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If you’re feeling stagnant, unengaged, frustrated, or squandered in your career, it may be time to consider something new. Switching professions is easier now than ever, thanks to the development of remote working and specialized technologies — here are a few tips to put you on the right path.
Preparation
Before you hand in your notice, it’s essential to have a clear action plan and to put in the legwork to build your skills for a new role.
- Evaluate the market: Take some time to ascertain average wages, gauge the industry’s health and see if there are viable opportunities in your desired area of employment.
- Create a plan: Defining a clear action plan will help you move the wheels. This means identifying your qualifications to successfully transition, covering yourself financially, and setting a clear, actionable checklist and timeline.
- Reskill: If you’re untrained in your desired area of work, it may be necessary to return to education and reskill. Thanks to remote learning, it’s possible to go back to school and get a business bachelor’s degree that fits your day-to-day schedule. Just be sure your chosen school is accredited and offers competitive tuition rates.
Changing Careers
Once you’ve narrowed in on your desired career path, it’s time to implement the plan and take steps to follow through.
- Resumés: The most crucial information throughout the job searching process is your resumé (or CV). Make sure to read up online and ensure your formatting, candidate overview, and experience are relevant and polished.
- Portfolios: If you have experience in your desired area of work, it’s a good idea to build a portfolio showcasing your ability. Even if you have no experience, it can be a good idea to create a hypothetical portfolio(especially useful if you want to move into copywriting, graphic design, or another creative vocation) – this shows employers your initiative and indicates your current level of ability.
- Job boards: If you’re moving from one career to another, there’s a good chance your desired area of work is one with a high demand for labor. It’s essential, then, not to rely overly on the busier channels (job boards, LinkedIn) and instead try more inventive strategies (such as going directly to the employers or marketing yourself via social media).
Founding a Business
For some of us, the daily 9-5 and traditional employment structure don’t appeal. If this is the case for you, it may be worth considering starting your own business.
- Financial backing: Whether you want to invest personally, seek private investment, or go the crowdfunding route, you must find a source of capital to get your show on the road. Ensuring you’re financially covered will protect you from future setbacks & misfortune; it will also cover the initial startup costs (such as licenses, permits, software, and more).
- Business plan: It isn’t easy to overstate the value of a business plan as you move into entrepreneurship. This document will describe your company, outline a sales strategy, break down finances, analyze the market and provide a road map.
When you’re dissatisfied with your work life, it’s essential to change. Fortunately, with an increasingly fluid world economy, job hoppers, digital nomads, freelancers, entrepreneurs and others can take advantage of new opportunities and build careers that suit them.
Article prepared by Linda Robinson
Exclusively for insightswb.com
Linda Robinson is a working mom who dabbles in photography and French cooking in her spare time. She created her website, YouDidYourBest.org, to connect with other parents who work to bring out the best in their kids by encouraging them to chase their dreams and forgiving themselves when they fall short.
