3 tips to help you figure out your next job move

The days of picking a company at an early age and sticking with it throughout your working life are fading quickly. Your interests change over time, so you shouldn’t feel like you have to keep following a path you started on years ago, says corporate psychologist Dave Popple, president of Psynet Group.

“If we are under the illusion that we have the same drives and the same skills we had when we first started a job, we will likely make a poor career move,” Popple says. If you are doing the job that fits the person you used to be, rather than who you are now, it’s time for a change.

If you’re dissatisfied with your current job, you’re not alone. In a new Monster poll, we found out why people are really looking for a new job. Leading the list of reasons is the need to make more money (44%) and get out of a career rut (24%). A bad boss (13%), curiosity (11%), and unbearable workload (8%) were the other driving forces behind a job search.

Not sure what sort of next step would make you more satisfied in your work? Consider these three tips.

Research it like a project

If you decide you want a new job but aren’t sure where to begin, you’ll need to decide to treat the discovery and search process like a major project, says Kim Janson of Janson Associates. "Considering a new role is exciting, but often people don’t put the right level of time, energy, and focus to make the process productive, easy and stress-free.”

Put together a timeline and find ways to dedicate your time and energy to the process, especially if you decide to apply to multiple jobs, she says.

Reflect on your options

This is the time to really look at all the possible directions your career could take, says Kat Matina of Relaunch Coaching. Make a list of jobs you might be interested in, and narrow it down to three. Then, do your research: Find out what people in those jobs do on a daily basis, tap your network to see if anyone has insights about the positions, identify skills you might need, and research training options, if necessary.

Take an assessment

If you’re having trouble figuring out what you might be good at, take an assessment test, says Liz D'Aloia, founder of HR Virtuoso. “If you have an interest in a field, you can always learn technical skills on the job,” she says. “If you have an innate capacity to be great at a certain competency, you will excel in certain roles.”

Next steps

No matter what's spurring your job search, there's no denying a new job can give you a fresh start—and possibly a pay raise. Could you use some help kick-starting your search? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to different types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts emailed right to your inbox, which cuts down on the amount of time you’d spend combing through ads. Don't wait around until your current situation gets worse. Take action today, and let Monster help you on your way to an awesome new job.