7 Steps to successfully switch your career path
by Yellow
It's very difficult to decide that it's time to move on from your job, let alone to actually leave and step into a completely different career.
Whether you are after making more money, or you've discovered new professional interests that you'd like to pursue, here are the 7 steps you should take if you're no longer satisfied with your work and want to explore new horizons.
Evaluate your current situation
It's not enough to simply be aware that you're no longer happy with your job. Ask yourself why you're yearning for a change. Otherwise, you might swerve your path towards a new career and still end up feeling the same.
Reflect on how you feel about every aspect of your current position, and look for recurring themes. What do you dislike? Are you dissatisfied with the content of your work, the people you work with, or both? Answering these questions will give you a clearer idea of what you want out of your future job.
Figure out what it's going to take
Transition will only be successful if you're truly ready for it. Apart from pursuing a new sector that you have a passion for, you also need to be realistic and decide if your pursuit is feasible. Make sure you have the necessary skills, contacts and professional brand to pull off a smooth career shift. If you don't think you do, work on what's missing.
Explore what's out there
Research alternative careers, whether or not they are in your industry of expertise, and be open to whatever availability comes your way. Discuss your findings with people you trust, be they friends, family members or networking contacts. You might also want to consider meeting with a career counsellor for professional advice.
Make an action plan
Identify your main goals, and accordingly lay out an ideal timeline of by when you'd like to leave your current job and secure your next endeavour. You can then break down this timeline into major milestones, which can in turn take the form of daily or weekly tasks that can bring you closer to fulfilling your career shift.
These small but steady steps will have a positive snowball effect that will give you more self-confidence, eventually making you realise that this career change is a very real possibility.
Bonus tip: Track your efforts. Always set up reminders of what you need to do next. If you're going to invest time and energy into making this change happen, invest the time and energy to monitor your progress.
Use your contacts
Enlist the help of your most supportive contacts not only to secure interviews for vacancies, but also to get them on board with your career pivot.
Your already-established networks can introduce you to professionals, and potential future colleagues or clients, who are dominating your new field of interest. This would have to be done covertly if you're still in the process of abandoning your current job, but it will definitely pay off when you do eventually transition.
Bonus tip: Use LinkedIn. This is a great resource for finding contacts in the sector you want to establish a career in. Reach out for informational interviews, but don't be too persistent or intrusive.
Investigate educational opportunities
There are many great ways to upgrade your skills in line with your desired new line of work, and acquiring knowledge is one of them. This will equip you with a stronger backbone and a more informed mindset when facing your career shift.
Attending evening classes and conferences, or taking online courses, is one option. But you can gain education and experience more informally through volunteer or freelance work related to your target field of interest, or possibly through shadowing a professional for a few hours a day.
Believe in yourself
None of these tips will work in practice if you don't strongly believe that you can actually switch your career path. Re-defining your profession can be extremely challenging. But if you believe that you can successfully take on a new role or industry, others will believe it too.
Be proud of the fact that you know what you want, and that you have the courage to make a change for yourself, no matter how daunting or scary it may seem.
Explore what's out there by getting in touch with any of the Employment Agencies listed on Yellow, and you might just find your next job opportunity.
Choose the easier path and discover local - visit www.yellow.com.mt!