It’s a new year and perhaps you have been mulling over new opportunities for change and searching for a fresh start. Maybe you decided that the best way to begin again is to change careers. Did you know the average person in the UK will change careers once every decade?1Changing careers takes a lot of focus and commitment. You will have to develop short-term and long-terms goals, and decide on the steps you need to take to accomplish them. If you are seriously interested in changing careers or are considering it, here is a short guide on how to make it happen:
Research New Careers
Once you have discovered or re-discovered your passion, reserve some time to research the types of careers that center around your interests. While doing your research, visit websites that offer career information and have skill matching services like the National Careers Service. These services will help you identify if you want a complete job overhaul or if your current career just needs a little tweak.
Weigh Costs And Benefits
After you do some research about different types of careers, consider the investment of time and money that it may take to change careers. Will your career change result in a more lucrative career or will you be taking a tremendous pay cut? Does your dream job also come with any benefits that your current position doesn’t offer? Be sure to consider the cost of your search and what you will be losing and gaining by changing careers. Throughout your search, you may also realise that you lack certain skills you would need to land the job you want. Would you consider re-enrolling in university to expand your knowledge? Weigh all these options equally before making any sudden career decisions!
Maximise All Opportunities
You may know someone who has managed to land a great job by way of unexpected opportunities. During your career change, you may run into some bumps with applying for positions you are interested in. But throughout this period of uncertainty, embrace the changes that may lead you to a better position. This means, make some calls to individuals who hold positions you find interesting and ask them out to lunch. Learn as much about industries you like by asking questions. You never know who is looking to hiring.
Questions To Ask Yourself
Before you change careers, ask yourself these questions:
- Why do you want to change careers?
- What kind of work interests you?
- What are your skills and capabilities?
- Are you prepared to retrain and start from the bottom again?
- How much money do you need to make?
Your working life doesn’t have to be stagnant. Changing careers may take a lot of time, research and possibly money — but taking the plunge into a new line of work will be an exciting investment in your future.
References
1Sears, N. (2013 March 26). Your work life laid bare… Retrieved 2 February 2015 from http://dailym.ai/1K4QH86
Jordhan Woods 
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