How long does it take to change jobs or careers?
It can take as little as a day. I mean it.
It can take as long as a few years.
It depends on what you’re willing to do, really.
When people ask “How long is it going to take?”, they want some kind of guarantee they’ll get their dream job or make that move successfully before they even start. So they don’t start because they don’t have a guarantee.
The good news is that a guarantee is possible. Because it is in your control.
Strategies to secure a job fast
If you want to get a job in a day, there’s a bunch of things you can do.
First, you have to ask everybody and anybody.
You can offer to work for free a while, to remove some of the barriers.
You can hand out your CV in every shop in town.
You can call every person you know.
I’m not saying that’s what you should do, no. I’m only saying it is possible to get a job in a day.
Factors influencing your job change timeline - and what it takes
But realistically, if you want a certain type of job and a certain amount of money, it will take longer.
It depends on your willingness to show up even after failures and rejections. To do the research, talk to people, tweak, adjust, try again.
On your willingness to say: “my bills need paying but I don’t want to compromise on the kind of job I want long term so I’ll take anything to pay my bills while I continue the work on finding the right job for me.
It depends on how willing you are to evaluate your actions, your interviews, your conversations: what worked? What didn’t work? What do you want to do differently?
It depends on your willingness to be patient until you get what you want. On managing your expectations about how long it “should” take.
If you’re focusing on your bills or getting out of your current situation, you’re slowing yourself down. Shift your focus to what you can offer and how you can contribute. Get excited about the possibilities instead of being bogged down by fear.
Everyone’s timeline is different. I can tell you how long it took me or my clients to land our dream jobs, but that number won’t mean much to you. Your situation is unique. The good news is, you control your actions and your persistence.
If you need help along the way, I can absolutely help. I don’t do CVs, but I do focus you on getting the job you really want and managing your mindset and emotions along the way so you can keep going when it gets difficult.
That’s the only shortcut.
Love,
Monica