Do you feel that your professional life is stuck and you feel that you need to change your career and seek a new direction? There are some thoughts that create brave decisions that are able to change your life. The career change may be one of those decisions. But is it realistic to talk about career change in the midst of economic recession? Yet in this very moment is urgent more than ever before to do careful planning of your career. So take your job in your hands and not wait for external factors (such as a dismissal) to ” force you” to make a change in your career.
You want something better or you know that you have more capabilities, but you do not know what. You know that you are ready to deal with what is important to you and what is making you to feel better and give you more rewards. It is time to evaluate and see your true potential.
Create your own action plan for a career change
Maybe you have some ideas for the career you want to follow, but you have not defined it enough in order to take appropriate action.
The desired direction can mean a complete career change, a major upgrade in your career or even the decision to start your own business. These are all relatively large steps that you must consider and determine with yourself. To do this step successfully you need to develop strategies and a comprehensive action plan. Then you will know what to target and easily determine the next steps to take.
The right strategies will give you permanent results and the changes you want. You do not want to discover in a few months or years that you are still in the same place you are now. The strategies will guide your actions and help you clarify your priorities, rather than scattered acts and loose your valuable time, causing confusion and irritation.
To develop an action plan and define the new direction you need to think and refine the following areas. The goal is to find the perfect job that suits you because you are a unique person.
The vision, your mission, and your purpose: How do you imagine your life, yourself, your job, and your relationships in 5 years from now?
Your personal values: What gives you motivation and what is most important to you? E.g. want to help society and others? Want power? Want creativity, diversity, independence, recognition, good pay, and security?
Your strong points, your talents and your skills: What personality you have, e.g. you are honest and enthusiastic and what skills you have that is useful in many areas of work.
What opportunities and sources or resources you have and what do you need? What should you do to get what you are missing? For example get more education, do a market research, network with the appropriate people.
The ideal life, career or business: What level of responsibility you want to take? You Want to Lead? Want to get this job full time or part-time? Do you want to be close to your home or in public transport? Do you want to live in the mountains? Do you prefer large organizations or small businesses?
What do you like and what you are doing well? Passions, interests, what inspires you, what you like and what not. E.g. are you good with computers? You like to repair machinery or furniture? You like taking photos? Are you good at math? Do you like helping others to solve their problems? Do you cook well?
Do you like to make co-operation with people in your work? Do you prefer the creative people? Do you prefer friendly people, or people that keep the relationship professional standard? Want a boss who communicates with you regularly or someone who gives you independence?
Look first what your really want, if it is very likely that you should settle to some extent, to get as close as possible to what career you choose will give you satisfaction and success in the coming years.
20 steps for a successful career change
1. Start with a “career check up”! What have you accomplished so far? What motivates you and makes you passionate in your work? What are the aims and ambitions for your future? Do you use your skills and your talents to the fullest extent? Do you feel satisfaction and commitment? What is important to you? What are your values?
2. Make a «market research» for a new career. From the moment you discover what is your dream job, explore possible job openings. Speak to a career specialist (career consultant, executive coach or head hunter). Send your resume to companies that interest you. Even if there are no vacancies at the time, your resume will be entered into the database and the company is likely to invite you in the future, when there is an available position.
3. Do analysis of your skills and talents. What are your strong points and what areas you need to improve? Which of these abilities and work skills ensure that you have competitive advantage in the labour market? What skills you can easily use at another position, if for example, you are good in communication and interpersonal relationship management, you can effectively use these skills in all positions that require contact with customers.
4. Find a mentor. Surveys show that internationally there is a significant correlation between mentoring practices in the workplace and career development, especially for women.
5. Estimate how much satisfaction you get from your current job. Keep a diary of your daily reactions to the issues arising in your job and search for repetitive items. What aspects of your current job you like and what you cannot stand? Your negative feelings are associated with the content of your work, the culture in your company or the people with whom you work together?
6. Assess your interests, values and skills through various sources of self-esteem, like the exercises in “What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard N Bolles, a book for those who want to change careers. Remember the successes you had in your work, what projects have you completed more easily and what business activities you prefer. Your goal is to identify in what you are really interested and what are your most valuable skills.
7. Exchange ideas for alternative careers discussing your core values and skills with your friends, family and colleagues you trust, and create a network that will advise and help you to easily find new jobs that suit your needs.
8. Do research and comparative assessment of the various areas of interest in order to identify targets that would require deeper investigation. Your goal is to find out what areas, which companies and which persons you should go after.
9. Read more about what you are interested in, find research and statistics and make as many personal contacts you can.
10. Be the shadow of one or two people working in the field that you are interested. Spent hours or days to see how they work and learn (7 ways you can learn from other people and change your career and life), so you will not be like fish on land in case you change career and profession.
11. Try to work as a volunteer or as a freelancer at the beginning. So you will see how good you will do and learn the job without substantial and psychological costs.
12. Search for learning opportunities, which would link your past with your new professional area. Many private schools and colleges offer courses for professionals.
13. Search for ways to develop new skills in your current job, which you could open the way for a change. If your company can provide training in some new technology or expertise, express your interest.
14. Think about alternative roles in your current job, which could take advantage of your knowledge. For example, if you are a store manager in a large retail company and tired from the long hours and weekends that you have to work, think of the transcription in a company as a wholesale representative in retail.
15. Get in touch with people who can help you change your career. An important step to change career has to do with finding people who can help you get the job you want. If you think about it then you would certainly find out that there is someone you know, an old friend or associate who has a relationship with your dream job.
16. Get in touch with this person and ask a recommendation letter that will confirm that you are fit for this position. Even better, ask the person to talk about you to the employer and support you in your job application. But beware; this should not reach the limits of exaggeration. This is not about a favour, but for a good-honest-talk about your character and your skills.
17. Get a little background / work experience. Even if you do not have any experience in the job you are searching, it is never too late. You can get some work experience by just finding a relevant job (even unpaid). You can take part in a large project that requires external partners or participate in a government project or volunteer programs for young people. You can find jobs for such programs through dedicated search engines available on the web (depending on the country and region you live).
In any case you need to find a job that will allow you to gain some knowledge, and experience you can talk about in an interview with your prospective employer.
18. Adjust your expectations. The most disappointing when someone is looking for a new job is that you have to adjust your aspirations for success. Even for Michael Jordan, one of the greatest athletes in the world, he had to come to terms with the fact that he was not the «Air Jordan» when he went to play baseball with the White Sox.
It is almost certain that you will move up the scale faster than in your previous work, but not without cost. You must prove that you deserve it to the clients, colleagues and your bosses. A great past does not guarantee a greater future.
19. Utilize your skills and experiences. Although you may switch to an entirely new career, the fact that many jobs require the same skills remains. We do not live in the past where someone could not become a farmer a blacksmith and then a sailor.
Most jobs, regardless of the company, they require some basic skills such as sales, communication and proper time management. If you succeed in these areas then it is almost certain that you can succeed in almost all types of work. And you must constantly prove that you can manage it, utilizing the experience gained in your previous work.
20. Believe in yourself. Put on your best smile, boost your confidence and go after your dream! If you do not do it, nobody is going to do it for you.
In conclusion, it is three steps you must follow for a successful career change. The first is to acquire good recommendations that will open the door. The second is the enhancement of skills and experience from your previous work in your new. And the third is just beyond you. To grab the opportunities that will appear in front of you and give your best self. Do not hesitate. You can really do it.
image source: mikecolvin82