Better salary, more flexible hours, job satisfaction… there are a whole host of reasons why you might be considering a career change.
And of course, it can be really scary, stepping into the unknown.
So this week we’ve put together some tips for you.
1. Ask yourself why do you want a career change?
Before you go switching careers, it’s important to understand why you’re doing it in the first place.
- Is there an aspect to the job that you specifically don’t like?
- Or are you tired of your entire career and industry as a whole?
- Is it something that can be fixed without a career change?
You need to ask yourself what the pros and cons are in your current career, and think about whether you’re ready for that equilibrium to shift.
If you don’t know your underlying reasons for being frustrated, how can you be sure they won’t crop up again in your new job?
You may find that you actually just want a new job at a new company, rather than to change careers altogether.
2. Assess your strengths and passions.
You don’t want to find yourself regretting your career change in a few years’ time so make sure you really think about what kind of job would fit your passions right now.
Although work is never going to be fun 24/7, you need to consider your interests and your desires, looking for a career that will fulfill (or at least partially fulfill) them. You want a career that will get you out of bed in the morning!
This is your perfect chance for a new start!
As well as your passions, you should also look at your current strengths.
If you’re hoping to progress into a certain industry, it’ll be much easier if you’re actually good at that kind of job!
So what are you good at?
3. Create a plan with achievable goals.
If you’re sure that you want to change career, you need to create a roadmap and a detailed plan that will guide you towards where you need to be.
Your path to a career change will not always be certain, and it may be worth speaking to people in your desired career to find out the paths that they took.
Did they take a certain course? Or gain experience by volunteering? How long did it take them to get to where they are now?
Find out what will get your foot in the door and begin constructing a plan.
You may find that you have gaps in the knowledge and skills required for the career, and may have to take classes, courses, or internships to acquire the skills and experience necessary.
4. Do some networking.
Ever heard the phrase: it’s not what you know… it’s who you know?
Ok, so that’s not 100% right. What you know is important. However doing a little bit of networking could help you to get your foot in the door.
Having connections allows you to remain in the loop about developments and openings in your desired career, and connections can be a source of support and wisdom for you on your journey.
Always conduct yourself in a professional manner when networking; you want people to remember you (for the right reasons) if an opportunity comes up!
Need some tips on this? Check out this blog: 10 Networking Tips for Shy Professionals
5. Consider the downsides.
I don’t really want to end this on a downer, but it is important to consider the downsides to a new career.
For example, will taking up a new career mean that you’re forced to start at an entry-level position and take a pay cut?
Are you prepared for that financially?
What sacrifices will you have to make for this new career, and are you prepared to take on the hard work that will follow it?
And once you have a good idea on the downsides, it’s up to you to work out whether the positives outweigh the negatives.
Summary
There you have it; 5 things you really should be doing before deciding to embark on a new career.
To recap:
- Ask yourself why do you want a career change?
- Assess your strengths and passions.
- Create a plan with achievable goals.
- Do some networking.
- Consider the downsides.
It’s exciting!
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