Are you considering changing careers? If that is the case, know that it is normal. You may find it necessary to change careers even several times. Career changes occur for distinct reasons. When they do, it is beneficial to be strategic. If you know how to make a career change, you will be more satisfied in your new job. Below, we provide expert advice for finding your next dream job.
Why do people change careers?
Table of Contents
Some common reasons for changing careers include the following:
- Flexibility
- Reducing stress
- Salary increases
- Feeling of Appreciation
- Opportunity for advancement
How to make a career change?
This career change advice is meant to help you find a career you will love. It can also help you qualify as a credible candidate in the new field. As you read the guide, remember that finding the right career path can take time. As you figure out the next move, please do not fixate on the idea that it must be perfect. Although your next move may not be perfect, it will lead to the next one. Keeping this in mind, here is advice from Resume Gems on a career change that will ensure success, regardless of your age.
1. Take an inventory
Create a journal. Begin by considering how you react to your current job and how that impacts your job satisfaction. Note down notable events, recurring themes, and how you feel because of them. Ask yourself questions like what do I or do not like about my present job? Answer the questions. From your notes, you can start seeing an image of what job satisfaction appears like for you.
As you do so, also take a personal inventory of values, skills and interests that are pertinent to the occupation you love. Consider the times you’ve achieved success and think about what you were doing. This could be a volunteer situation, a job or an internship, among other things. Determine the skills that played a role in making you successful and how they apply to different roles you may want to fill.
2. Make a list of your strengths
Most of the time, we tend to focus on weaknesses. Many people even find it hard to speak about their strengths. Okay, if you do not find it comfortable to speak about your strengths, we are not forcing you to do so. Here is the point, even without talking about them, it is advisable to identify them and note them down.
By identifying and noting down your strengths, it will be easy to tell the area you find joy in and the areas in which you can add value. It will also be an eye-opener to roles you can handle confidently and the environments you can thrive in.
3. Ask yourself questions
Asking yourself questions also plays a great role when it comes to how to make a career change decision. Some of the questions you should ask yourself include:
- What positive feedback am I likely to receive? What do my friends, managers, family, and coworkers say about me? What do people say I am good at?
- What achievements I’m I most proud of in work or life? What have I accomplished that I’m particularly proud of and what work experience and skills enabled me to succeed?
- When I’m I least or most productive? What type of projects and tasks do I usually complete efficiently, quickly and to a high quality? What type of projects tends to leave me watching the clock, frustrated or feeling as if I’ve hit the wall? What weaknesses and strengths are at play here?
- What do I enjoy doing the most? I’m a passionate baker, chess player or painter. Do I enjoy writing, running, or assisting others? Changing a career is not as easy as saying that I can now become a chef because I enjoy baking. Yet, your past times hold a significant clue regarding where your strengths lie. Consider what you like doing and how the activities require particular qualities.
When answering these questions, write down all the qualities and strengths you can identify within your answers. This way, you can get a great list to refer to as you evaluate career paths.
4. Decide whether to change industries
As you discover more about yourself and which jobs you consider more fulfilling, you must also define how to make a career change. Some people may switch careers by starting over in a new industry, or an adjacent one. Others may pursue a new occupation in the same industry. To determine what’s best for you, use your personal inventory to determine the types of industries and occupations that meet your needs best.
If you are considering getting a new job in your industry, think about alternative roles within your current industry that could use the industry knowledge you have. For instance, if you manage a store for a large retail chain and you no longer like the weekend and evening hours, you can move to corporate recruiting in the retail industry. If you are a programmer who no longer wishes to program, you can consider project management or technical sales.
5. Take a class
Find out which educational opportunities could bridge your background to the new field. Consider taking evening courses at a college in your area or online courses. You can find earning ways during these college days. Spend some time at the weekend or one-day seminars. Contact expert groups in your target field to get career change help.
6. Improve your skills
Search for ways to develop new skills in your current career that could pave the way for a change. For instance, if grant writing is valuable in your new field, offer to write a grant proposal. If your firm provides in-house training, sign up for as many classes as possible. These are great ways to position yourself to change your career without returning to college.
Conclusion
Changing a career is complicated and there’s often more to it than people see on the surface. Whether you want to pursue a side hustle or passion, looking for a change or seeking better opportunities, a career change necessitates careful thinking and planning. Consider why you want to change, what you wish to do and when the change will occur. With these tips on how to make a career change, you can shape a future that you will be proud of.
