You might decide to change occupations at some point in your life, possibly more than once. There are many reasons why people change careers, but when they do, it is important to be proactive. A well-considered career shift will probably result in more job satisfaction.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there is disagreement over how frequently the average person switches careers. However, we are aware that changing jobs, occupations, and industries occurs frequently.
Typical justifications for wanting to change careers include:
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- Stress reduction
- Flexibility
- Salary increase
- Opportunity for advancement
- Feeling of appreciation
How to change your career path
1. Take a personal inventory
Launch a journal. First, think about how you feel about your current job and how it affects how satisfied you are with it. Note any repeating themes or noteworthy incidents, along with your feelings about them. Asking yourself difficult questions like “What do I like or dislike about my job?” Respond to them, then read your responses. You’ll start to build a picture of what job happiness looks like for you based on your own notes.
You should also conduct a personal inventory of your interests, values, and talents that are relevant to the kind of work you like doing at this time. Think about times you’ve been successful and what you were doing at the time, whether it was a job, a volunteer position, an internship, or something else entirely. Determine the abilities that contributed to your success and how you can use them in a variety of roles that interest you.
2. Decide if you want to change industries
You should decide how you want to shift job choices as you learn more about who you are and what meaningful work means to you. Some people who change occupations may need to start over in a related or completely other industry, while others may look for a new position within the same one.
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Choosing what’s ideal for you entails utilizing your personal inventory to determine which sectors and jobs best suit your needs.
3. Brainstorm careers
Make a list of the positions and industries that would be a suitable fit for your abilities and values to better understand your career alternatives. Ask someone in your professional network for advice if you’re having trouble locating a job that meets your needs. You can also get career counseling, where you’ll probably discover more about your personality and how it fits into the changing employment of today.
You can jot down ideas for possible occupations and create a short list of them to further investigate using tools at your disposal, such as Indeed. You can focus your career by taking this first step before doing extensive research.
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4. Research potential job matches
You can now start further in-depth study after limiting your career change to a few possible job kinds. Conducting informational interviews with experts in a field of interest is one technique to find out more about that area. Speak with acquaintances you may already know or look through the college alumni directory.
Furthermore, you may look at the fastest-growing job categories using employment projections from the BLS, and you can explore the highest-paying positions and businesses by industry using Indeed Salaries.
5. Make an action plan
Setting specific objectives and completion dates for them is part of creating an action plan. Since you’ve done all the research, you should be able to focus your career move on a single profession at this point. Now is the time to think about how to get there.
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Consider factors like training and certification, skill improvement, networking activities, and utilizing possibilities to work in the particular sector or field. The steps you want to follow and a projected finish date should be written down.
6. Rebrand yourself
You might need to do a little personal rebranding before you begin searching for new employment. Any job applicant should use tools like a résumé, cover letter, and social accounts to develop a personal brand that appeals to employers. This may be even more crucial when changing careers because, without some thought and planning, your prior experience could not neatly line up with your future objectives.
To develop a strong personal statement about why you are a good fit across your resume, cover letter, and any business networking sites, think about how your prior experiences make you a stronger contender for the position you are looking for. Don’t forget to change your contact information, personal websites, and business cards to suit your new identity.
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7. Use your network
When choosing connections to reach out to, keep in mind the sector and job you wish to pursue. Speak with experts you can trust to speak on your behalf and keep you informed about opportunities. You can do this over the phone, over text, or even with a social media message or email reference.
Additionally, look for chances to volunteer, intern, or job-shadow. This will offer you the experience to set yourself apart from other job seekers and assist you in determining whether the sector or field is a good fit for you.
8. Consider educational resources and develop new skills
You might need to pursue further education beyond your existing work experience if you’re thinking about entering a career that calls for a degree or credentials. You can improve your awareness of your new possible career by taking college courses, continuing education courses, or even just using free web resources.
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If you already have a job, look for opportunities there to develop the skills you need to change careers. For instance, a marketer looking to go into finance would want control over the marketing budget in order to learn how to work with ledgers. Taking advantage of chances like these is beneficial, but only if you keep in mind to include your newly acquired talents into your resume and cover letter.
9. Stay motivated by tracking your progress
Consider utilizing a spreadsheet to track your progress toward a complete job transition in order to keep yourself motivated in your career-changing plan. Changing careers can occasionally take some time. Tracking your progress allows you to celebrate each tiny victory along the way, which can help you feel more accomplished as you make the changeover.
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