Making a Career Move: 5 Essential Elements for a Confident Journey

Making a career change is often an exciting process--and it can also be an intense one. It can involve much soul searching and courage to take the leap. And, it also can feel empowering and exhilarating to think about what lies ahead. As a career coach and a career-changer myself, I can attest to this!?

If you are actively considering a career change, you likely feel a sense of passion for a specific new direction and you are hopefully creating a plan. Set yourself up for success with your plan by including SMART goals and an appropriate timeline with milestones, deadlines, and action items.

And, as you work with your plan, consider adding in time for the following fundamentals for a greater sense of confidence that you are on the right track, and to also make the most of your efforts.

1. Define your “why.”?

One of the first things to do when planning for a new career is to more deeply consider your purpose. Why do you want this change? What are your motivations for doing it, and what do you hope to achieve in your new career that you are unable to accomplish where you are?

This is important, because understanding more clearly why you wish to make a change provides an opportunity to make sure you are doing it for the reasons that matter and that make sense to you. And, this deeper understanding can help with motivation and resilience if and when the seas get choppy.

You already know your "why," but dig a bit further to confirm your thoughts and feelings to get to a place of stronger motivation and confidence that you're on the right path.

2. Research.?

Even if you have something in mind, take time to flesh out related careers, industries, roles, and organizations that fit well with your values, skills, strengths, interests, and passions. A career change can be life-changing and as exciting as it is to get started, it deserves time for research and self-reflection.?

Some ways to do this include exploring roles via job announcements on job board sites such as Indeed or CareerBuilder. Another way to research is to talk and network with others (more on this below). Also, consider joining groups in your field of interest, read trade magazines, and follow industry trends in your desired industry.

This step is really about making efforts to source new data, so you can make an informed decision on what's next. Reflect on what you’re learning and how it fits with who you are and what makes you tick. You will either gain extra validation that you are heading in the right direction, or an opportunity to pivot before going further.

3. Network, network, network.?

After, or even while you are researching, connect with people in your desired field to gain insight. Request informational interviews to learn more about their work. Connecting with others is not only helpful with respect to gathering knowledge, these new connections can help you along your job search journey. Often times, interviews are scheduled and job opportunities are offered based on networking conversations over the more traditional application approach.

Some studies show that a whopping 85% of jobs are filled through networking, and estimates indicate that between 70 and 80% of jobs are never even posted.

When engaging in informational interviews, think in advance about what facts would be helpful to know as you pursue opportunities in your new field. For instance, you might ask for details on the type of work involved, the ups and downs, helpful skills and education, what to expect getting into the industry. At the end of every conversation ask who else you might speak with for more information on the career option you are exploring. And then, ask for an introduction to that person!

Networking not your thing? Many people feel this way. As with anything that feels daunting, set small goals and consistently achieve them for sustained motivation. Work your way into a networking mindset one step at a time. The benefits of doing so extend far beyond making a career change and job searching.

4. Acquire relevant skills and education.?

This one is rather obvious, but important to note. Take time to consider all of your strengths and skills--both technical and interpersonal--that you bring to your new target role.

It's likely that you have a number of transferrable skills, but what, if any, gaps do you want to fill? Consider any skills you may want to develop or degrees, certifications you may want to gain to be more competitive in your desired field. Then, factor into your plan how you will acquire them, whether it be through self-study, or formal education, and when.

Some skills and trainings may be obvious, while others may surface from your research and networking conversations. Make sure you are considering what, if anything, you want to freshen up on or achieve as part of your planning process in order to increase your marketability and confidence.

5. Identify your support team.?

If you have a solid “why” and you feel impassioned to make this career change, you likely feel strongly motivated to get there. Still, a career change can be a long process with unexpected twists and turns.

Surround yourself with a support system of family, friends, mentors and professionals who can perhaps serve as sounding boards for ideas and concerns, and provide helpful advice and guidance along the way.?Identify people who can be a source of inspiration, offer new perspectives, and provide encouragement, so that you can call on them when you want a boost.

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As we all know, creating a plan and timeline is a necessary starting point for a successful career change. Factor into it these five fundamentals for analyzing your purpose, conducting research, and sourcing support. This will help you maintain confidence, motivation, resilience, and, just as importantly, the passion that likely brought you to this point in the first place.

To your career success!