People change jobs for various reasons. While some want improved remuneration, others want more challenging tasks, some seek change of environment, and people even want to change jobs because their close pal just did the same. Whatever your reason may be, the following tips will ease the path to your desire.

Current job appraisal: 9 out of 10 times, you want to change something because its entirety or some part no longer works fine for you. First, you must know what works for you in your present job and what doesn’t. With this in sight, you know what to look out for as you search for new positions. You keep the dos and eliminate the don’ts.

Define your interests: If your intention of job change is career change, define your intended career and how to get started with it. However, changing jobs doesn’t necessarily mean changing career. If your career choice remains the same as the present, you most likely, want to scale up – improve in one or more aspects. Highlight those new territories that interests you, as they will be the guide to your new job search.

Why change jobs?Job change can be by choice or compulsion. It is easier when it is by choice because you probably still have a job. However, when it is by compulsion, it comes with certain amount of pressure. In this case, you need to accept that change is the only constant thing in the world and there are better and greater opportunities out there that you’ve been blind to because of your previous job.

Value proposition: Put yourself in your intending employer’s shoes. Would you employ you, considering your current skillset and abilities? One thing about jobs, especially routine jobs, is that it hides individual’s core skills. For instance, you know how to plough the fields, but you do not because your job description is harvesting. This doesn’t throw away your field ploughing skill. Identify your core values and abilities – they might be just the tools you need to land a new job.

Improve your skillset: Being the same person you were last 5 years ago is boring, you’d agree. You no longer want to be a person that can only do this or that. You envy diverse abilities so that your level of relevance in any workplace is increased. The way to go about this is to improve your skillset. Learn a new skill. Take a course. Get a certification. Don’t be comfortable with your status quo. Be a better version of you.

Outline your job options: Check the internet for job openings. Ask a friend or family about job openings. Do a simple research of the offers you see and outline those you’re capable of taking up. If you have interest in certain jobs but you do not have one or two of the skills required, you can take a crash course on the skills with an intention to develop them on the job.

Apply: Now that you have options, apply to those positions. Remember to use professional tools like LinkedIn to promote yourself in a unique way. While waiting for an offer from any of your applications, you can accept a temporary or volunteer position to keep the edges sharp.