CHANGE YOUR CAREER, CHANGE YOUR INDUSTRY

Ever had the feeling of going in one career direction and then suddenly not have the slightest idea of which way to go next? Or you began to realize that your current career path has been turning into a dead-end. Maybe you recently completed a graduate program and got very excited and motivated about this new subject domain.

What worse feeling could anyone ever get than that of being unsatisfied with their job for whatever reason?

However scary it may seem, you need to embrace your fears and ignore the odds if you’re at this point in life. The ultimate idea is to ditch the titles and go for your skill set and interests―be open to new opportunities! A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.

People who's had to contemplate a change in an industry or their career didn't just jump at it overnight. I've got to say that decisions like this would have long-lasting effects on every aspect of your life forever, and so it's expedient that you get it right. I've been there and done that, and I got it right.

Whether it’s the car industry, health, business, food or anything at all, being able to settle down with the career that offers the most joy and inner satisfaction is what matters most. You'd certainly love to work at a place where your contribution is essential and well satisfying.

A lot of people wake up and drive to their place of work unhappy. They live their lives only during the evenings and weekends. I don't think that's a fair way to live. If you're considering a career change and have entirely no idea how to go about this properly, I'll be discussing that here. The truth is, you’re certainly not the only one being confronted by those feelings of doubt or maybe excitement. Or perhaps some others have yet to pass through this significant phase in life.

Evaluate Your Reasons Critically

Now you don’t want to put up with a new career just because your friends are making it big there. I’d recommend that you take the time to explore a few career options first. Take out time to note the things that make your current job position tedious and uninteresting to you anymore.

A lot of times I hear people say to me that they find it hard figuring out what it is they don't like about their current depressing career. Well then, you just need to figure them out consciously! Find yourself sighing when you take down papers at work or grumbling when asked to do the easiest of things and you should begin to evaluate them already.

I should also mention that if you have to force yourself to get out of bed most mornings hatefully, chances are you're most likely fed up with that career. This alone should be enough reason to push you into exploring other industries and finding what you love. 

The challenge with creating candid reasons for this is that you'll need to convince not just yourself, but also the potential employers that you're quite capable and passionate about the new field.

Say, for instance, you’re a lawyer and looking to switch to sales and marketing. It can get pretty tough convincing a company that you're the perfect applicant for them, right? This is precisely why you need to do your homework right and get a heap of convincing reasons. You’ve got to be sure you’re making the right move, well at least make sure the odds are in your favor.

You’d want to discover what picks your interest in the new career. How did you come across the industry you want to switch to? What steps have you taken to learn more about this career and make yourself job-ready? In fact, you may already even have some skills to get you underway in becoming a pro here. Anticipate unlimited future prospects that abound in the new career you choose to begin.

All this should be done in a bid to show that you’ve really given this a thorough thinking through and you’re ready to make the switch. You might end up staying much longer since you’ve started to see beyond just what it has to offer at the beginning.

For those who are quick at learning new terms and adapting easily, those are added advantages here. One thing to be sure of is that making a career switch is not the easiest of things to do. If you’ve got quick learning curves, I must say that it’s a good reason to utilize here.

However difficult and time-consuming it may take for you to sit down and pinpoint the core reasons why you need to change your career/industry, I should say here that it's going to be worth every bit later on.

How To Make That Decision Successfully

Nothing should stop you from having a go at switching your career when it becomes necessary. You alone remain the greatest hindrance that could possibly prevent you from making the right decision.

What’s more, there’s never been any better time in the history of the world where it was easier to make a career change. There’s a plethora of resources available at your disposal to guide you in the right direction. I need to point out that what a lot of people lack is a plan.

Looking at the content creators available on social media today, you’ll agree with me that a good number of them have to shuffle between career paths periodically. I’ve seen several others who have taken on this path too and become a source of benefit to society.

I’m going to be sharing a few tips to help anybody who’s seeking for a new job where they don’t feel like they meet the requirements. Whether you're moving to a new industry with the same position or you want to delve into an entirely new career, these steps would be needful; so, let’s get underway.

·      Ignore the odds: If you’re going to take on this route in life, much to your disappointment I may have to reiterate the fact that “The odds will not always be in your favor”! Trust me on this, you’ll not find any luck making too many consults on this because you are apparently going against the odds.

·      Develop a burning desire: Start by making a comprehensive list of what you actually want to get from your next career move. Then build up the passion for this career and be conscientious about it.

·      What are you willing to let go? This is always ignored by a lot of people, but it's imperative. Get serious with dropping those things that will prevent you from making a successful change.

·      Find out the qualities needed for that position: There are certain basic abilities required for the career you seek. You may already even possess some of them without knowing. You have to search them out and make sure to understand what they are.

·      Meet with experts actively involved: There’s no better way to successfully make a career change than to get the first-hand knowledge from those currently engaged in it. If you're considering becoming a salesperson, for instance, you should ask a salesperson about what struggles he faces in his job and have him share experiences with you.

·      Envision the struggles to come: Change is actually terrifying and stressful. You may freak you out when you step on that new career path. You have better chances at success if you anticipate the toils and difficulties that’ll come your way.

·      Take a bold step of action: Let me make this clear: you are not going to decide by thinking, you can only conclude by doing! If you want to really change your industry or career, you've got to stop thinking about it alone. You're not going to make any progress until you take a massive step of doing it.

Consider these steps when the time comes for a career change:

1. Assess your likes and dislikes

It’s time to ask yourself some important questions before you try to make a career change. What do you like about your field? Where is your current job lacking? Make a list that outlines all of the pros and cons. Once that’s in front of you, it’s time to think about what your personal passions are. For example, is having a career that involves helping others important? Or are you passionate about numbers and accounting? Take some time to really pinpoint what matters to you.

2. Research new careers

Although it’s great to follow your passions, you also have to be realistic. Get Googling and make a list that includes careers that are related to your interests, but are also feasible. A great online resource to take advantage of is the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). There, you can search for different jobs and get a breakdown of salary and job outlook; duties and responsibilities; required education; and the work environment. Once you have your list of possibilities, anticipate what obstacles you may encounter and create a plan for overcoming them.

3. Evaluate your skills

Now it’s time to take a hard look your skill set. Figure out which of your skills are transferable to your new career, and where are you lacking. For example, if you’re looking to make a career change from sales into healthcare, some of the skills that you may be able to transfer include: good communication skills; grace under pressure; customer service know-how; and attention to detail. The specifics will depend on your experience and the field you want to enter. It may be difficult, but be honest about what you’re working with.

4. Get the required training or education

So you’ve determined where you’re lacking in the skills department—now it’s time to fill in the gap. That means figuring out whether earning a degree—whether it’s an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s—will provide you with the education you need to pursue the career you want. In some cases, you may just need to take some courses or get certified to meet the job requirements. The point is to attain the education you need to appeal to potential employers.

5. Start networking

Never underestimate the power of a referral to get you in the door. That’ why it’s extremely important to network with people in the field or industry that you’re looking to enter. Let your friends, family, and former co-workers know that you’re looking and see if they have any relevant contacts. Get out there and start attending networking events in your desired industry. Also take advantage of LinkedIn by connecting with companies you’d like to work for, and joining professional groups in your intended field.

6. Find a mentor

Find a mentor can be a great way to get real advice on how to enter a new industry. Since you’re already networking at this point, it’s a matter of reaching out to the appropriate person and asking for guidance. You may be surprised to find how many people enjoy sharing their experience and knowledge with someone who’s eager to learn. And your mentor may be able to introduce you to other contacts and opportunities in the future.

7. Begin your job search

You’ve done your research, built up your credentials, and become a networking master. Now it’s time to actively start looking for work, with an updated resume that reflects your skills. An important thing to remember is that when you’re changing jobs, there’s a very high likelihood that you’re going to have to start at entry-level and work your way up. That means that you may have to take a pay cut—or even relocate to get the job you want. Although you may have to make some sacrifices, having the chance to do what you love may can make it all worthwhile in the end.

Adapting To Your New Industry/Career

So let’s assume you finally got started with a new career. You're probably going to have to deal with a range of emotions like pride, exhilaration, and anxiety among others. Oh, you bet!

Well, it would help a great deal if you had the knowledge about how to ease into the new job over some time. There’s likely going to be a lot of scrutiny from new colleagues, right? Yeah, you can say that again. Everyone’s certainly going to watch you closely to confirm if they were right hiring you in the first place.

Here are a few ways by which you can adapt to the new job position:-

·      Mingle with your colleagues and try to build a relationship with almost every individual. Be supportive of them and offer always to appreciate them.

·      Try to develop a rapport with your leaders based on trust continually.

·      Bring innovative ideas to your leaders which will solve problems in the company.

·      Get to know how the company operates.

·      Always keep your leaders informed on whatever progress you make.

·      Try to relax and recover strength during your first few months.

·      Make sure to show that you respect your position here.

·      Always be positive and avoid any manipulations whatsoever.

It is also important to mention here that a career doesn't always mean static job titles. What's most important is that you get the much-required joy in working every day! If you're anything like me and love to build a flexible solo career, make sure always to indulge your creative side and make a difference in whatever you do.

What To Expect After Making A Career Change

I talked about how to make a career change and also how to fit in easily after making the right change. But, you know what else remains to be discussed? Yeah, you probably guessed right. I’m yet to fill you in on certain things that’ll unfold after your career change.

Several transformations will undoubtedly occur depending on how you used to feel in your previous career. The best things to expect of course should be the positive ones. However, it is not impossible to get a bit fed up again with the new career change after a while. You’ve got nothing to worry about. All you need to do is pivot again and put all the above information together until you find that career choice that lights up your life.

The most enthralling result of changing your job is to realize that you've now become in control of your work. This sets up an enthusiastic feeling about life and work in general. You begin to notice the eagerness within you to get actively involved in your work.

Another exciting change is that even though your new career might be as stressful as the previous one, you'll hardly notice this as there's going to be a new sense of fulfillment with it. Your job efficiency and career progress rate will also increase dramatically.

Learning and gaining experience will begin to come in a lot easier than they used to. Notice how much better you'll start to tell your friends and relatives about how much skill and knowledge you've gained from your new career. If your new path excludes you from a stereotyped 9 to 5 job and involves a more flexible schedule, you should prepare to face several opposing ideas from close friends. Be confident in what you're doing and sooner or later, they too will support you on it.

To sum it up, changing your career can be quite daunting indeed. You need to give yourself time to figure the direction that feels right and then, live on with the change. Eliminate all negative mindset you may have concerning this and be well determined to remain positive always.

However scary it may seem, you need to embrace your fears and ignore the odds if you’re at this point in life. The ultimate idea is to ditch the titles and go for your skill set and interests―be open to new opportunities! A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.

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Credits: SalesPlacement, EarnMyDegree, QuotesGram, PRL Recruitment