Are you bored at work? Have you suddenly woken up and realized your current career is not for you? It can seem daunting to realize that you want a change, but not have the first idea of how to do it. Especially when you still have to sit in your current job and pay your bills until you can successfully embark on your next adventure. Whether you want a complete career overhaul or just a small change of direction, are here are some top tips for the best way to make a career move.
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Consider Further Study
If you’re making a move when you’re already part-way through your career, further study could be a great tool for changing trajectory. Many universities like Northeastern University will discuss the merits of taking up various Master’s courses, which can be really useful if you’re not sure which angle to choose, like taxation versus accounting. Visiting the open days and discussing with the course leaders is a great way to find out if the course is for you.
Once you’ve decided on the right area of study for you, it’s time to look at the different course types available. Will you be looking to work full time, and if so would you be looking at evening or long-distance classes? Are you keen to finish a full-time course in a year, or would you need more time to complete it? Looking at the different options and how you’ll structure it around your future schedule will help you work out the right options for you.
Get A Career Coach
Sometimes meeting with an impartial career advisor will help you get some inspiration or a good sounding board to help you consider your career options. At any age, a careers advisor can help you redefine your goals and add focus to your career ideas. Make the most of the opportunity to speak to someone as they will set you back per hour, so go in with a list of questions and ideas to get the process started. Looking at reviews for career coaches will help you get a good idea if they’ll be worth the money. If you know where you want to go but haven’t written a resume in a while, invest in an online resume writer to get a solid self-advertisement for your future job search.
Consider Investing In Your Own Business
If you’re established in your career but want a change, it might be worth considering going into business for yourself. It doesn’t have to be a pipe dream, you can make it a reality by pooling your resources and reading into the feasibility of going solo. Speak to friends that have recently gone into business, or go to an entrepreneur networking event to suss out if this is really for you.
If you’re determined to set up your own business, look into funding opportunities like local grants or small business loans. Establish what your niche in a market will be (especially if it is a saturated one), and how you will start and grow your client base. Does it seem possible? You can explore your options while working, you don’t have to take the plunge and go it totally alone.
Cast A Wide Net
The best way to start looking at a career change might be to dive right in. Cast a wide need when applying for jobs you think you might like, then see if you get through to interview stages and how you market your transferable skills. You can treat them as informational interviews and get a feel for whether this job or company is a good fit for you. You might need to be resilient as you may feel overqualified, underqualified, or just right out of your comfort zone. Those feelings seem traumatic at first, but getting used to them will help you navigate the transition through a career change. Casting a wide job search might just give you some unexpected inspiration for what you want to do next.
Look At How To Transfer Those Transferable Skills
Making a list might sound obvious, but having that record of things you’re good at isn’t a bad way to boost your confidence and make a start on considering a career change. Look at different job specifications and assess how you’ll make the link between skill X and your current capabilities. For instance, if your potential new charity career involves arranging fundraising events, then organizing the annual office conference is an equivalent skill that you can mention instead.
Look At Your Finances
You may feel that you can’t take the hit of a potential pay loss when making a career change. You may find a like-for-like salary or even a pay increase, but being realistic and assessing your options will make you feel more equipped to start the search. Investing in a new career might be the perfect time to dip into your savings and make a career move that is worth making a risk on your financial resources. If you aren’t currently in a position to take a pay loss, consider adding on additional freelance work if you can, or if you’ve got a family, talk to your partner about sharing the financial losses and whether you can afford to make a change.
Try Something Extracurricular
You might be antsy at work if all you do is work. If you used to love your job, but the shine has worn off, consider taking the focus off work and adding something extra to your day. It might be learning a language, meeting your friends or taking up a yoga class. Adding an extra element to your life will enhance your work-life balance, and help you get some perspective on whether a career move is right for you, or you just need to lay off the evening work emails and make some time for yourself.
Making a career change doesn’t have to be a life-overhaul or a traumatic experience. Planning ahead or considering transitional options like studying can help you prepare yourself for making a move into a new sector.