Education

Job hunting tips when changing careers

Most of the time people go for a certain career because of financial constraints and not because they have a passion for it. Statistics show that most of those who end up in such careers are unhappy even with good pay. A career is not only supposed to provide a livelihood but should also satisfy your emotional and intellectual needs. Once you have taken a career that is not fulfilling, it reaches a point where you can’t continue, and in such circumstances, you may need to change it.Read this article to get important tips on how to job search successfully when changing your career.

Self-assessment

You have made the decision and now you want to change your career, congratulations! Such decisions are made by only the bold who want to take control of their destinies. The first thing that you need to do is a personal assessment or evaluation. What qualifications do you have- the skills, interests, experience, work history, and volunteer experiences. You also need to examine your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and areas of interest. The self-audit will help you make the right decision on the path you want to take to your future. There are online career assessment tests that will help you discover areas of interest that you may have ignored.

Why are you changing your career?

After self-evaluation, the next question you need to ask is, why am I changing the career? You may be having several reasons like; a total dislike for the job, the employer, supervisor, limited career growth opportunities or maybe it’s different from what you have wanted to pursue. Some problems may just need rectification but if not rectifiable, then you have to move on and change the career.

Action Plan

This is the most important part of your career change process. You have to carefully craft a clear path that will lead you to your future. Before you take the action and probably tender that resignation letter, you have to take time and consider some things like; the need for more education, need for financial resources, need for an intermediary, or part-time job. If you don’t want to end up frustrated, then you have to be patient because sometimes you will need even up to five years to change your career.

Talk to a professional

Once you have made a self-assessment, you need to seek guidance from an experienced career professional. Here, you will be taken through a career change course that will adequately prepare you for any challenges. You can do some online research or even ask people who have successfully done it; friends and relatives can also give you referrals.

Setting goals and objectives

You have made a self-evaluation, drawn an action plan and you’ve been guided. The next thing would be to set clear goals and objectives of what you want to achieve in the new career.  Consider the possibilities of growth advancement. You should have in place both short and long-term goals. This is what will keep you focused and motivated.

Learn and then dive

Once you have set your goals, the next and last move is to learn more about the next field that interests you. Get good books and magazines, go to conferences and talk to people in that career. Once you’ve gathered enough information, it’s time todo a job search and dive into your future career. Job boards like Zoek offer thousands of fresh UK opportunities across all sectors. Begin humbly and strategize for growth.

Career change is not an overnight decision, it takes time and patience. You have to prepare enough, evaluate yourself, and get to know your strengths and weaknesses. Seek guidance from a career professional and make that bold step.

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