Your job can affect your overall quality of life. If you’re unhappy at work, it can bleed into your home life. Stress on the job can lead to stress at home, leaving you feeling like you’ll never escape. Unfortunately, far too many people stay at jobs they hate because they’re afraid of making a career change. A career change does indeed take courage, but just because it might be harder due to many factors, such as experience and age, it’s still possible. Wondering if a career change is the right option for you? Here are a few tips to help make it seamless:
Assess Your Current Job Situation
Before quitting your job and changing your career path, it’s important to consider what you like and don’t like about your current position. Taking stock can help you identify career opportunities that tailor more to your interests. Consider the aspects of your job you enjoy because it might mean you don’t need a complete career change; it simply might mean you need a different position within the same field. For example, if you work in digital marketing but are interested in public relations, you don’t have to go back to school and learn anything new. Instead, a company can train you since you already have relevant experience.
Of course, you should also focus on the aspects of your job you don’t like. For example, teachers might not like having to learn new LMS integrations and systems just to give students grades, while others slowly realize over time that they don’t enjoy being educators. Each of these individuals can pinpoint the reasons why they don’t enjoy their jobs and brainstorm ways to either improve their current situation or determine which types of other careers they might enjoy.
Research Different Options
Always do your research when you’re considering switching careers. You might already have an idea of the next type of job you want. For example, if you’re a nurse, you might want to become an OR nurse or choose another nursing specialty. In this case, you’ll find that your experience is relevant, but you’ll require additional schooling.
Researching the careers you’re interested in can help you learn more about the specific requirements of each role. For example, some may require education, while others allow you to enter the field using current experience, whatever that may be. Additionally, some companies may offer on-the-job training, so it’s always best to research your options and plan ahead.
Talk to a Career Advisor
A career advisor isn’t just someone you talk to during college to help you find career options. Career advisors are available for everyone, regardless of age and experience, to help clients choose the best path based on their education, experience, and interests. A career advisor will learn everything there is to know about you, including your experience, education, and skills. However, apart from ensuring you’re a good fit for a particular role, they’ll consider your goals and interest to ensure you can be happy in your next position.
They also set expectations. For example, someone who wants to switch from digital marketing to law must understand that they’ll need to return to school and pass the bar exam. Ultimately, these individuals can ensure your goals are realistic and achievable depending on how far you’re willing to go.
When you’re ready to apply for jobs, career advisors will help with your resume and cover letter while providing moral support to help candidates land their dream jobs.
Develop a Plan
Once you know what it takes to enter a new field, you’ll need an action plan. For example, if your next career requires you to have substantial education, you’ll need to take night classes or go back to college. Consider all the steps you need to take to make your dream a reality.
Earn Experience
Completely changing careers requires experience of some kind, regardless of the types of moves you’re making. For example, you must obtain specialized training if you’re an RN and want to become an OR nurse. Consider internships, volunteering, and part-time work to get some experience in the industry, even if you’re not doing the job you hope to be doing in the future.
Depending on the career change, your current job might be the exact path you need to be on. For example, you could stay in your current job and do extra projects while letting your boss know you’d like to move within the company.
Be Realistic
A career advisor can help set expectations, but you must be realistic about your options. If you can’t afford to go back to school or don’t have enough time for extra training because you have other priorities, a full career or field change might not be right for you. Instead, consider the path of least resistance and choose a career that offers an easier transition.
Network
Networking is the best way to introduce yourself to others and find a new career. Even though you might not have the same skills as someone in the same field for years, you can still make yourself stand out. After all, it’s not always about what you know. Companies are more than willing to hire someone they like over someone with hard skills. Employees are trainable, and if they believe you’ll be a good fit for the company and culture, they’re more likely to hire you.
Changing Careers
Making a career change can be stressful. However, what’s most important is knowing what you want to do instead of your current career. For example, if you’re simply unhappy in your current position, it might not be the career that needs a change. Instead, you may be unhappy in your particular role or at a specific company. Taking stock of your interests and values can help determine whether you need a career or a simple job change.
If you’ve decided a career change is right for you, consider your current skill set to determine what you can apply to other fields and roles. Then, look at jobs in your field of interest to determine if you need further education or training.
