Thinking about a career change in the New Year? Perhaps you’re having a difficult time in your current position, or maybe you’ve lost track of the career goals and values you had before. Whatever it is, it’s important to spend enough time evaluating your current position so that you can make the right decision.
What is your current position?
What is it about your current job that is making you want a change? Are these dissatisfactions to do with the culture of the company or are you no longer getting on well with your boss? Do you have issues in the workplace that can be solved? All of these questions need to be asked and carefully thought about before you make a committed decision to change. If you’re struggling for inspiration, sites such as CV-Library can give you a good idea of some of the positions that are currently out there making it easier for you to step into your dream role.
Assess your skills and don’t forget your interests
Take a look at the skills you’ve learned your current job as well as the skills you’ve gained in the past and determine whether these will be suitable for the position you want to switch to. Some online career aptitude tests that will help you to identify your skills and assess your alternatives. After all, you don’t want to begin a new position where you’ll have to learn a whole host of new skills – unless you’re looking for that particular challenge, of course.
A lot of people choose to change their career because they want to incorporate their interests into their job. Consider whether what you’re interested in could be incorporated into your job.
Gain the relevant experience and qualifications
Once you’ve assessed your current skills, you’ll have a better idea of what you need to gain employment in a new field. You may need to gain further qualifications to get you ahead in your new career, so this is definitely something worth looking into. Don’t forgo the prospect of upgrading your skills in the job you have now which would pave the way for your desired change. Some companies offer in-house training so you should aim to do of much of this as possible before you leave.
Try it out
Who says that you can’t try out your new career before you start applying for jobs? Look for voluntary roles in your area that correspond to the career you wish to pursue. For example, if you’re looking to try your hand at publishing then watch out for creative writing or editing opportunities. Another good way to gain an insight into your chosen field is to shadow professionals in the role you’re considering. This way you’ll have an element of first-hand experience, and something like this won’t go amiss on your resume.
Network online
In the digital age, it’s more important than ever to know how to conduct yourself professionally online. Research your desired field and get to know people who already do what you want to do. This will give you an online presence in the field, something that a lot of employers look for in a prospective candidate.
