HOW TO SWITCH CAREERS
Saurabh a blogger and a professional career author with proven expertise in writing for topics related to jobs, job trends, different job opportunities, various workplace and industry information, tips and strategies for job seekers.
Do you think you are the only one who is “bored” of his career and is desperately looking to other career options? You are not even 30 and such a feeling right now certainly means there is something seriously wrong about your career choice. Contrary to what people believe, this happens with many. What should you do in such a scenario?
A lot of people change careers, a lot more than you can think of. So first, one must get this straight! You are not the only one jumping ship. Changing careers can be a good way of giving a direction to your otherwise stray life. At the same time, you put your experience at stake, and can end up being underpaid or start at entry level when you need to be making professional-level money.
First find out if it is a career change that you really want
A lot of people mistake their hate for current job as a call for a career change. If you think changing your boss or company will make the required difference then it’s better to do that instead of making a shift to an entirely new career. The key to understand the difference between a job change and a career change is to assess your likes and dislikes. What you like to do when you are at work? Spend time rediscovering yourself and using the self assessment to direct your new career search.
Can you make a living out of your new career?
Whether your dream job is to play guitar in a band or paint sketches in front of the Effiel Tower in Paris, make sure you can run a comfortable living on what you’ll make. It is nice to hear people say that “follow your passion as a career” , however, many of you won’t do that because paying all the bills and feeding your family on an entry level salary in that field is simply not possible. To do a research you can head over to sites like Salary.com or Glassdoor.com. Make sure to refer entry-level jobs for your research as that’s what you will get immediately after making a switch.
Brushing up your skills and building new ones
It goes without saying that a smooth transition to a new career requires you to have the necessary skills to be considered for a job in that industry. However, what is a bit more complicated is learning those skills that will qualify you for a new job in a new career. The first step towards achieving the same is researching the job description and desired skills and start training yourself in those which are repeated across all the openings.
For instance if you are in software testing and are looking to shift to other IT jobs such as software engineer then find out what programming languages does your future career demand. Once you have all the skills listed, you will be able to start training yourself for new career. The easiest way to do that is by enrolling in online courses and training programs.
A point to note is not ignoring the experience that you already have. Find ways in which the experience and work history can be applied to your future career.
Networking
Your ability to network will prove a real deal in successfully changing careers. People in your networks will help you gain insight into the current industry trends, offer you information about a particular industry or company and introduce you to a new connection helping you expand the network. Your friends, family and colleagues are already a part of your network. You can further broaden it by joining professional organizations in the new career field.
How to gain experience?
Getting a job in the new field without experience can be a daunting task for everyone. However, gaining experience without any job is equally challenging. But thankfully, there are ways in which you can do this. Obtaining a part-time job, a weekend job or volunteering as an intern in your new career will give you the much needed knowledge and experience. If you make the right moves, and manage to be at the right place at the right time, internships can also serve as a stepping stone to a full time job.
Job hunting
With all the tips above, you should not find it too difficult to find a job in your new field. Most probably it will be an entry-level opportunity that will pay you an entry-level salary, but if you really want to work in a field that you love, it is a small price to pay.
