Building a successful career is never easy, especially if you decide to change professions after several years. Let´s find out how to make a career change effectively.
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A change in career or field of work worries anyone. Still, a structured approach and exploration of practical options will help make these changes easier.
Here are some ideas you can use to change the scope of your work or think about it. There can be only one rule – before reading this article – take a page and write. It will be useful for structuring thoughts and ideas and achieving a better result.
Table of Contents
How to find a new career?
Before taking serious steps, like writing a resignation and looking for a job that probably will bother you after several months, Think. It is worth asking yourself the magical question: if I owned all the money in the world, what would I do for myself?
Allow yourself to imagine after all this is a time of brainstorming. Make a list of all the things you could and would like to do. In the beginning, you are likely to think of something like vacationing in the tropical islands, spending time with children, etc.
Ask yourself whether in such a situation you would like to work with people or alone, on a fixed or indefinite working day, to obey or disobey authorities, and so on. What would be the goals of the work and the desired achievements? What would you work for if you didn’t suddenly have to worry about money?
Do your homework
Find out what type of career are you genuinely interested in. Of course, it is essential to know How to make a career change effectively. Still, it is also crucial to understand what exactly you would like to do.
You may have studied clerical work to find a safe and predictable job. But in reality, since childhood, you probably wanted to help people in the hospital. Think about the past – what motivated you to learn what you learned and why exactly you choose your actual job?
Write on the page things you have ever loved to do and career development ideas you have ever thought of.
Also, write down the ideas you are thinking about right now. This time, arguments such as “wasting time” or “not serious” are rejected.
In this case, writing down all the variations can help you see something in common. For example, You can notice that all ideas are related to the analysis and solution of problem situations. It means deep down you want to be a problem solver, but your current job does not provide such a possibility at all.
What else could you do?
Evaluate your skills and talents, both at work and in everyday life
Ask yourself: “In what areas am I good? What gives me the most pleasure?” Don’t be shy. It can be anything work-related or non-work-related, from the ability to perfectly organize documents in folders to beautiful handwriting. Write down every skill you find. Often the most challenging task in this task is to exclude internal critics who say – Well what is it about skill? That’s for everyone!
Does your current job satisfy your desires and allow you to express your talents, abilities and potential?
Find skills that you can take with you to the new field
After creating your strengths list, note the skills you have used so far and can continue to use in your new job. The longer the list of strengths, the easier it will be to find what you can take with you.
If you only found a few skills to take with you, don’t worry. New skills will develop over time, but old skills will be a good foundation.
Think about things that will allow you to do what you want to do, at least to some extent. How could you express your talents every day? Be creative and open-minded. Think about which of your skills you want to use in your dream job when performing work duties, and which you can leave for your hobbies.
Make a list of all the things you would like to get in your new job
Make another list with things you don’t want to get. It can be useful when analyzing the tedious aspects of your current job. Compiling lists of things to the contrary will help you identify those jobs that seem appealing at first but are not for you in the long run.
Wish, and reluctance lists will help you to recognize positive reactions in the future and notice alarms. After all, the desire to change a job or field of work is directly related to the desire to avoid unpleasant responsibilities and feelings.
Be prepared to work on your desires gradually. Step-by-step achievements will make change safer and work for you.
Information search and verification
Speak with people
An informative interview is like a gem – an opportunity to receive answers about the chosen field from professionals and establish contacts with people who can help you in the job search process over time. You can even ask directly to professionals from your desired field, how to make a career change effectively.
Ask older acquaintances and new acquaintances about their knowledge and experience. Many people are happy to tell about their field and grateful for their genuine interest.
Be aware of your financial situation
To what extent are you prepared to reduce your requirements if the salary in the new sphere is lower? And how long do you take to raise your wage? At first, it may seem impossible. But later you may be amazed at how much the joy of gained freedom and self-presentation can inspire you to do things and reduce your anxiety about pay.
Sometimes people are confused by two reasons for dissatisfaction – the desire for a new job and the desire for a higher salary in a current job.
Answer the question for yourself – will a higher salary help you to continue working in your current job, accepting the disadvantages of this job?
How much does it cost you each month to maintain an acceptable standard of living?
Try to understand where you can take extra income to live on a lower wage. Deposits, partnership in any business or handicrafts to order?
It is a challenge for the brave – to do what the heart wants, even if it requires risks. But this courage pays off in the long run. Find a job you are happy with. You will most likely be able to match your expectations and expenses over time. Gain new experience, stabilize your finances over time, gradually become a confident specialist in your field and merely a person who likes what he does.
You have found your new niche, what’s next?
Investigate the area of interest more deeply – search for job descriptions, professional standards, remuneration opportunities, websites of professional associations, etc. on the Internet or in informative reports. The research will provide more clarity on what to expect from the new job and reduce stereotypes. Search educational opportunities, for example, using MOOCs. If possible, start attending some courses while you are at your previous job.
Here is a story How I Went From Not Knowing What a Freight Broker Was to Doing Over $80 Million a Year in Sales! This is true story How to make a career change effectively.
Build relationships with faculty and classmates – you never know where a fair job offer might come from.
Voluntary job or internships
Take the opportunity to volunteer in an area of interest to you. Volunteering tends to be very diverse – face-to-face and online, day and evening, from providing support to organizing events and developing websites.
Volunteering is an excellent way to get feedback about yourself from people outside your current job. It is also a good experience that you can gain in the coveted field and test your ideas. Volunteering can reduce the anxiety of change for both you and your loved ones, who will see that they have acted prudently and persistently in a new direction.
Build your network
Talk to people. Addresses specialists in the field of interest, talk about your wishes, ask for advice, leaves your contacts. There is old Latvian proverb, “You are not what you know, but you are the ones you know.”
Find at least three people with good experience in the new field and ask them advice or their opinions. Be genuinely curious.
Show your interest in making personal contact, not just a desire to take the opportunity to present yourself.
When building a network, remember that this is not a one-way process, also invest in something. One should not just expect others to rush to give advice and support.
Develop the ability to memorize people’s names and faces and the ability to maintain a conversation. Create a list of all your contacts.
Be grateful to people who helped you. This is one of the most important rules of networking.
Also, try to answer or give advice if others contact you. Try to keep in touch with people regularly, not just when you need something. If you hear about a person’s achievements, find an opportunity to congratulate him.
Networking is for life, not just for work. Work on it, and later it will work on you.
Create your profile on the Linkedin.com network of professionals.
Job search
Whenever possible, take a break and get out of the daily rush. Save some money, talk to your family about this opportunity.
Focus on the further goal, although it will sometimes not be easy, and you may feel the urge to leave everything as it is now. Remind yourself why you have made a difference and continue to take gradual but firm steps toward change.
Remember that some people can break ties quickly and go through change, while for others, change takes time. The transition is slower – through volunteering or other experiences. It’s up to you to choose the path and speed that will make you feel that “everything is happening”.
Write a new CV
Include your new goals, education and all related experiences. If you do not feel strong in writing a CV, you can find different samples or turn to a career counsellor for advice.
Start applying for a job
Apply for the job even if it does not seem to match the offer entirely, even if the position looks too good to be real. You can lose little but time, but you will gain interview experience in the new field and the opportunity to analyze mistakes. And sometimes it may be that you are exactly what the employer is looking for. Sometimes companies look for “fresh blood” with a particular outlook on life to teach them everything they need to do the job.
Align your cover letter with your CV.
Paying attention to the cover letter is vital to highlight your (previously analyzed) pros, despite the lack of direct experience. Create the CV and cover letter yourself and from scratch. Be original.
Experienced HR specialists can easily distinguish the sample letter forms available online.
Good luck!
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