Work can be many things—at times it is inspiring, at others, challenging. Work may also be slow at times and down time can be a routine part of the job; however, if your are bored at work, dread going in every morning, and are simply going through the motions it may be time for a career change… Follow these 5 steps for a successful navigation to a new career:
1. Examine Your Current Position
What do you like about your current job? What are your least favorite parts? By determining what works best and worst at your current company you can gather a picture of what kind of job you should look for next. A career change is a bold move, and knowing what you are looking for ahead of time will set you up for success.
2. Know Your Strengths & Weaknesses
In addition to evaluating the positives and negatives of your job, you should analyze your own strengths and weaknesses. For example, while switching to a job in sales may be temptingly lucrative, if you are soft-spoken and nervous when making sales pitches it may not be the right career for you. If you are unsure of where your personal skills lie you can turn to self help books or personality assessment tests to help you get started.
3. Do Your Research
Researching your chosen new field is perhaps the most important step to switching careers. Many people are smitten with an exciting, new career but fail to accept the less glamorous parts of their chosen job, thus setting themselves up for disappointment. Be practical when researching new jobs and be realistic about the aspects of your new job that may be less than desirable. Beyond researching the requirements of your new career, discover what you need to know for the job—from new lingo to educational requirements. For example, if you are hoping to break into the apartment industry, familiarize yourself with related terms and consider taking a Leasing 101 course.
4. Learn New Skills
Once you’ve researched and become familiar with your chosen career, set out to learn the skills it will require. Even if you have worked in a related field for years, you may still need to improve your professional repertoire. Focusing on any weaknesses that may come up in your new job, seek to overcome any skill, educational, or networking connections you may be lacking for your new job.
A career change is a brave—but often necessary—move. While the process may be daunting, following these steps will ensure you move into your new chosen field with success.
