Get It Right Second Time Around: Successful Career Changing

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Deciding that you are ready for a change in career is a big step. It is likely that you have already spent a number of years in further education, and you have perhaps already gotten onto the career ladder, only to discover this is not the right path for you. It can be frustrating, and you can feel tempted to stay in your current job simply for the sake of it. However, you’re going to spend most of your life working, and so it’s important to find a career that is right for you. Deciding that it is time for a change is brave, but it will be worth it in the long run, so long as you follow this guide for career change success!

Network with people in your chosen sector – Networking is one of the best ways to progress your career. You never know what opportunities could arise by talking to people that have influence in your chosen sector. Spread your net wide; from senior employees to junior employees, everyone has value to add.

Consider getting a degree online – If you have already put in those years of hard studying, you may not want to go back to the drawing board again by becoming a full-time student. However, you will still need to attain the qualifications that are required to make a career change. This is where online degrees come in useful. Today, you have a multitude of options when it comes to studying online. You can even train for advanced degrees such as a Healthcare Administration MBA. A degree like this would really give you the platform to propel your career in a new industry and demand a decent salary. These online courses include study resources and practice assessments, after which you will end up with a qualification that is recognized nationally and even globally.

Ask yourself the important questions – One of the reasons why your initial choice of career may not have worked out is because you did not ask yourself key questions. This includes the following: What do you naturally love doing? What are you good at? What energizes you the most work-wise? What type of environment do you think you will be happy working in? By asking yourself these questions, you will get a real feel for the type of job that is right for you.

You need to believe in yourself – There is no denying that self-belief is one of the biggest hurdles when it comes to successful career changes. We often have trouble believing that we can do this new task. We think of ourselves as an accountant, a photographer, or whatever our current job title is. We confine ourselves to this role, and we let it define us. As a consequence, we struggle to believe that we will have the ability to take on something new. If you do not believe in yourself, why should anyone else?

Keep your CV relevant – Career changes can result in very long CVs. People are tempted to retain all of their work experience pertaining to their previous job while also adding in new information that will appeal to potential employers in their new working sector. While it can be tempting to include as much information as possible on your CV, it is important to limit the information to one or two pages at the very most. The best way to ensure success is to align your CV with the job description that was originally posted. Highlight the different characteristics and skills that were posted, and then when you are compiling your CV you can make sure that you have shown how you fit the mold of the person they have in mind.

Consider a gradual approach to changing your career – A lot of people try to move at a rapid pace when they have decided it is time for a career change. This is because they feel like they have already wasted so much time, and they do not want to waste any more. Nevertheless, a gradual approach to change can work really well. It is much more realistic to work towards your new career over time. This will enable you to learn the new skills you need to make yourself more attractive when another vacancy comes up. You can also shadow someone in the role, study a course in the evening, or make changes in your current job. This will ensure that you are ready to seamlessly move into your new career, rather than making a drastic change that you are not ready for.

Don’t assume that this is your only chance to make a career change – A lot of people get bogged down assuming that they only have one chance in their life to change their career. This could not be further from the truth. You can change your career path at any time! You are only going to add more pressure to an already difficult decision if you start viewing it as your true calling. In fact, most people change career direction several times in their lifetime, so there is no need to put more pressure on yourself. You can always change your mind if you are not happy after you have made the move.

Develop a sound financial plan to support your transition – Last but not least, it is vital to put together a solid financial plan that is going to support your career change. You need to conduct the necessary research to discover how long the transition is going to take. You will then be able to budget so you know how much funds you are going to need. After all, most people are not able to go from earning a full salary to barely earning anything at all. You need to think about how you are going to take the leap from one career to another while not getting yourself into any financially difficulty.

There is no denying that making a career change is a big decision, but it is one that can difficult pay off if you take note of everything that was mentioned above.