped, worked out what she actually wanted, made the case for it and negotiated a role created for her: about £10,000 more, working three days a week. She did not feel ready at the start, in fact she thought she just needed any flexible job to fit around the kids. She became ready, and focused, by doing the thinking first, then having the conversation.
You rarely feel ready before you begin. Readiness is usually the result of getting clear, not the thing you need before you start.
What to do next
Write down what you want more of, and what you want less of, in a normal week.
List the three skills people already pay you for.
Talk to two people who do the kind of work you are drawn to.
Decide how much time, money and energy you can give a move in the next 12 months.
If you want help with this, Career Compass: The Collective is my eight-week group programme for women who are ready to move on, whether that is a new role, a new industry or their own venture, and who do not need to know which yet. Working out the direction is what we do together. It is limited to six women, and it works through four stages: Orientation, Alignment, Direction and Movement. The next group starts in January, and you can join the waitlist here.
If you would rather talk it through first, book a free discovery call.
FAQs
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You are ready when the thought has lasted six months or more and you are willing to explore it and act on it within the next year. You do not need to know what you want yet.
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That is the most common starting point, and it is where I begin. Most women who come to me do not know what they want next. The first stages of Career Compass are about getting clear on your direction before you apply for anything.
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Yes. Most women I coach feel it. Fear is a sign the change matters to you, not a sign you should not do it.
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Yes. Many of the women I work with are juggling childcare and work. A change can be planned around your life, with a realistic timeline, not a leap.
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Often six to twelve months from first decision to starting a new role, depending on the move and how much you need to build or show first.
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Not always. Many moves rely on skills you already have, described differently. Retraining is worth considering only after you know which direction you are heading in.
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No. The Collective is for women who are ready to move on from where they are. If you want to grow in your current role, a Power Hour or 1:1 coaching may suit you better.
