The traditional way of working your way up for decades in a single career field is no longer the trend. Today, career changes are more common than ever before. As younger generations take over the workforce, the significance of career pivots has increased, owing to its impact on an individual’s professional growth.
As long as you are skilled and willing to educate yourself relevantly, the idea of changing careers isn’t appalling. However, it is still a daunting task that can drastically shift your professional stance if not carried out carefully.
There are several ways you can ensure a seamless transition from one career to another. In this article, we will discuss a few things you must keep in mind while making a career change. Let’s begin.
- Answer the why and what.
“Why do you want to change your career?”
“What do you want from your job?”
Answer these vital questions. Easier said than done, it is critical to answering these questions before you begin planning your career shift. Answering the why and what questions will help you identify the purpose of the change.
Why do you want to quit your current career? Jot down the reasons. You must thoroughly understand the pros and cons of your existing career and narrow it down to the primary motivating factor behind the career shift. Knowing both the fulfilling factors and the hindrances will help you nail-down future choices better.
What is it that you want? You must know what you are looking for in the new career. Do you have a specific kind of organizational culture in mind? Or is it the additional on-job learning opportunities that interest you? Whatever it is, being aware of which direction you wish to go in is a must. If you’re confused about what you want, try finding ways to experience the job profiles that spark your interest. For example, you can take some time off your current job to execute a passion project or shadow employees in your existing firms to learn what else you can do. Volunteering or informational interviews might help as well.
- Evaluate your skills.
Awareness of your skill set is one of the most powerful strengths you can possess while shifting careers. Instead of starting from scratch, it helps you understand how to build upon the existing skills to receive the best opportunities. It also reveals the challenges keeping you from shifting careers.
Evaluate your skill proficiency. See which ones are transferable and use them to identify a new career path for yourself. Knowing a realistic picture of your capabilities can also help you develop a better idea of the skills you need to build or improve.
Be willing to experiment and learn more. The only way evaluating skills would pay off is if you use it as a guide to develop new skills and improve the existing ones. Knowing your strengths and challenges will allow you to move ahead with a clear focus and approach career changes more prepared.
- Research.
Although stating the obvious, research is critical before making career changes. Many people fail to research thoroughly before making significant career changes, increasing future problems.
Based on your skills, educational background, and experience, which career options are open to you? Identify the opportunities that are accessible to you, and research further about each one of them. Know their pros and cons, and then evaluate them against your requirements and expectations. Choose the ones that fulfill your ‘why’ and ‘what,’ match your skillset, and then see how you can improve yourself to fit in that job role. Good research is a powerful tool that can help simplify career changes.
- Rebrand.
Once you’ve answered the ‘why’ and ‘what,’ evaluated your skills and done thorough research, it is time to rebrand yourself before applying for new jobs. Your personal brand should be in alignment with your resume and social persona to actually make sense to recruiters.
What makes you a desirable candidate even though you’re shifting careers? Rebranding yourself with the necessary skills, networks, and social presence is essential to promote your candidacy even without significant experience. Develop the skills you realize are critical to the new career, enhance your social media presence in context with the new path, and build a better network. You can also pair your resume with a compelling personal statement to promote your improved self.
- Use your network to test the waters.
In the process of rebranding, you widen your network. Before making an actual career shift, try using your existing network to test the waters. Often, things look exceptionally well from the outside but have several hidden challenges that only surface once you’re inside the field entirely. So, use your network to test the waters before diving in completely.
Seek out opportunities like job shadowing, volunteering, or simply emailing someone asking for a way to experience the role before applying elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with taking precautions, especially since your professional future is dependent on the move you’re about to make.
- Be realistic.
Changing careers is not the same as climbing up. You must be realistic with your expectations and understand that gradual changes ensure more sustainability. High expectations can hurt your motivation to shift and make you regret decisions quickly, even if the said decisions aren’t necessarily wrong. Have patience and take gradual steps to ensure you seamlessly shift careers without facing significant hurdles in the process.
CONCLUSION
Pivoting your career does not have to be complex. Although it is a significant undertaking, you can approach it carefully with the help of proper guidance and strategic steps.
Transitioning from one career to another in order to have a fulfilling professional life is rewarding, and by keeping in mind the several things mentioned above, you can ensure a seamless transition with minimal hurdles and no regrets.
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