Are you thinking of a career change?

Time for a Career Change? Here are some tips/things to consider to make it happen! I've just gone through it at the ripe age of 30.

Are you after a better salary, more flexible working hours, more job satisfaction within your role, a nicer boss… there are a whole host of reasons why you might be considering a career change.

Stepping into the unknown can be extremely daunting so I thought I would share my journey and experience with you. Feel free to message or call me with any questions should you or someone you know find themselves in a similar position.

When I came to realise that a career change may be the best option for me, I started by asking myself why? I hadn't been in my previous role for too long and I won't go into too much detail right now but let's just say it made me realise that after 10 years of working in the New Homes sector of the Real Estate industry, IT WAS TIME FOR A NEW CHALLENGE.

My growth within the sector was limited as I had already reached an exceptionally high level and I was getting paid extremely well for my expertise and credibility within the industry. The next natural move (as pointed out in the majority of meetings that soon followed) was to go out on my own. This didn't excite me and enhanced my time-frames in realising that I wanted to come out of this world completely and find a new challenge.

FOLLOW YOUR GUT - My first real bit of advice is to always follow your gut. After speaking with the most fantastic REC-TO-REC who totally understood where I was coming from and made me feel at ease about the process, my gut was telling me that I am making the right decision and there was never any doubt in my mind. Kyle came as a recommendation to me - a prime example that if you do your job well, people will recommend you and business will follow.

3 questions to ask yourself at the deliberation stage:

1. Is there a particular aspect of your job that you don't like?
2. Are you bored and fed up of your entire career and the industry as a whole?
3. Can your feelings be fixed by relocating to a different sector within the industry without making a full career change?

If you don’t know your underlying reasons for being frustrated, how can you be sure they won’t crop up again in your new job?

You may find that you actually just want a new job at a new company, rather than to change careers altogether. Just be sure you are 100% making the right decision.

Assess your strengths and passions.

The last thing you want is to regret your career change in a few years’ time so make sure you really think about what kind of job/industry would work for you and that you will still be passionate about and ultimately enjoy. This is a big decision. Don't underestimate what you are about to do.

I accepted that although working is not going to be fun 24/7 I needed to be in an industry and most importantly surrounding myself with people that would help me achieve my life goals. Setting out what you want from a role early on in your search will help you identify what roles you will enjoy when the opportunities do start coming your way.

This is your perfect chance for a new start!

As well as your passions, you should also look at your current strengths and what value you will be able to add within a new company/industry.

If you’re hoping to progress and grow into a certain industry, it’ll be much easier if you’re actually good at that kind of job or at least have skill sets that you will be able to take with you.

Create a plan with clear and achievable goals.

Once you’re set on a change career, create a roadmap and a detailed plan that will guide you towards where you need to be. I was recently told that you don't just get on the motorway in life. There are 1000's of side roads and dead ends. Some will lead you to places you never thought you would arrive at. These are the roads of success.

Your road to a career change will not always be straight, and I made it a priority to speak with numerous successful individuals that currently operate in the industry that I wanted to explore. I got an understanding of which route they took and whether or not it was realistic for me to follow a similar one. Don't be afraid to ask questions so you can understand what you are getting yourself in for and also get an idea of how long it may take to achieve your goals. See if they can put you in touch with people.

You may find that you have gaps in the knowledge and skills required for the career or industry you are trying to enter, and may have to take classes, courses, or internships to acquire the skills and experience necessary but hopefully it will all be worth it in the end.

Network & Build Relationships.

Ever heard the phrase: it’s not what you know… it’s who you know?

I don't love this phrase as I strongly believe that what you know is important. However, networking could help you to get your foot in the door that you never thought was possible.

Having connections allows you to remain in the loop about developments and opportunities in your desired career, and connections can be a source of support and wisdom for you on your journey. Knowing people you can turn to for advice and help will be key in the early stages.

Always conduct yourself in a professional manner when networking; you want people to remember you (for the right reasons) if an opportunity comes up! I promise to write another article on Networking tips in the coming weeks.

Consider the downsides - A new start is not always the best!

I don’t really want to end this on a downer (as my transition has been the best decision I've made in my professional career to date), but it is important to consider the downsides to a new career and how it may affect you.

Will taking up a new career mean that you’re forced to start at an entry-level position and take a pay cut? Most likely.

Are you prepared for that financially? It can be a bitter pill to swallow but try and think of the potential growth.

What other sacrifices will you have to make for this new career and I guess more importantly are you ready to put in the hard graft to make a success of yourself.

It's then over to you to decide whether or not the positives outway the negatives. For me, it's been a great transition and moving to a company that have welcomed me with open arms and colleagues that are willing to share their wisdom has massively helped.

If you're thinking of making a career change and would like to have a chat, then I would be more than happy to go through my experience in more detail with you. Drop me a message and I'd be more than happy to help.