People do not always stay the same about their professional values and goals. During the pandemic, many people lost jobs or changed their entire perspective on their careers. This has led many people to consider a career change. This is a very intense experience for many people because it is both exciting and challenging at the same time. Although it may seem daunting, going through a career change doesn’t have to be dramatic. There are actionable steps you can take to ensure you are on the right path towards your new future. Managing this successfully is one of the most rewarding feelings that one can go through. With the right mindset, a good plan, and the willingness to succeed, a career change is more feasible than you might think. Here are several proven tactics to help you transition smoothly and change your career.
Adjust your perception
If you think that you will never succeed in changing your career, or if you think that you will succeed, you will be right in both cases. The precursor to making big changes in your life is upgrading your mindset. When making the transition, many people also suffer from imposter syndrome. This makes them feel like they do not belong in that new industry and will never be able to catch up. However, this is perfectly normal since everyone feels like an imposter whenever they make significant status shifts throughout their life. The key to turning this feeling on its head is to understand that you are not a phoney and are not cheating your way into that new career. This is a genuine struggle and a humbling experience that will feel rewarding and fulfilling as you progress.
Create a new network
Once you find the right motivation, you will be able to meet many amazing people along the way. Stay in touch with them, as proper networking will get you your first job sooner than you would have thought. In addition, you can leverage digital platforms to increase your chances of meeting like-minded people. Facebook groups are a great option for meeting many professionals in your chosen field. In addition, create a LinkedIn profile, which is a great place to document your journey and network with many new people.
Take stock of your situation
Take an objective look at your current situation to determine what to do next. First of all, consider what it is about jour current job that you would like to change. This is an important step to take as it will elucidate for you what the characteristics of your future job should be. Notice any details about your current situation that are hindering your job satisfaction. Along with this, you have to assess your current skills and values. Think about the skills that bring you and the people around you joy in your job. Some of these skills are already quite useful for making that change. For instance, perhaps you already possess certain practical skills like repairing and assembling things, which you would enjoy applying in a specific trade field. You can apply for a comprehensive cabinetmaking apprenticeship, a very lucrative and creative career. This is by far the best way to get real hands-on experience and learn from the experts in the field.
Develop a new thought process
Once you get in touch with professionals in a specific domain, you must shadow what they do daily. Use your free time to learn from them, and do not hesitate to ask questions. This will help you learn about their thought processes as they are working, which is the second most important thing next to acquiring new skills.
Use your current skills
Since you already know that you are not starting from scratch. Make sure to take a step further and identify which skills are directly transferable to your new job. This will help you craft a very powerful resume and present yourself in the best possible way. For instance, psychologists already possess good interpersonal skills, which they can leverage in marketing.
Changing a career feels both overwhelming and exhilarating. To make the entire process much smoother, there are several key strategies which you should apply. Adopt a positive mindset, which will let you see more opportunities. Surround yourself with the right people. Assess your situation objectively. See how others work in the field and examine their thought process. Lastly, identify your transferable skills and build an amazing new resume.
