A few decades ago, changing career paths was not an option or an interest. But today, with new opportunities emerging, it’s impossible to stick to just one career for your whole life. Still, this shift can be overwhelming and difficult, especially if you’re not only changing careers but your interests as a whole.
People choose to change their careers for many reasons. Some people feel like they’ve outgrown their current jobs, and progressed as far as they can. Others simply realize that their interests have changed. Maybe you wish to make more money, have flexible hours, or create your own company.
No matter what the motivating factor is, the most important thing is to evaluate your present situation and brace for what’s to come after you’ve made the choice. Think about your skills, dreams, goals, obstacles, challenges, and tangible opportunities. Focus on self-assessment, and don’t rush into a decision. Following these straightforward career switch suggestions, you can constantly explore new employment alternatives with Lensa.
How To Switch Career Paths
Evaluation
It’s essential to think about your current job satisfaction. Keeping a journal to monitor your current job situation is a great solution. Recurring themes and reactions may shed light on what the obstacle is, and what you need to avoid in your next position. Are you unsatisfied with the content of your work, your company’s culture, office politics, the people you work with, or something else? Pinpointing the biggest challenges in your current position is one of the most critical steps when shifting career paths.
Self Assessment
Assess your interests, values, and skills. Review your past successful positions, your CV, your recommendations, volunteer work, projects, hobbies, and goals to identify your next steps. Consider whether your core values and skills can be addressed through your current career. Self-assessment can be done at home, and with the help of various free online tools.
Alternate Career Paths
After going through your dreams, goals, skills, and more, consider alternative careers that might support these in the future. Research career options, and network contacts. It’s important to stay reasonable and think about who would be willing to hire you based on your current skill set. This is the ideal time to involve a career counselor for professional advice if you’re having difficulties coming up with ideas.
Tangible Options
After you pinpoint your goals for a career change, it’s time to check out actual options. Research companies and job opportunities in your area that you find compatible. Look through social media platforms and use your contacts to gain some information. Get a feel for the current market, and how you can fit into your preferred industry.
Look for New Positions in the Same Industry
Maybe you shouldn’t move too far from your current position after all. Depending on your experience and expertise, considering a new job in the same industry could be the best way to go. For many people, the problem lies in the company and not in the position or the field. If you can find a better company, with space to grow, and good workplace politics, your situation may improve without a career switch. You can utilize the industry knowledge you already have. For example, if you are a programmer but don’t want to program anymore, you can start a career in technical sales or project management, as your knowledge can also be utilized there.
If Needed, Take a Class
If you conclude that you’d rather change careers than stay in the same industry, it might be wise to take a class to broaden your knowledge of the area. This doesn’t mean starting a new degree program and applying to a university. There are a lot of short, cheap training programs focusing on all kinds of areas. From online courses to part-time, and evening sessions at a local college, the possibilities are endless.
Upgrade Your Skills
Even if you think you don’t need to take a class to become an asset for your new dream job, it’s still important to assess and update your current skills. If your chosen career requires a portfolio, do some volunteer or hobby projects to add to your repertoire, and to practice. Alternatively, check out this article on the best tips to nail your resume. You can also upgrade your skills in other ways. You can do training at home, practice a few hours per day, or seek the help of professionals in the industry.
Changing careers is never easy, but sometimes inevitable. It is important to take it slow, and thoroughly consider every move you make until it’s time to make the tangible change. Spend time assessing your skills, looking at the job market, searching for concrete opportunities, and broadening your skillset. If you feel like it’s the right time to make the final move, start applying for jobs and become proactive!
