| |
Changing Careers
Changing careers is an inevitable part of life.
These days, it is not uncommon for an individual to have
six to seven careers in their lifetime. Changing careers is part of
a learning curve that allows people to improve their working situations.
Although changing careers can be extremely rewarding and exciting, it can
also be daunting and overwhelming. Changing careers is sometimes
necessary; however, it is your preparation for these changes
that will determine how successful the move will be.
Changing careers can be liberating but before you act, you
need to stop and consider a few things. Firstly, you need
to be cognizant of the pros and cons to your job before you think about changing careers
and investigate whether you can change anything in your current position.
If you require new challenges, ask your employer whether
they can do something to assist you in your career development.
Your employer may not realize that you are dissatisfied with
your current role. If you are a valuable and loyal employee,
your employer will do their utmost to help you. Changing careers may not always
be the best decision.
You can take that courageous leap only after you have concluded
that there is nothing more you can change. Changing careers is usually
a life decision. Here are some important tips for a smooth career transition.
Self Evaluation before Changing Careers
Self assessment can be difficult but essential before changing careers.
However to be happy with your career you need to know what your strengths and which
areas you need to develop. Ask yourself if you are you the
type of person who likes structure or whether you would prefer
to manage your own workload. Do you enjoy a fast paced environment
or do you find it too stressful? These are the questions you
need to ask yourself before you proceed with your next job
application.
Try Before you Commit
Don't be afraid to try a few jobs if you can't
decide what you want to do. Many people feel pressured to
commit to a full time job but it isn't necessarily the
most appropriate thing to do. You can always try temping or
taking a contract to see whether you enjoy the work and the
environment. However, always be upfront with your prospective
employer and advice them of your level of commitment. Working
casually and temping will also allow you to compare organizations
and positions and assist with your career change.
Get In Contact
If you don't know what is out there, it's time
you find out! You can't consider changing careers if you don't know what you want!
There is a plethora of roles out there that may not be advertised. Although networking can be a daunting
task, it can pay off immensely. Even though you may not know
it at the time, that phone call could be the foothold into
your new exciting job!
Do Some Research before Changing Careers
Invest some time in doing some research in organizations that
you are interested in. Find out what the organization's
values are and what opportunities exist within the organization before changing careers.
See what external and internal factors are affecting their
bottom line and what their vision is for the future. There's
nothing more impressive then a candidate who has a sound understanding
of your company.
Take a Pay Cut
Prepare to take a pay cut for the right job, a usual sacrifice people
are prepared to make when changing careers. You will probably
make it up when you get that promotion, so changing careers can eventually pay off!
Valuable employees are always rewarded so think about finding the right job before
any monetary considerations. There's no point in accepting
a high salary if you will become dissatisfied with your job.
Learn Again
The employment market is fiercely competitive and volatile.
To keep ahead of the rest, you need to ensure you are the
most suitable candidate. These days demonstrated competencies
and skills are more important then a degree or qualification.
By the same token, you need recognize that some specialist
role will require tertiary qualifications. You may have to
put in the hard yard, but if your passion lies in a specific
industry, you will need to make the effort when changing careers. Otherwise, you
can enroll a short course to freshen your computer skills.
Personalise Your CV
There's nothing worse than a poorly written resume. Ensure
that your resume is written specifically for the organization
in which you wish to work at. Make sure that your career objective
matches the role that you are applying for and always ensure
that you do a spell check!
Be Enthusiastic
Above all, when you apply for a job - be enthusiastic! Genuine
interest in the job goes a long way these days. So many candidates
are applying for the same roles and the ones that show a sincere
interest in the role will stand out immediately. Most employers
are willing to give prospective candidates a go if they are
keen and willing to learn.
|
|
