You may be thinking about changing your career path and you do not know where to start. There are several possible reasons why you might have decided to embark on a new career path. You might have lost interest in your current career or you realized that another career would better suit the type of person you are.
Other reasons maybe, you just aren’t making enough money and you want a better-paying career or it’s difficult to get a job in the field you initially chose. Regardless of the reason behind your decision, there are many steps you can take to find the perfect career and make the transition smoothly. Here are 7 tips that can help you make the switch.
1) Evaluate your current job
Before you can successfully make a career change, you must first take time to evaluate your current career. There is a reason or reasons why you want to leave this career behind. Understanding what these are will help you to make the best decisions as you go forward.
You should make notes in a journal. Make a record of each day at work. Pay special attention to your reactions to certain things. Make a note of these. This will help you to have a better understanding of what you like and what you don’t like about your current career. Knowing these things will allow you to choose the right career.
2) Research different career options
Thoroughly researching different career options will help you in so many ways. There are a plethora of endless career opportunities available, you just have to search. When you do adequate research you will find out the career fields that are booming and the types of jobs that are in high demand. This will also help you to find out what each job entails and determine if you are qualified. Take some time to brainstorm various careers you are interested in or that you have the qualifications for. Do thorough research on these.
3) Determine what are your values, interests, and skills
If you are stuck doing a job that does not interest you or one that does not make use of your skills, it can be unfulfilling. Making money doing what you love and what you’re good at is an amazing feeling. So, one of the best things to do before making a career change is to determine what your interests and values are and what you are good at.
This will significantly help to narrow your career options so you can choose the best one for you. You can do this by evaluating your past jobs, internships, and voluntary work. Compare these to your current job so you can discover the role or career type that is most suitable for you. For example, if you are a creative person, a job as a bank teller will feel suffocating. You would most likely work better as a designer. This step allows you to assess your values, interests, and skills and find a career that matches these.
4) Take online training
Developing new skill sets will help you to be more marketable. This will make you more qualified for a new role at your current job or a whole new career. The point is, upgrading your skills & getting online IT training is a good idea.
Technology is increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives. For this reason, the IT industry is booming with jobs. For example, employers are now seeking more software analysts, web developers, and IT managers. You can take online IT classes to develop new skills that will qualify you for these jobs. This a great way to make a career change.
5) Shadow professionals
Before making a career change you have to be certain that the career you move on to is what you want. If not, you will find yourself continuously moving from job to job. A great way to find out if a job is right for you is to shadow professionals in career fields you have an interest in.
This is an excellent way to get first-hand knowledge of what working in this field is like. For example, if you have an interest in makeup artistry, you can shadow a makeup artist for a day or two to get a sense of what it is like to be a makeup artist. Getting this first-hand experience will make your decision a lot easier.
6) Take a class
Having the necessary academic qualifications greatly increases your marketability. You may not have all the qualifications for the career you are hoping to switch to but that should not be a hindrance. All you’ve got to do is take a couple of classes. You can sign up for weekend or evening classes at any educational institution that offers these or online. There are many resources at your disposal so make use of them.
7) Consider a job in the industry you’re already in
Why let the knowledge and skills you have gained from your current career go to waste? You can transfer what you’ve learned working at your current job to your new job, especially if it’s in the same industry. For example, if your current job is as an accountant, you can use your knowledge and skillsets to become a teacher of accounts.
Making a career change can be scary or exciting; even both. All you have to do is take the necessary steps to smoothly make this transition. Follow the steps listed above and you will have no problems finding your perfect career and making the change.
