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Tips on how to change career

You may think about changing occupations at some point in your life, maybe more than once. Career transitions occur for many reasons, but if they do happen, then be strategic. A well-thought-out career transition will almost surely result in increased work satisfaction.

In this post, we will discuss, 

  • What is a career transition
  • Why do people change careers 
  • How to prepare for your next job move

What is a career transition?

Image for part: What is a career transition?

The procedure of discovering and transitioning into a new job is known as a career change. There is no time restriction for changing careers, and there is no restriction on the number of times you can do so. Even so, the change process might begin years earlier you knowingly choose to make a change. Perhaps even the first day of your present job. Thinking about something you'd like to accomplish can help you prepare for a job change. Or contacting individuals in professions that attract your interest. Also, reading books or watching movies on topics you're interested in, and putting something on for size.

Why do individuals usually change careers?

As per the BLS, there is no agreement on how often the average individual moves jobs. Although, we do understand that changing vocations, occupations, and industries are common. The following are some of the most common factors for deciding to change careers;

Individuals hope to shift occupations for several causes, as it's their choice driven by many things. As per the BLS, there is no agreement on how usually the average person changes jobs. Although, we do understand that changing vocations, occupations, and industries are common. Some of the most popular reasons for deciding to switch careers are as follows;

  • Stress relief
  • Flexibility
  • Pay Rise
  • Possibility of growth

Also, persons who changed jobs earned higher money. As compared to their former professions, survey participants who switched jobs for higher compensation earned an extra $10,800 per year.

How to make a successful career change

Examine these suggestions for analyzing your interests, investigating possibilities, weighing various career routes, and making the transition to a new profession.

  • Analyze your present level of work satisfaction. Maintain a daily record of your expressions to your employment circumstance and search for repeating themes. What do you enjoy and dislike about your present job? Are your grievances related to your work, the environment of your organization, or the individuals with whom you collaborate? While you're at it, there are a few aspects you can perform at your present work to assist you in planning to leave when the moment arises.
  • Examine your hobbies, goals, and abilities and explore previous successful positions, voluntary work, projects, and occupations to determine desired activities and capabilities. Establish whether your present job meets your fundamental beliefs and talents. There are free internet resources available to assist you in evaluating career options.
  • Consider other professions. Investigate job opportunities and share your primary beliefs and talents with friends, family, and networking links to generate suggestions for employment possibilities. Recognize consulting with a career counselor for expert guidance if you're having trouble coming up with alternatives.
  • Scrutinize your employment choices. Perform an initial comparative analysis of different disciplines to suggest a few prospects for further evaluation. Precisely Googling the occupations that fascinate you will yield a wealth of data.
  • Be specific. Read everything you can about such subjects and make professional contacts, including your university alumni network of contacts, which may be an excellent place of engagement for perceptive interviews. LinkedIn is another invaluable tool for connecting with people in relevant professional areas of interest.
  • Set up a job shadowing opportunity. Shadow professionals in areas of specific interest to obtain personal expertise. Spend some time to a few days of work shadowing individuals with occupations that fascinate you. Your university's career services are a great way to identify alumni volunteers ready to engage job shadowers.
  • Experiment with it. Find volunteering and freelancing projects linked to your specific area to evaluate your passion. For example, if you want to work in publishing, consider editing the PTA journal. Volunteer at your pet shelter if you intend to help animals.
  • Take a course. Discover academic possibilities that will help you fill the gap between your previous experience and your new profession. Try pursuing an evening class at a community college or an online school, attend one-day or weekend workshops. For advice, approach expert organizations in your intended field.
  • Improve your abilities. Explore methods to acquire new capabilities in your present position to help you get a better career, such as offering to compose a grant application if grant writing is appreciated in your future profession. Register for as many courses as your firm provides if it delivers in-house training. There are strategies to prepare yourself for a job transition without returning to school.
  • Take a new job in a similar field. Explore other employment inside your present industry that might allow you to apply your existing technical competence. For instance, if you are a retail manager for a retail stores company and don't want to work late nights and weekends now, then start a career in corporate recruitment within the retail business. Attempt technical sales or project development if you are a coder who doesn't like programming.

Ways on how to make a career pivot

If you're considering a career change, the initial step is to explore the job, sector, or subject you want to pursue. Do not get too caught up in it, but learn what's necessary.

  • Whether you feel enthused and inspired when studying, it's a positive indicator, and it's probably worth 'testing' to find if it's suited for you and your proficiencies. We advise testing inexpensively before making massive or pricey obligations and expenditures to ensure it will be worthwhile.
  • You know what you need. After you've done your homework and acquired a sense of the sector, conduct a quick assessment to ensure that this is what you desire. Then check the drawing board as now you have an edge this time since you recognize what you do not want.
  • Perform an inventory to determine which transferrable abilities you already have and which you may need to improve. It may also be necessary to master specific applications or technologies - so don't worry! It is reasonably simple to study a variety of applications online. If you're not confident about what abilities are necessary, check the job postings for the occupations you want. Job postings will specify the knowledge and skills that are necessary.


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