Guest Post: On Career Change
Changing careers is a rewarding endeavor that can transform your life.
Are you feeling stuck, unhappy, or unfulfilled in your current job? Do you want to pursue a different career path that aligns with your passions, skills, and values? If so, you are not alone. According to a survey by CareerBuilder, 49% of workers have made a dramatic career shift at some point in their lives. However, changing careers is not an easy decision to make. It requires careful planning, preparation, and execution. Here are some steps to make it happen.
Start with why - If you are bored, frustrated and are lacking a plan, then you need to have a clear understanding of why you want to do it. Ask yourself…What are the reasons behind your dissatisfaction with your current job? What are the aspirations that drive you to seek a new career? How will changing careers improve your life and happiness? What are the downsides? Answering these questions will help you identify your motivation and purpose for making a career change. It will also help you stay focused and committed when you face challenges or setbacks along the way.
Get clear on what - Once you know why you want to change careers, you need to figure out what kind of career you want to pursue. What are the industries, sectors, or fields that appeal to you? What are the roles or positions that match your qualifications and expectations? What does the new position not look like? To answer these questions, you can leverage your career capital. This includes talking to your old and new contacts, doing online research, reading books or articles, listening to podcasts, or taking online courses. You can also talk to people who work in the fields or roles that interest you and learn from them.
Determine what's it going to take - After you have a clear idea of what kind of career you want to pursue, you need to determine what's it going to take to get there. What are the skills, knowledge, or credentials that you need to acquire or enhance for your new career? What are the gaps or weaknesses that you need to address or overcome? What are the resources or opportunities that you need to access or leverage? To answer these questions, you can review job descriptions, requirements, or postings for your target career. You can also consult with career coaches, mentors, or experts who can guide you and provide feedback.
Make an action plan - Now that you know what's it going to take to achieve your career change goal, you need to make an action plan that outlines your primary goal, timeline, and milestones you will follow. Your action plan should include objectives that will help you track your progress and evaluate your results. Your plan should also include needed resources as well as contingency plans that will help you cope with potential challenges that may arise during your career change process.
Track the effort - As you execute your action plan, you need to track the effort that you put into your career change process. Tracking the effort will help you monitor your performance and achievements, as well as identify areas for improvement. You can use tools such as spreadsheets, calendars, journals, or apps to record and review your activities, outcomes, and feedback. You can also use metrics such as hours spent, tasks completed, skills learned, contacts made, or interviews secured to measure your effort. If you want to start simple, you can use a kanban board such as this.
Shift your brand - Another important step in your career change process is to shift your brand from your current identity to your desired identity. Your brand is how you present yourself to others. You need to update and align your brand with your new career goal and showcase your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. You also need to communicate your value proposition and unique selling points that differentiate you from other candidates.
Enlist help of your close network - Changing careers is not something that you can do alone. You need to enlist the help of your close network of family members, friends, colleagues, mentors, or coaches who can support you and assist you. Your close network can provide emotional support and encouragement when you feel stressed or discouraged. They can also provide practical support and assistance such as referrals, recommendations, or introductions that can facilitate your career change process. When asking for help from your close network be specific on how you need help.
Form a new network with the right people - In addition to relying on your close network, you also need to get to know passionate and successful people working within your new field of interest. The right people are those who work in the fields or roles that interest you or who have connections or influence in those areas. You can form this new network by attending events, workshops, seminars, or conferences related to your target career. Approach people by paying a compliment or noting something that they are doing that seems impressive. You can also join online communities where you can interact and exchange information with like-minded people.
Changing careers is a challenging but rewarding endeavor that can transform your life and happiness. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of achieving a successful career. Remember, it's never too late to pursue your dream career.
Some Inspiration
How I built this with Guy Raz (NPR)
How to shape your future self (Ted Talk)
8 steps to an utterly successful career change by Jenny Foss (The Muse)
The right way to make a big career change by Utkarsh Amitabh (HBR)
How to make a career pivot (LinkedIn)
If you would like to talk about career changes and explore coaching support with Business Challenges Consulting, please contact us here.