When planning your next career move, there are no right or wrong answers; it’s the fit that’s important. Your values, interests and skills change over time which is why it’s important to revisit these and re-evaluate the direction you are headed in. Where do your strengths and weaknesses lie? Taking these into consideration will help you find success in your career choices, as well as in your applications and interviews.

What have you enjoyed about your previous work experiences? Make a pros and cons list of your previous employers and determine which aspects of those opportunities worked best for you and your lifestyle. Choosing your next job isn’t just about what skills you have. Your job should fit into your lifestyle, not the other way around. More and more people are becoming consumed by their careers and personal time and family life is falling to the wayside.

It is a growing trend that a person’s work life is their top priority while, family, friends and interests are secondary. Within the past decade, the global workplace has seen an increase in the number of working women, dual-career and single parent families, contributing to the difficulty of a work-life balance. Moving up in the workforce, getting a higher salary and receiving increased recognition in the office have become the ultimate motivators. The pressure we are feeling is pulling us in a direction we all want to run from. Let’s get back to what’s important and find the time to make a happy home and with quality family time.

When you are "out of balance", you experience more stress and fatigue and tend to be absent from work more often due to these reasons. You may have less focus while at work thinking of your home life and more distracted at home because work matters weigh on your mind. One way to eliminate this stress is contract work. The freedom that comes with contract work is enticing to many people these days as they see the potential to schedule work around the rest of their life. The ability to choose when you work allows you to be your own boss, create a flexible schedule as well as the freedom to choose the type of work you do.

It’s important to remember that for many people, balancing work/life demands is just one of the many challenges they face on a regular basis. As a contractor you will be exposed to many different work environments and technologies as you move from opportunity to opportunity. Your learning curve will accelerate dramatically, ensuring work is engaging. You will work with many different bright and intelligent people who will become part of an ever-expanding professional network for job referrals.

Pace yourself and take the time you have to find what suits you best. Don’t rush into a bad decision when you know the right position is just around the corner.