Making a career change can be exciting, challenging, and rewarding. But it can also be risky, stressful, and costly. How can you decide if it's the right move for you? Here are some steps you can take to make a smart and informed choice.
Before you jump into a new career, take some time to evaluate your current one. What are the reasons you want to leave? What are the aspects you enjoy or value? How does your career align with your goals, skills, interests, and values? Be honest and realistic with yourself. Write down the pros and cons of staying or leaving. This will help you clarify what you are looking for and what you are willing to compromise on.
Let's keep this one simple.. Before making any big moves get clear what will give you the maximum fulfilment vs the maximum salary. When you follow meaning and purpose, money will follow. If the old survival brain is running you and making your decisions it'll eventually take you back to somewhere much like where you started with incremental progress. If its a big shift you're looking for so you're next move is the best one for you, then let yourself think bigger and imagine something utterly incredible for your life that lights up from deep inside - this intention may feel daunting at first but you can handle that. Trust this process - it will guide you in the most amazing way... Enjoy!
O que me ajudou no processo de transi??o de carreira foi a autoreflex?o : Esta fazendo sentido pra mim? além de outros questionamentos. A autoreflex?o é necessária para que você possa ter uma vis?o holistica de toda a mudan?a. Porém você só vai ficar sabendo o verdadeiro sentido quando acontecer.
One powerful question you could journal is “Why do you work?”. Often we are too busy or occupied with our jobs that we only think of Career Change as a lateral move and the basic work related factors like money, role and responsibilities. We might forget to consider our life more broadly especially with a future focused lens. This question is taking you to reflect the relationship between work and life and will help you redefine the professional life you desire that aligns with your life vision.
To ensure a successful career change: Self-Reflection: Research New Career Paths: Skill Assessment: Networking: Seek Guidance: Gain Experience: Financial Preparation: Set Realistic Goals: Test the Waters: Embrace Adaptability: Regularly reassess your progress and adjust your strategies accordingly. A well-thought-out plan, combined with ongoing self-reflection, will increase the likelihood of making a successful and fulfilling career change.
Using the Wheel of Work as a tool to reflect on what′s important to you in your job right now is a good first step towards decision making. Identify eight aspects in your work-life that are important to you such as company culture, relationships, professional growth, salary, etc. Scale each aspect from 1 (not present at all) to 10 (already at the desired level) to determine where you currently stand and where you would like to be. This reflection can serve as a guide for your future decisions. Check each aspect and see if your next career move takes you closer to your desired state or further away from it. However, keep in mind that it is unlikely you will reach the perfect situation and that there will always be a trade-off.
Once you have a clear idea of what you want to change, you can start researching the possible careers that match your criteria. You can use online tools, books, podcasts, or courses to learn about different fields, roles, and industries. You can also network with people who work in the areas you are interested in. Ask them about their experiences, challenges, opportunities, and advice. Try to get a realistic picture of what a career change would entail in terms of skills, education, income, and lifestyle.
Think about your core values and character strengths. Aligning your career moves with your values would give a deeper sense of fulfilment, whereas using your strong characteristics would help you stand out. Don't focus on what you lack, but exploit your capabilities to the fullest. This has been my biggest challenge personally as there is no end to learning more, expanding your expertise, getting trainings. Be realistic on what you can do now and balance this out with how you can further expand your know-how. And lastly, ask yourself what's really holding you back. It's way too simple just to label yourself as lazy. Maybe you're. But what if you're procrastinating because you're afraid of failing or you don't know where to start from?
Once you have determined what you are looking for in your next career move, it's crucial to consider what you want to keep, change, remove, or introduce from your current job or career path. In particular, for the aspects you wish to modify or add in your new job, it's important to approach them with a beginner's mindset. Be open and curious about what you can learn, talk to people already working in those industries, conduct little experiments while still in your current role, and verify whether your expectations align with reality. Additionally, assess which of your skills can be an asset in the new area and which ones you might need to improve.
Talk with people. Online information can only tell you so much. Find people who are doing the things you want to do and speak with them. They may have insights which surprise you!
In my experience, networking virtually or onsite is the best way to land a new job once you know what you want. People who already work in the organisation has a much better picture of what’s going on and would be able to give an advice. As for the resources to learn about different fields, there are many good online tools. If you know the details, but doubt your decisions, look for a career coach or mentor.
Few questions to ask yourself to help you figure out what you want to do next: What do you enjoy doing? What activities make you lose track of time? What are you good at? What are your core values? What are your interests? What do you want your life to look like? The intersection of these things might give you an answer. Once you have the answers, you can research careers that match your passions and skills.
Before you commit to a career change, you should validate your assumptions and expectations. You can do this by taking on some projects, volunteering, freelancing, or shadowing someone in your desired field. This will give you a chance to experience the work first-hand and see if you enjoy it and have the potential to succeed. It will also help you build your portfolio, network, and confidence. You can also use this opportunity to get feedback and guidance from mentors, peers, or coaches.
Before jumping ship and starting a new career, where is there opportunity to experiment with a new role? Can you volunteer? Can you do a side project within your current role? The worst thing would be to get fired up and land a new job only to realize you hate it. Test first. Small steps. Then leap.
When testing your assumptions by doing job shadowing, volunteering, side projects or informational interviews among your network. However, it is important to reflect back on your Wheel of Work and the aspects you identified as important for yourself. For example, you might be interested in earning more money, but this could come at the cost of working longer hours and having less time for your family and personal life. It's essential to consider which trades you are willing to make and how the experiences you have while testing your assumptions will impact your personal priorities. Testing always goes hand in hand with evaluating. So, use the opportunities to evaluate whether your assumptions are met.
Considering a career change but not sure it'll be the right fit? Job shadowing is a great way to go—it's not just for high schoolers, haha! Consider using your PTO days to tag along with someone in your dream job. If that's not possible for safety or security reasons, try setting up an informational interview instead. Arm yourself with some solid research and don't hesitate to ask insiders for more insights into the profession. Testing the waters firsthand can make all the difference when you're considering a career switch. You'll gain valuable insights, expand your network, and boost your confidence. Remember, it's not just about exploring a new career path—it's about making informed decisions that could shape your future.
You don't know you're going to like something until you try it. Before committing to anything, you need to give yourself enough time to experiment. If you don't have a long runway of time, then be okay with getting a temporary job that allows you to have flexibility with your time and take care of your financial needs (so your nervous system isn't focused on survival mode). From there, make a list of what you want your ultimate working life to look like. Dream big!!! If you want a hybrid situation, then put it on the list. And now you know if there are job opportunities that don't include that, then it's not for you. Then you start testing and seeking the kind of work that CAN fulfill what's on your list.
Testing the assumptions is a great idea to eliminate risks and set your expectations straight. Volunteering to help or freelancing on a project will govern a much better picture of the role and the industry. Word of caution: a company doesn’t mean industry. The experience in a particular company may vary in a different one.
If you are convinced that a career change is the right move for you, you need to plan your transition carefully. You should consider the financial, emotional, and professional implications of your decision. How will you fund your education, training, or living expenses? How will you cope with the stress, uncertainty, or rejection? How will you communicate your value and skills to potential employers or clients? You should set realistic and specific goals, timelines, and strategies for your career change. You should also prepare for the possible challenges and obstacles you might face along the way.
It's important to be patient and kind to yourself when you're going through a transition. If you've already completed the necessary steps, it's likely that you're well-prepared. Instead of focusing on the future, it's better to remain flexible and take advantage of any opportunities that come your way. You may encounter some obstacles, but don't be discouraged if things don't go as planned immediately. Remember that change and adaptation take time. The most important thing is to take the first step into the new direction!
Your transition may take longer than you expect. Give yourself longer than you think, and start planning the actions you need to take: - job hunt - networking - resume updates - application time - reflection Set goals on the actions you will take. How much time will you dedicate to finding your dream-job? Again, give yourself time, and take consistent action.
Knowing your potential challenges will give you more clarity on your decision. It’s better to overestimate the challenges that underestimate them. Make sure you have plan A, B and C in place. Also, having a good network and support group helps a lot with career transition and life overall.
From my experience, creating some financial margin in your life is important. A question I have asked my coaching clients to reflect on ... "How much money do you require on a monthly basis to take care of your basic needs (e.g., to put food on the table, to keep a roof over your head, to keep the lights on, etc.)?
Career change can be scary and uncertain, especially if you're starting your own business. A clear and feasible plan provides structure and a safety net. Can you build a financial buffer? Can you start as a side gig? What do you need to learn? Planning ahead reduces stress and leaves you with enough energy to focus on making the change.
The final step is to take action and make your career change happen. This might involve applying for jobs, starting a business, enrolling in a course, or quitting your current job. Whatever you do, make sure you are committed, focused, and flexible. You might encounter some setbacks, failures, or surprises, but don't let them discourage you. Instead, learn from them and adapt your plan accordingly. Remember that a career change is a process, not an event. Celebrate your achievements, seek support, and enjoy the journey.
Remember that you have chosen to change your career path for a reason. Embrace this journey and use your strongest reasons as motivation to achieve your goal. It's also important to have a safety net or a backup plan in case things don't go as planned. Always check in with yourself and ask how you are feeling about the transition. Is it aligned with your values, priorities, and needs? Keep reflecting and make adjustments to stay on track. Celebrate your wins along the way and be proud of yourself for making it this far.
Be more committed to your future self than whatever your current circumstances are. It's the only way that you're going to be able to take consistent action because you know the ultimate path that you're on. When speed bumps happen, and they will, are you going to take it as a sign that you're on the wrong path? Or will you re-evaluate if you're still on target for the bigger goal and maybe adjust how you're getting there? If you're not sure what your next steps should be, then you won't take action. Clarity is what you need and that only comes through action. You need the both/and. So give yourself a limited time frame, say three months, and then do an audit. But don't let yourself give up before then!
Have your "why" statement ready. Why are you switching careers or looking for a new job? The market can be tough and hunting for a job can take a lot of time and effort. When things get tough, be sure you are clear on your purpose. When you know your "why" then it becomes easier to push through the challenges.
Adopting a mindset of an eternal learner with a courageous heart is a way to go. Mistakes and failures will happen. Use them as stepping stones and the opportunities to learn. Many things turn out even better than before thanks to mistakes. And of course, enjoy the process while you’re moving to the destination.
Consistent daily action, small steps, mentoring and accountability, your goal in mind as a lighthouse, and self-care – these are most important tips I can give here.
Sometimes a career change will call you, an opportunity will arise that you didn't plan for, a calling almost. When this happens, take that opportunity with both hands, because it may not happen again.
Take time to consider whether you're trying to leave the situation you're in or you want to find a job you love. The goal is to continue progressing and moving up in your career. Sometimes it's okay to make a lateral move if it will move you forward later. Avoid leaving a job just because you don't like it. Focus on finding the next job you really want.