The 8 Steps to a Completely Successful Career Change
If you’re contemplating a job change, we want to encourage you to think outside the box. Quite the opposite.
Begin by following the below important steps:
1. Begin with Why
Many individuals are aware that they dislike or have outgrown their employment, but they are unaware of anything else. Before you start doing anything new, you need to understand why you’re doing it. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a new place, but one you still despise—and what’s the purpose of all that effort?
Consider the following: Why do I desire this? Why do I believe this new job will improve my life? What are the potential drawbacks or risks?
Going through the process may sometimes make you realize that things aren’t always as lovely as you’d imagined. And on occasion? The route will become more attractive and make more sense.
2. Determine the What
What will this new job or profession entail? What does it not resemble? What’s the name of it?
Another critical issue to examine is whether or not I have any career capital in this. In other words, will you be able to successfully move by using your talents, connections, and professional brand?
So many individuals swallow the Kool-Aid of “follow your passion and everything will fall into place.” However, a scientific study conducted by a computer scientist called Cal Newport demonstrates that individuals who “follow their interests” have a lesser chance of achieving long-term job satisfaction than those who utilise current work capital while making a change.
3. Determine the “What it’s going to take?”
Are you missing any talents that would make you an appealing candidate for this new kind of role? Do you need any certifications? Classes? Licences?
Even if you do, it’s not always out of reach. It might be as easy as taking an online course and acquiring some basic competence, allowing you to confidently declare, “Yes, I know Excel” or “Yes, I can operate with QuickBooks.”
However, in certain cases, further schooling or licensing is required. You must investigate this and decide if you are willing to make the upfront expenditure that this pivot requires.
You should also explain the extra resources you’ll need to carry this off, as well as any compromises that may be necessary. Will you need child care assistance? Will this effort take time away from your other relationships or activities? Can you persuade your family to join you?
Assuming that “all systems go,” you must now develop a strategy.
4. Create a Plan of Action
With your action plan, start with the end in mind. What is your main objective, and what is your preferred timeline?
Once you’ve nailed it, break it down into key milestones—skills you need to learn, people you need to meet, tasks you need to finish in your present work, and personal matters you need to attend to before making this change. What are the key dates?
Assign yourself daily or weekly responsibilities so you know precisely what you’ll be doing when you sit down in front of your computer to “career pivot.” You don’t want to wing it with this.
As you accomplish these chores, you’ll see how tiny actions have a snowball effect, giving you momentum and confidence that this is, in fact, a very real option.
5. Monitor Your Effort
Respect yourself enough to keep track of your efforts. Keep track of how you’re doing and what you need to do next. Set up reminders so you can follow up on items as needed. If you’re going to put in the time and effort to make something happen, put in the time and effort to monitor your progress.
A basic Excel spreadsheet can work wonders for you. If you’re not an Excel expert, use the tool that makes the most sense to you so you don’t forsake it.
6. Change Your Brand
You will need to change your professional brand in order to be understood by your new target audience. Simple rule: the simpler you make it for people to “get” you, the more likely they will want to learn more.
Nobody is going to figure out how or why you “may” be a good fit for any given job or professional path. Toss it aside. Instead, you must make it “smack in the face clear” on your CV, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter why you are a great fit for the positions you’re looking for.
Because they’ve been in that sector or worked in comparable positions for many years, your rivals, at least some of them, will seem fantastic on paper. So, how are you going to brand yourself in such a manner that you not only seem rational but also position yourself as a clear standout?
