Changing careers can be exciting, challenging, and rewarding, but also stressful, risky, and uncertain. How can you make sure that your next career move is the right one for you? Here are some tips to help you plan, prepare, and pursue your career goals with confidence and clarity.
Before you start looking for a new career, take some time to reflect on your skills, values, passions, and personality. What are you good at, what do you enjoy doing, and what makes you feel fulfilled? You can use self-assessment tools, such as online quizzes, career tests, or SWOT analysis, to help you identify your strengths and interests. Alternatively, you can ask for feedback from your colleagues, mentors, friends, or family. Knowing yourself better will help you narrow down your career options and find the ones that match your preferences and potential.
You can't! Any change in management or strategies, your "move" could become so futile you wished you hadn't made that move! So don't focus on what it should be or should have been. Focus on what learnings you got out of the move. It could be hard skills, or soft skills, or how to read people, etc.. Then ask yourself what value you can give to the next organization!
Some ways to get started: - consider to order from your local library the following ?? Think Big by Dr Grace Lordan and What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles; - alternatively browse existing reviews of these two publications on an online bookstore and thereon order if you see merit. The books help to order your thoughts and prepare you for multi stage future employment interviews. What you may find helpful is to buy an A5 size hard backed writing ?? book as your journal of reflections on what worked at interviews and what you can do better at subsequent interviews as you gain confidence. Ask a friend to do a mock interview with you and ask them to ask tough questions. The next day ?? in your journal after research, model answers.
Ensuring your next career move is the right one involves thorough research and self-reflection. Assess your career goals, values, and what you seek in a new role. Research potential employers, focusing on company culture, growth opportunities, and employee reviews. During interviews, ask detailed questions about the role, team, and company expectations. Network with current or former employees to gain insider perspectives. Evaluate the job offer in terms of not only salary but also benefits, work-life balance, and career development opportunities. Trust your instincts – if a role doesn’t feel like a good fit, it may not be the right move for you.
Once you have a clear idea of what kind of career you want, you need to do some research to learn more about it. What are the typical tasks, responsibilities, and challenges of the role? What are the skills, qualifications, and experience required? What are the industry trends, opportunities, and threats? How is the work culture, environment, and compensation? You can find this information by browsing online job boards, reading industry publications, or following relevant social media accounts. You can also network with people who work in your target career, either online or offline, and ask them for advice, insights, or referrals.
3 important lenses to research your target career are Money, Freedom and Rewards. Money: Does this role/industry give me an opportunity to maximise my earning potential based on my experience? This will help you prioritise higher paying opportunities. Freedom: What are the hours like/can I work flexibly? This will help you focus on roles that allow you to have better work life balance. Rewards: Does this job incentivise me to keep growing? Rewards can be in the form of recognition, or monetary compensation (bonuses/commission/stock). Looking at job opportunities through this lens will help you find aligned roles that will be fulfilling.
Some ways to get started: - consider to create for yourself a three year career plan, perhaps a single sheet and ?? @ what position do you want three years from today? @ what industry do you want to work in three years from today? @what geographical location do you seek … three years from now? — With the scene set, search for job descriptions for the role you seek three years from today. Then do a gap analysis ?? on what credentials you have, what relevant experience. — Then work backwards … two years from now you seek the deputy role and for specific knowledge identify particular training courses to address the gap. For lacking particular experience consider seeking options on how to address through attendance on seminars/other.
To make a good impression on potential employers, you need to update your resume and online profile to highlight your relevant skills, achievements, and goals. Your resume should be concise, clear, and customized for each job application. It should emphasize how your transferable skills and experience can benefit the employer and address their needs. Your online profile, such as LinkedIn, should be consistent with your resume and showcase your professional brand. It should also include keywords, endorsements, and recommendations that can boost your visibility and credibility.
To increase your chances of landing your dream career, you need to develop your skills and knowledge in your target field. You can do this by taking online courses, attending workshops, reading books, or watching videos. You can also seek mentorship, coaching, or guidance from experts or peers who can help you learn new things, improve your performance, or overcome challenges. Additionally, you can gain practical experience by volunteering, interning, freelancing, or working on projects related to your target career.
Finally, you need to be flexible and adaptable when making a career change. You may face some obstacles, setbacks, or rejections along the way, but don't let them discourage you. Instead, use them as opportunities to learn, grow, and improve. You may also need to adjust your expectations, goals, or strategies as you discover new information, feedback, or options. Be open to exploring different paths, taking risks, or making compromises. Remember that changing careers is a process, not a destination, and that you can always change again if you are not satisfied or fulfilled.
Flexibility is a word often used to say "you should fit your round peg in our square hole." Meaning - job seekers need to bend to fit the needs of companies. Here's the hard truth: Most companies do not take time to identify what they need in a new hire. Most companies copy and paste the old job description used the last time the role was vacant. Most companies want unicorns and waste time searching for them, only to find they don't exist, then cancel the posting, or worse, repost it anew. Here's how you avoid the traditional need to be "flexible": 1/ Identify your vision and values 2/ Identify your unique value prop 3/ Apply to roles that offer what you need and need what you offer. Some will hire. Some won't. So what? Who's next?
The one sure way to give you the best outcome in making your next career move or choice is by discovering and aligning with your career needs. You need to be able to ask yourself and list out at-least 10 things you would want to get out of your next career move, leaving money aspects out of the list, as money is a more basic need/motivator. The task at hand is to narrow down the list to only 3 top career needs. Once you have discovered your most important career needs, before you commit to make a move you need to assess whether or not the new employer or job, would meet your career needs. If the new move ticks more yes boxes for your career needs, you will most likely be making the best move for yourself at that point in your career.