Would you dare to be different? Perhaps you are considering a career change, but haven’t decided exactly what you want to do. Have you ever though about doing something entirely different?

You don’t necessarily have to opt for a completely different lifestyle, just take a little time out to follow a different path, possibly doing something you always wanted to do, but never had the chance. Six months or a year off won’t necessarily be too disruptive in terms of your career. So why not take an adult gap year, to get out there and experience something new. Think about taking a sabbatical, even if it’s unusual or unheard of in your line of work. Decide what you’d like to do and then ask if you can have the time off. You might be surprised and get the go-ahead. And of course you might not, but you won’t know for sure unless you ask. If your employer is less than thrilled with your proposal, the challenge is to find another way to notch up some new experiences. The goal is to give yourself the chance to gain a different perspective on life and if you can’t do something as radical as taking a year off or spending time abroad, there are plenty of options nearer home. Make a list of all the jobs that you ever thought might be fun, you don’t have to come up with anything particularly outrageous, although you could do. It’s about what you really want and so give that careful consideration. Think about how a particular change could be used to advantage on your CV or resume, by listing the skills that you will gain, how it will broaden your horizons and give you an expanded view of the world.

If you would really like go abroad think about training to teach English and then packing your rucksack and heading off for a year or two in places you’ve always wanted to visit. Or save up all of your annual leave and plan an exciting trip to a country you’ve never been to before. If none of these options will work for you, as you can’t afford to take a career break because you have a mortgage to pay or kids to feed, consider taking up a new interest and then getting really good at it. Become an expert in something you love, whether it’s a new skill or one you used to enjoy but let slip. Dare to be different and you might discover a new career or that what you are doing now isn’t so bad after all.

As the New Year approaches, many people decide it’s finally time for a change of career.

How many times have you said that this year will be the one when your life finally takes off? And like so many New Year Resolutions, it was quickly forgotten when you found yourself caught up in the 9-5 drudgery once again after the Christmas break.

If you’ve been wanting to change direction, the New Year is a good time to start, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that all you have to do is go out and get a new job and all will be well. It may be for a month or two, but if you don’t spend some time really thinking about what you want to do, chances are you’ll end up in the same rut again. The problem is that jobs weren’t made for people – people are expected to squeeze themselves into jobs and when you apply to a company for work, it’s all about them and not about you. Unfortunately that’s the game you have to play if you want to be hired.

So, if that’s the game, what can you do to avoid landing another boring job? Since you have to play by the rules, you need to devise your own set of rules first and then find a job which is a good match. It’s unlikely that you’ll get a perfect match, but the closer you get, the happier you’ll be.

What rules would you like to create? If I were looking for a job, the rules I’d create would be; it must be easy to get to (less than 1 hr by public transport), flexible part-time hours, I’d have the opportunity to use languages and to travel abroad a couple of times a year. I’d have my own office, with a state of the art computer etc.

I’m not looking for a job and so I haven’t gone into much detail, but if you want a change for the better, you need to look a lot more closely, starting with practical issues.

The practical stuff will depend on your current situation and preferences. If you have kids, hour and money might be more significant than if you are young and single. If you are approaching retirement you may be looking for something to supplement your pension or give you a new challenge.

So, the practicalities would be pay, hours, location. Write a list of the range of salary you’d be prepared to accept, the hours you want to work and the time of day or night, which days of the week and so on, how far you are prepared to travel and whether or not you’d be prepared to relocate for the right opportunity.

The next questions is : How do you want to spend your time? Do you have a specific job-title in mind? Is the content of that job likely to vary from company to company and if so, what are the specific tasks you’d be happiest with?

Which of your existing skills, experiences and talents do you want to use in your new job? And which do you definitely not want to use?

Do you see yourself progressing up the career ladder and if so, which opportunities for promotion would you like to be made available to you?

Are you interested in further training? Do you just want to keep up to date with your current skills or do you want to develop new ones? Would you like to do this on company time and at their expense, or are you prepared to do some study in your own time and to pay for it yourself? Do you see yourself staying with the same company for years (if possible), or will your next job be a short-term step on the ladder?

What sort of work culture do you prefer? Work hard, play hard? Or a more relaxed but steady pace? Do you like being told what to do or prefer to be left to your own devices? Do you enjoy going on team-building weekends or prefer to leave work behind at 5pm every Friday? Do you want to work for a family-friendly company, with good paternity as well as maternity leave and an on-site crèche?

You can discuss your preferences with members of your family, especially if they will be affected by your decision. Sometimes other people can give you a fresh perspective and point out important factors you have overlooked. Once you’ve made a list, do what employers do and mark each item as either essential or desirable.

The next step is to do some thorough background research so that you can target companies which meet your main requirements. As you start to apply, look at the job descriptions, see how closely they match your own and decide where you are prepared to compromise.

This strategy will help you to find a job which suits your needs and interests – the more you know about an organization, the easier it is to find one which suits you. If you need more help with finding a job, check out the Jobseekers’s Success Kit.