Turbulent economy causing Brits to look for a new career

Monster, the leader in successfully connecting people to job opportunities, has announced the results of a global poll revealing that more than 50 per cent of respondents are trying to switch careers because of the difficult economic climate. Of the countries surveyed, Brits are the most likely to try to want a career change, with almost two thirds (61 per cent) of respondents indicating they are trying to switch careers for this reason.

Globally, a further third (33 per cent) of total respondents reported they would ‘maybe’ switch careers due to the economy while only 14 per cent reported their career as unaffected by the economy.

“It’s certainly wise to take broad economic trends into account when planning your career, but you want to be careful not to chase trendy jobs blindly,” said Mary Ellen Slayter, Career Advice Expert for Monster. “Information about economic trends can help you keep your expectations in check, which is especially important if you’re planning to return to school on borrowed money to pursue a new career,” she added. “But you’ll still want to consider your temperament and natural talents, and how well they mesh with the day-to-day realities of the job. The best way to counteract the hype surrounding ‘hot jobs’ is careful research – and you will have to do it on your own, ideally by talking with people who actually do the job that may interest you.”

Monster asked visitors to their site the question, “Are national or global economic troubles causing you to consider a complete career change?” and received more than 3,400 responses globally. Total international findings included:

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• Yes, I am trying to switch my career – 53%
• Maybe, if I can find a better career – 33%
• No, my career is not impacted by economic troubles – 14%

The poll results also indicate wide differences from country to country with more American respondents trying to switch careers (57 per cent), than Canadian respondents (54 per cent) and also French respondents (51 per cent). German respondents appear to be most secure in their careers, with only 22 per cent looking for a new path due to the economic climate.

The results of the current Monster Global Poll are based on votes cast by Monster visitors from 29 April, 2013 to 20 May, 2013. Only one vote per user is counted toward the final tabulation. The Monster Global poll, a product of Monster, the premier global online employment solution and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc., is a series of online polls that gauge users’ opinions on a variety of topics relating to careers, the economy and the workplace. These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate.