5 TIPS ON HOW TO SWITCH CAREERS IN 2023

2023 is around the corner. Amongst the though decisions we may have to make may be changing careers in order to achieve the balance and stability we require. If you’re on the fence about making the move, these tips can help you.

DETERMINE WHY

Ask yourself the following: Am I making the move because I want a more fulfilling career? Is the lack of upward mobility in my current job the source of the problem? Am I looking for a job that won’t burn me out like the current one is? Answering some of these questions can help you establish why you’re making the transition, which will then make the rest of the process easier.

MAKE A PLAN

Once you know why you’re working towards a new career, you can start narrowing down your options and choose a career track that seems like it ticks all the right boxes. This new career will serve as your north star.

Along with giving you a sense of direction, choosing your new industry or domain at this stage can be energizing. It gives you the ability to imagine what your new career will look like and the benefits you will reap from seeing this transition through. That’s the kind of impetus you need at this stage to do everything else that it takes to make the career change happen.

GET YOUR RESUME READY

A new career means having to gain new skills. After all, this is a job in a new domain or industry and you probably don’t have all the skills necessary to be given professional responsibilities yet.

You don’t need to go back to school and get an entirely new degree so you can start working in a new industry. A much easier, more accessible way of adding new skills to your arsenal is online courses. There are now courses that you can complete online that cover every industry and job portfolio you can think of. These are often self-paced and taught by highly credentialed instructors.

UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN

Start by editing your title to convey that you’re looking to be hired in the new industry. You might say something like, “seeking an entry-level position in social media marketing,” for example. Update your skills section to show that you’ve got chops in the area. So if you’re a social media marketer, you would add skills like copywriting, graphic design, social media analytics, and so on.

Finally, update your summary section. This is where you get the opportunity to elucidate that you’re making a career change, why you took that decision, and the skills that you’ve gained in that domain.

DO NOT RUSH IT

A career change is not an easy thing to pull off. It takes both ambition and careful execution, all while having to focus on your existing job. Make that process easier on yourself by giving yourself ample time. Don’t get worried when you don’t land your new job in a couple of months. Follow the process, build your skills, and keep getting better at interviewing in your new role.

Credit: Sakshi Gupta