6 Tips for a Successful Career Change
Have you been laid off from a job? Are you feeling burned out? Are you bored with your current job and dreaming of bigger and better things? Was there a career you always wanted to pursue but were too afraid you didn’t have what it takes, or now you don’t have a choice but to look into a new career or position?
If any of these scenarios describe your situation, it is time for change. Sometimes, a new job isn’t your choice, or your position has led you to the “enough is enough” stage. Perhaps you know deep down that you have more to offer a company or a business, and your skills and abilities are not utilized.
Whatever the reasons that have brought you to this destination, contemplating a career change can be difficult in many ways. If you want to make a change and do so successfully, you will benefit from the following tips for a successful career change which can help ensure you are covering all of the necessary bases. Sometimes you are forced into change, and you might not have much control over the timetable when deciding your next move. No matter what, these tips will be especially helpful for those of you who have the luxury of planning ahead.
Identify the career path you want next.
The first step in making a successful career change is to get inside your head and figure out what career you want to transition to. It will help to be as specific as possible. For example, if you want to be a teacher, you should decide what subject you want to teach, what aged students you want to teach, and what type of setting in which you would like to teach. Understanding exactly what you want to do will help with the other steps needed in the process.
Identify the skills that you need for your new career.
The next step is to research and discover what skills you will need in your new career. For example, let’s consider the world of television. If you decide that you want to be an actor, then there are certain dramatic skills and abilities that you will need to find success in that career. Alternatively, if you’re interested in the world of television as a scriptwriter, you’ll need to have strong writing skills and the ability to dialogue and text. The more skills you already have, the less you’ll need to learn as you transition.
Determine if you need more education.
Some career fields require that you have a very specific level of education under your belt. Although your skill set is important and will most likely still be appreciated as a job candidate, some careers are very black-and-white regarding the presence or absence of education and certifications.
Determine how long you need to finish your education.
Along with the aforementioned tip, it is important to consider the need for further education and the time required. If you are going to succeed in your new line of work, then how long will it take to get you to that ready mark? This will obviously affect how quickly you can be marketable in a new career field. The good news, if you’re looking at a lot more needed education, is that some employers will hire you in the waiting and maybe even cover a portion of the tuition expense. You need to figure out These puzzle pieces as you explore this new change.
Plan for a period of unemployment.
The last tip to consider is one that seems obvious but that some folks still forget to consider until it is suddenly upon them. The time between careers can sometimes stick around for longer than you might prefer, especially if further education is needed. It is a good idea to save money ahead of time and create a nice padding to stay afloat while figuring out the logistics of your career change.
Dust off your old resume and prepare yourself for interviews.
If you had a resume in the past and have a lot more experience and skills now than you did, then invest in yourself and hire a professional resume-writing service. This service will highlight your professional assets and design a resume that catches the hiring manager’s attention so you get the interview for the position you want next.
The process of a successful career change can sometimes bring a fresh perspective and much-needed alterations to all facets of your life but do not be so naïve to think that there will not also be a few hiccups along the way. It’s important that you keep your head up and stay focused on your goals and career ambitions, even if your path there might look different than what you had anticipated.
And, if it ever gets too overwhelming, professionals like us are here to redirect and refocus you to produce your best work and land your dream job! If you find yourself in that boat, call Platinum Resumes at (816) 986-0909 or CONTACT US and let us join you in this process.
This article was originally published in August 2015 and has been recently updated.