What are the most common mistakes people make when changing careers?

it’s very important to do Self SWOT analysis before changing careers. This will help one to have more clarity about new role & most people will have self awareness, where they stand in terms of their abilities for new roles. With this clarity and understanding One will have better expectations from oneself and not get discouraged with what’s coming next in new role. This will improve self confidence and overall success.

Thriving on change, I've shifted 3 times, consciously pursuing personal and professional growth. From H&S Coordinator to PM, I navigated the transition, leveraging wind energy experience, foundational education, specific PM training, and financial readiness. In 18 months, dedication propelled me to lead the PM department, earning more. Embracing entrepreneurship in the 2 shift, I chose a business aligned with my purpose, emphasizing preparation, networking, and opting for a franchising model. The third leap involved crafting a unique franchising model. Your career shift should embody these principles: 1?? Cultivate personal growth 2?? Develop skills 3?? Meet people strategically 3?? Navigate challenges 4?? Stay true to your vision

Common mistakes people make when changing careers include a lack of self-reflection and not having clear future goals. It's not realistic to switch careers just because others are doing it. Understanding your own competencies and aspirations is crucial. Consulting with others and learning from their realistic experiences can also provide valuable insights to help guide your decision. This approach helps in making a more informed and personalized career change.

People sometimes end up making decisions in haste which they end up regretting after a while. When switching careers it's very important for an individual to do a proper assessment of making a career change. You would have been used to a particular style of work and would get your tasks done with your eyes closed in your previous role since you have been doing it for years but it's a different ball game altogether, new work, new atmosphere and new colleagues. You need to be fully prepared (do all the possible training and certifications) before you take up a new career because there is a little room for error since you already have some years of experience with you even though not in the relevant field but you have been in the industry

Switching careers without a clear vision and plan is a major mistake. It's essential to: 1. **Self-Assess:** Reflect on your interests, skills, and values to understand what you want from a career. 2. **Research:** Explore careers that align with your self-assessment. Talk to professionals in the field, attend workshops, or try internships. 3. **Evaluate Pros and Cons:** Consider each option's stability, earning potential, and work-life balance. 4. **Set Realistic Goals:** Develop a concrete plan with specific steps and timelines for your career transition. A thoughtful, well-researched approach is crucial for a successful career change.

Objective of job change should be to join a better organisation in terms of work profile, learnings, work culture and not only money. For this thorough groundwork at employee's end is required. The recruitment process is a two-way assessment. Both, organisation and prospective employee assess each other. Sometimes employee changes job just because they are frustrated/ not happy for whatever reasons. In such case he/she is likely to face similar situation in the next organisation.

This is important point as having unrealistic expectations will land you in cycle of frustration and depression so be very sure of your job changes and workout all positive and negatives for the change as all changes do bring both sides positive and negative things. I would say nothing is negative though it’s learning opportunity so you can consider if something does not fit well or not as per expected it’s learning curve and in need improvement category so work on it and improve the situation. Play hard on your strengths and keep improving your shortcomings. Life is continuous journey of learning and experiences. Stay positive in all situations and embrace changes

All roles / jobs involve specific set of skills and one may not have all those skills necessarily but when a person accepts new role he / she should be confident enough to excel in this role by way of either acquiring needed skills before taking the role or quickly adapt to new conditions and learn by doing and keep acquiring new skills. In the end it depends on how well you executed your job by understanding all dynamics, situations. Remember to stay focused, result oriented and do your best. You may think that no clear path is visible or clear direction to do any job but you need to make your own path and can bring new ways of working and thinking in any role you take up. Own your space and be the best

However, you might also be overlooking your transferable skills. Your skills are there, just used in other industries or ways before. So you need to make sure you explain amd sell them properly. Failing to identify and leverage transferable skills can limit your appeal to potential employers. Highlight how your existing skills can benefit your new field by giving examples communicated in a direct way (not indirect like in many Asian cultures where people would need to guess).

? Having the right people around us is crucial for our growth ? We are the average of those we surround ourselves with. Strategically connecting with new individuals is essential to reinforce our network ?? and let's not forget the powerful networking tool that is LinkedIn! I received various career offers through LinkedIn, and one of the most impactful projects in my career was being approached to be the Owner Engineer for the construction of four wind farms in Cabo Verde. It was an ambitious project that changed the lives of many. This only happened because: ? I strategically cultivated my network on LinkedIn ? and preparation met opportunity!

Moving to new job should align with your long term goals and fit in your strategy of successful career development. Remember that you are responsible for your own career development and no one else will come and do it for you. So be ambitious work hard and stay positive. Always focus on giving your best in present situation ( ongoing work) and be ready and optimistic for future goals and work opportunities.