How to know if it's time to change careers
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0:00 - 0:01I was not one of those kids
-
0:01 - 0:05that knew exactly what they wanted to do
when they were growing up. -
0:05 - 0:06In the last 15 years of my career,
-
0:06 - 0:09I've been an English teacher,
attorney, video game creator -
0:09 - 0:11and now, a toilet paper salesman,
-
0:11 - 0:13selling millions of rolls
of toilet paper a year. -
0:13 - 0:16[The Way We Work]
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0:16 - 0:20Life is about finding the intersection
of what you really, really love -
0:20 - 0:22with what you're really, really good at.
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0:22 - 0:25As simple as it sounds,
it's really not that easy to find. -
0:25 - 0:27After a brief stint as an English teacher,
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0:27 - 0:29I went to law school and ended up
becoming an attorney -
0:29 - 0:31at a big law firm here in New York City.
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0:31 - 0:33Like most Americans,
for the next two, three years, -
0:34 - 0:35I was holding on to my job for dear life,
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0:36 - 0:39working really late hours at a job
that I thought maybe I was good at -
0:39 - 0:41but certainly not one that I really loved.
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0:41 - 0:42I then came upon the epiphany
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0:42 - 0:45that it takes years if not
tens of thousands of hours -
0:45 - 0:47to get really good at something.
-
0:47 - 0:49I really didn't have
a lot of time to waste. -
0:49 - 0:51This talk isn't for those
looking to quit their job -
0:51 - 0:54because they don't like their boss
or they had a long day at work. -
0:54 - 0:57This is for those that are ready
to make the completely scary leap -
0:57 - 0:59into a brand-new career.
-
0:59 - 1:01So as you think about
making a career change, -
1:01 - 1:03here are a few tips
I hope you consider -
1:03 - 1:05and a few things
I've picked up along the way. -
1:05 - 1:08First, there's three things to think about
before you're ready to move on. -
1:08 - 1:11Number one: professional
life is about learning. -
1:11 - 1:13If you're not even interested
in learning anymore, -
1:13 - 1:14that's a huge red flag
-
1:14 - 1:17that there might not be
a future for you in that industry. -
1:17 - 1:19Number two: career changes
are often gut-driven. -
1:19 - 1:21If you constantly have sleepless nights
-
1:21 - 1:24where you're wide awake staring
at the ceiling thinking, -
1:24 - 1:27"Oh, man. I can't live with myself
if I never try to make this change -
1:27 - 1:29or if I don't even
actually investigate it," -
1:29 - 1:30then trust your gut.
-
1:30 - 1:32It might be time for that career change.
-
1:32 - 1:33On the flip side,
-
1:33 - 1:35one reason to not move on
is short-term pain. -
1:36 - 1:37If you don't like your boss
-
1:37 - 1:39or people at the office
are grating on you, -
1:39 - 1:42that's actually not a good reason
to absolutely change your career, -
1:42 - 1:44because when you do change a career,
-
1:44 - 1:46you generally have to start
from the bottom, -
1:46 - 1:48and you'll probably feel
a lot of short-term pain, -
1:48 - 1:51whether it's through a lack of
salary or lack of a title. -
1:51 - 1:53Pain at any job is inevitable.
-
1:53 - 1:55So now you're convinced
that it's time to change your career. -
1:56 - 1:58Then there's three things
to do immediately. -
1:58 - 2:00First: network, network, network.
-
2:00 - 2:03No one ever builds a career
without a good mentor -
2:03 - 2:04or a good support network.
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2:04 - 2:07What I mean by networking
is getting all the great advice -
2:07 - 2:09that you can possibly get.
-
2:09 - 2:11Technology has made it so simple
to reach out to new people -
2:11 - 2:14to say, "Hey, I'm thinking
about making a career change. -
2:14 - 2:16Do you have just five
minutes to chat with me?" -
2:16 - 2:19That passion and that hunger
and that ability to be a sponge -
2:19 - 2:21really attracts awesome mentors
-
2:21 - 2:23and people willing to give you their time
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2:23 - 2:24to give you some good advice.
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2:24 - 2:26So go out there and meet new people.
-
2:26 - 2:28The second thing
you need to do immediately -
2:28 - 2:30is shore up your finances.
-
2:30 - 2:32The reality is, when
you change your career, -
2:32 - 2:34you'll either start
with a job with a lower title -
2:34 - 2:36or lower pay or maybe even no pay,
-
2:36 - 2:38especially if you're starting
your own business. -
2:39 - 2:41So going out there and making sure
your finances are in order -
2:41 - 2:43to make the transition less painful
-
2:43 - 2:44is really, really important.
-
2:44 - 2:48For me personally, as I made
the transition from being an attorney -
2:48 - 2:49over to a video game creator,
-
2:49 - 2:53I wanted to have at least six to 12 months
of personal runway in the bank. -
2:53 - 2:56Six to 12 months might not be
the right number for you, -
2:56 - 2:58but be honest with yourself
on what that number should be. -
2:58 - 3:03Number three, if you're not ready to make
the full jump right at this moment, -
3:03 - 3:04then get your side hustle on.
-
3:04 - 3:07Side hustles could be anything
from volunteering with an organization -
3:08 - 3:10that's in the new industry
you want to go into, -
3:10 - 3:12could be starting your business
part-time on the weekends. -
3:12 - 3:16It's a free way to get a taste
to see if you really love something. -
3:16 - 3:17So you're ready to make the move
-
3:17 - 3:19or maybe you already made the move.
-
3:19 - 3:22Here are three things
you should think about doing, right now. -
3:22 - 3:25One: do not -- I repeat --
do not burn bridges. -
3:25 - 3:27You spent years building those bridges,
-
3:27 - 3:28why burn them now?
-
3:28 - 3:30The world is such a small place,
-
3:30 - 3:32especially with all
these online platforms, -
3:32 - 3:35that, believe me,
you will see these people again -
3:35 - 3:37and probably in the most
inopportune times. -
3:37 - 3:39Number two: take stock
of what you've learned -
3:39 - 3:41in your previous career or careers.
-
3:41 - 3:44Most likely, a lot of those
things are really applicable -
3:44 - 3:45to your new job and your new career,
-
3:46 - 3:49whether it's interacting
with people, playing on a team -
3:49 - 3:51or dealing with jerks and assholes.
-
3:51 - 3:53All those things are really
universally applicable. -
3:53 - 3:56You'll find jerks no matter
what industry you're in; -
3:56 - 3:58no one's immune to it,
everyone's got to figure it out, -
3:58 - 4:00and you probably know
how to do it already. -
4:00 - 4:03Lastly, when you start your new job,
you're going to be nervous. -
4:03 - 4:05But don't worry, take a deep breath,
-
4:05 - 4:07because this is what I want to tell you:
-
4:07 - 4:09you're part of a new team now,
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4:09 - 4:12and everyone around you
is rooting for your success, -
4:12 - 4:14because your success is their success.
-
4:14 - 4:16So welcome to your new career.
- Title:
- How to know if it's time to change careers
- Speaker:
- Chieh Huang
- Description:
-
Quitting your job can be scary, but sometimes it's the best thing you can do for your career, says entrepreneur Chieh Huang. He shares how to know when it's time to move on -- and what can you do to prepare.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TED Series
- Duration:
- 04:29
Erin Gregory edited English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers | ||
Brian Greene edited English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers | ||
Erin Gregory approved English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers | ||
Erin Gregory edited English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers | ||
Camille Martínez accepted English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers | ||
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers | ||
Camille Martínez edited English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers | ||
Brian Greene edited English subtitles for How to know if it's time to change careers |